Welcome to Career Corner, a regular feature in Cougar News which highlights workforce programs at Collin College. Today, we are looking at the Industrial Automation program.
The Industrial Automation program prepares graduates to identify, install, maintain, troubleshoot, and calibrate the types of automated systems which are used in manufacturing throughout the world. From assembling products and packaging to preparing food, through shipping and distribution, automation is making the manufacturing process faster and smoother for companies in dozens of industries.
Students begin with a basic electronics education, learning digital fundamentals and basic circuitry. From there, the program begins to explore the hydraulics and pneumatics which translate a machine’s programming into physical actions. The second year of the program focuses on, among other things, robotics, motors and motor control, and programmable logic controllers, the “brains” of any automated process.
“The college program is very well-rounded in terms of technical skills and soft skills,” Tripat Baweja, the program’s director, said. “The biggest advantage for students is that the technician workforce in the local area is aging; and therefore, there’s a huge demand for technicians in this particular area. So, Collin College’s program gives our students a chance to get into that workforce, where there are a lot of job opportunities and a lot a professional development.”
This video of robotics and conveyor belt problem-solving by Electronic Engineering Technology students demonstrates some of the skills that Collin College’s Industrial Automation program students will learn.
Careers in Industrial Automation
Electro-Mechanical Technicians
Average Salary: $56,600*
11% growth*
Programs
– Industrial Automation Associate of Applied Science degree (60 credit hours)
– Industrial Automation Level 2 Certificate (44 credit hours)
– Industrial Automation Level 1 Certificate (34 credit hours)
Want to learn more about the Industrial Automation program? Visit the curriculum page at www.collin.edu/academics/programs/ELMT_1Overview.html.
For more information about other workforce programs, check out the information sheets at www.collin.edu/academics/info/ or visit www.collin.edu/academics/AcadPrg_careerclusters.html.
*Data obtained from JobsEQ (Collin County), O*NET, and Workforce Solutions of North Central Texas
Note: Job growth projected from 2019-2025
Note: The earning potential for employees with certifications and Associate of Applied Science degrees may exceed the average salary.