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Studies & Degrees in Technology

Technology as a study area is wider than information technology. It covers the applied programmes that train people to install, operate, maintain and improve technical systems: computer networks and software, electronics, automated production, construction, vehicles and energy. What these programmes share is a practical focus. Students spend much of their time in laboratories and workshops and learn the mathematics and science they need for the job.

Two branches dominate. In information technology, students learn to apply computer software, hardware and data to the needs of businesses and organisations, as Laramie County Community College (LCCC) describes its pathway. In engineering technology, students apply engineering methods in practice. ABET, the US accreditation body for these fields, explains that engineering programmes often focus on theory and conceptual design, while engineering technology programmes usually focus on application and implementation, with mathematics that is more practical than theoretical in nature.

Qualifications and levels

  • Associate degrees and certificates (United States). Community and technical colleges teach two-year associate degrees, diplomas and certificates. Pine Technical and Community College in Minnesota, for example, lists Applied Engineering Technology, Automated Systems Technology, Automotive Technology and Information Technology programmes in cyber security and network administration. Kirtland Community College in Michigan lists Automotive Technology, Computer Information Systems, Construction Technologies and Industrial Technologies among its areas.
  • Bachelor's degrees. Universities offer four-year technology degrees in the United States. The Department of Technology at Illinois State University has six undergraduate programmes, including Computer Systems Technology, Construction Management and Engineering Technology, and three areas of graduate study, such as Project Management. In the United Kingdom a bachelor's degree is usually shorter: the Computer Science BSc (Hons) at the University of Sussex takes 3 years full time.
  • Vocational training in Spain. Much technology training is vocational training (FP). In the professional family Informática y Comunicaciones, the Ministry of Education's TodoFP portal lists the title of Técnico en Sistemas Microinformáticos y Redes and three higher titles: Técnico Superior en Administración de Sistemas Informáticos en Red, en Desarrollo de Aplicaciones Multiplataforma and en Desarrollo de Aplicaciones Web. Specialisation courses, for example in cybersecurity, are open to holders of a higher title. At university, an official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits and official master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120.

Accreditation follows the level. ABET's Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission accredits engineering technology programmes at associate (two-year) and bachelor (four-year) level. Ask each school which accreditation its programme holds.

Where to study technology

SpainExchange lists 89 active schools for technology. The United States has 50, Spain seven and the United Kingdom six. France and Sweden have two each, and countries such as New Zealand, the Netherlands, Japan, India and Austria have one each.

Many of the US schools are community colleges, among them the Community College of Rhode Island, LCCC in Wyoming, Kirtland Community College and Pine Technical and Community College. Universities on the list include Illinois State University, the University of Sussex, Lancaster University, Massey University in New Zealand, The University of Tokyo and, in Mexico, the Universidad de Guadalajara.

The language of instruction is normally that of the country. The University of Tokyo, for example, requires fluent Japanese for most undergraduate programmes. A two-year college can also be a first step: Kirtland states that students can start there with its Associate in Science and Arts degree and continue at a four-year college or university.

Careers

Graduates work as IT support and network specialists, software and web developers, engineering technicians and technologists, and supervisors in manufacturing and construction. ABET notes that graduates of two-year engineering technology programmes are likely to take engineering technician positions in maintenance, production or product development. Graduates of four-year programmes are most likely to work in construction, manufacturing, product design, testing, or technical services and sales.

The level of study matters for the job. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate's degree, and so do network support specialists. The BLS projects overall employment in computer and information technology occupations to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2025 to 2035, with about 280,000 openings a year. For architecture and engineering occupations it projects growth much faster than the average and about 174,800 openings a year.

Frequently asked questions

Is studying technology the same as studying IT?

No. Information technology is one branch. Technology programmes also cover engineering technology, automated production, construction, automotive and energy systems.

What is the difference between engineering and engineering technology?

According to ABET, engineering programmes often focus on theory and conceptual design, while engineering technology programmes usually focus on application and implementation and use more practical mathematics.

Can I become a licensed engineer with an engineering technology degree?

In part of the United States, yes. ABET states that graduates of ABET-accredited bachelor-level engineering technology programmes are eligible to become registered professional engineers in many, but not all, states.

How long does a technology qualification take?

It depends on the level and the country. An associate degree in the United States is a two-year degree and a bachelor's degree a four-year degree. A bachelor's degree at an English university such as Sussex takes 3 years, and an official Spanish grado has 240 ECTS credits.