Studies & Degrees in Industrial Technology
Industrial technology is the applied side of industrial engineering. It deals with how products are actually made: the machines and automated lines, the materials, the layout of a plant, quality control, safety and the organisation of the people who run production. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes the work of industrial engineering technologists and technicians as helping engineers solve problems that affect manufacturing layout or production.
The difference with an engineering degree is one of emphasis. Illinois State University, which teaches the subject as Engineering Technology, explains that engineering students move towards conceptual design and research with heavy use of theory, while its technology students learn to improve engineering processes, manage projects and apply existing technology to solve problems. Courses are taught largely in laboratories and workshops. A typical programme includes materials processing and testing, statistical quality control, manufacturing systems, automation and robotics, computer-aided design, safety management and some business or project management.
Qualifications and levels
Most programmes in our directory are in the United States, where the subject is offered at three levels.
- Certificates and diplomas. Short technical programmes at community and technical colleges, focused on one area such as industrial maintenance, manufacturing or mechatronics. Alexandria Technical & Community College, for example, offers a Mechatronics diploma and an associate degree; its programme combines mechanical, electronic and information technology in a single discipline.
- Associate degrees. Two-year degrees at community colleges, often an Associate of Applied Science (AAS). According to the BLS, an associate's degree or a postsecondary certificate is the typical entry requirement for industrial engineering technologists and technicians.
- Bachelor's degrees. Four-year degrees with more management content. Purdue University awards a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering Technology through its Purdue Polytechnic Institute in West Lafayette. SUNY Buffalo State University teaches a 120-credit bachelor's programme in Technology Management with courses in manufacturing, quality control, materials, safety and systems analysis. Morehead State University has associate, bachelor's and master's programmes in engineering technology and in engineering and technology management.
Programme names differ from school to school: industrial technology, engineering technology, technology management, industrial systems or mechatronics. In the United States, a subject-specific accreditor exists for this field: the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE), which is recognised by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and accredits associate, bachelor's and master's programmes. The Buffalo State programme, for example, states that it is accredited by ATMAE. Ask each school which accreditation its programme holds.
In Spain the field is divided differently. At university level, the bachelor's degree in industrial technologies engineering (Grado en Ingeniería en Tecnologías Industriales) is a general engineering degree; at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid it lasts four years (240 credits), is taught in Spanish or bilingually, and gives direct access to the master's degree that qualifies for the regulated profession of industrial engineer. At vocational level, the closest official qualification is the Técnico Superior en Mecatrónica Industrial, a 2,000-hour higher vocational training (FP) programme on the assembly and maintenance of industrial machinery and automated lines.
Where to study it
Our directory lists 43 schools for industrial technology. Thirty-seven are in the United States; Australia, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Ecuador, Spain and Austria have one each. Many of the American schools are two-year community or technical colleges, such as Alexandria Technical & Community College in Minnesota, Piedmont Technical College and Greenville Technical College in South Carolina, or Arkansas Northeastern College, whose programme list includes industrial maintenance and manufacturing. Universities with four-year programmes include Purdue University, Ferris State University, Illinois State University, SUNY Buffalo State University and Morehead State University.
Teaching is in English in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, and in Spanish in Argentina, Ecuador and Spain. International applicants to American colleges should check the English test and the admission route with each school; community colleges and universities set their own requirements.
Careers
Graduates work where things are produced. Typical duties, according to the BLS, include suggesting changes to operation methods, material handling or equipment layout, interpreting engineering drawings, collecting data for process improvement and helping to plan work. Job titles named by the schools include manufacturing engineer, quality engineer, process technician, operations supervisor and safety manager.
The BLS counts about 76,700 jobs for industrial engineering technologists and technicians in the United States in 2025, most of them in manufacturing industries, and projects employment to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Holders of a bachelor's degree also move into production management, logistics and quality management.
Frequently asked questions
Is industrial technology the same as industrial engineering?
No. Industrial technology programmes are more applied and hands-on: they train people to run, maintain and improve existing production systems. Engineering degrees contain more mathematics and theory and are oriented to design and research.
How long does it take to study industrial technology?
A certificate or diploma is the shortest route, an associate degree in the United States normally takes two years, and a bachelor's degree four years. In Spain, the related FP qualification lasts 2,000 hours and the university degree four years.
Which accreditation should I look for in the United States?
Besides the institution's own regional accreditation, programmes in this field can be accredited by ATMAE, a CHEA-recognised accreditor for technology, technology management and applied engineering programmes. Ask the school which accreditation its programme holds.
Can I continue to a higher degree afterwards?
Often, yes. Some schools offer associate, bachelor's and master's programmes in the same department, and many associate degrees are designed to continue into a bachelor's programme. Ask the receiving school how many credits it accepts.