Industrial Controls & Robotics is an Associate Degree program offered by Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis, MN. The program takes 2 years to complete, with a total tuition of $50,500.
Program Overview
Manufacturing continues to automate, and the demand for employees who understand robotic systems is growing. Industrial Controls & Robotics is a two-year degree program for students interested in the field of robotics who need to take courses during the evening.
Learn how to create and read engineering drawings, including 3D modeling with SolidWorks.
Get hands-on experience with industry-standard technologies like electronic sensors, motion-control systems, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
Program, maintain, and service the latest technology in manufacturing, packaging, and industrial robotic systems, including Dunwoody’s Fanuc robots.
Dunwoody’s program curriculum is aligned with standards set forth by:
- Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI)
- Institute of Packing Professionals (IoPP)
- Robotics Industry Association (RIA)
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
- Instrumentation Society of America (ISA)
This means that you graduate with the skills and credentials you need to have a successful career in a wide variety of manufacturing-related industries.
This degree directly transfers into Dunwoody’s Bachelor of Science in Automation & Controls Engineering Technology or the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering Technology.
Prefer to take day classes?
Learn about our Automated Systems & Robotics associate’s degree program.
What sets this Program apart
Facilities used in this program include:
Programmable Controls Lab. Learn to debug and program programmable logic controllers for use in a variety of control systems.
- 11 Allen Bradley MicroLogix PLCs
- 11 Allen Bradley CompactLogix PLCs
- 11 Siemens S7-1200 PLCs
- 11 ABB VFDs
- 11 Maple Systems HMIs
Industrial Robotics Lab. Learn to wire and program industrial robots.
- 9 FANUC LR Mate Industrial Robots
- 10 Epson T3 SCARA Robots
- 8 UR3E Collaborative Robots
- 1 FANUC M1-iA Delta Robot
Packaging Lab. Assemble, configure, and program an array of packaging machinery to move a product from its initial state to packaged, wrapped, boxed, and palletized.
- 1 Fanuc Robot and RoboDrill Cell
- 1 Scandia Diamond Wrapper
- 1 MGS Cartoner
- 1 Checkmate Checkweigher
- 1 DoBoy Shrink Tunnel
- 1 Label-Aire Labeler
Basic Electricity Lab. Complete projects that help you learn the fundamentals of electricity, including how to analyze, design, build, and test series, parallel and combination AC and DC circuits.
- 12 individual workstations that include: Lighted Magnifier; Digital Microscope; Soldering Iron; Fume Extractor; Work Holding Equipment; Hot Air Rework Equipment; Prototyping and Wiring Tools; Linear Power Supply Transformer Trainer; Digital Oscilloscope; Digital Multimeter; Analog Multimeter; DC Power Supply; AC Function Generator
- 2 LPKF S64 PCB Milling Machines
- Neoden Solder Paste Stencil Station
- Neoden PCB Pick and Place Machine
- Neoden PCB Reflow Oven
- Digital Thermal Imaging Camera
- 5 LabVIEW DAQ Trainers
- 12 Microcontroller Development Training Kits
- Instructor overhead projector station for demonstrations
Engineering, Materials, Mechanics & Metrology Lab. Open to all manufacturing and engineering students (and those with training on the equipment), this lab brings together equipment for additive manufacturing, material testing, measurement, and CNC simulation.
- Two Stratasys Fortus 250 3D Printers
- One Stratasys F370 3D Printer
- One Fortus 400 3D Printer
- Two MakerBot 3D Printers
- Two Zeiss Duramax Coordinate Measurement Machines
- Two MTS Criterion Tensile/Shear/Compression Testers
- 7 Haas CNC Controller Simulators
- One Zeiss Stemi 305 Microscope
Gene Haas Manufacturing Innovation Lab. Learn to program CNC milling and turning operations and develop the tooling used in modern manufacturing processes like injection molding and metal stamping.
- 10 Haas CNC Mini Mills
- 2 Haas VF2 Mills
- Haas ST-10 Lathe
- Sodick Wire EDM
- Charmilles Sinker EDM
- Cincinatti Injection Mold Press
Admission Requirements and Process
Students applying for admission to Dunwoody College of Technology must provide a final, official high school transcript (with graduation date) or a GED score from a recognized GED testing center. Admission decisions are based on a careful, overall assessment of each student’s academic preparation and performance, as well as the additional information provided in the application. Additional requirements may be required for certain programs.
General Requirements
- High school diploma or GEDProvide a final, official high school transcript (with graduation date) or a GED score from a recognized GED testing center.
- College transcriptsIf you have completed college credits and intend to apply for federal financial aid, or want the credits considered for transfer, an official transcript from that institution is…
- Admission reviewAdmission decisions weigh coursework through high school graduation, any previous college-level coursework, grade point average and the application essay.
- Test scores optionalACT, SAT or PSAT scores are considered if available but are not required.
- ImmunizationMinnesota law (M.S. 135A.14) requires students born after 1956 to be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps and rubella; accepted students fill out an immunization…
- OrientationOrientation is an enrollment requirement for all new students; admitted students are mailed information on Orientation sessions.
Application Process
- 1Fill out an application for admissionRegister for Dunwoody’s Admissions portal and start your application; you can save your progress and come back to it.
- 2Provide official transcriptsRequest official transcripts from all educational institutions attended (including high school), sent directly to the Dunwoody Admissions Office, or have your GED scores sent.
- 3Personal interviewA personal interview with an Admissions Counselor is recommended to ensure Dunwoody is the right fit for your educational and career goals.
- 4Admissions decisionYour completed file goes to the admissions committee, which meets once a week; students are notified of decisions within four business days.
- 5Apply for financial aidComplete the FAFSA (Dunwoody school code 004641); a completed FAFSA is also required to be considered for Dunwoody scholarships.FAFSA Code for Minneapolis Campus: 004641Complete FAFSA Application
- 6Attend orientationAdmitted students are mailed information on Orientation, an enrollment requirement for all new students, where they receive their class schedule and student ID.
Program Schedule
Length of program. 2 years (4 semesters).
Classes offered. Evening.
Available starts. Fall Semester; Spring Semester.
Upcoming start dates. January 25, 2027, August 30, 2027, January 24, 2028 (per the 2026-2027 academic calendar).
- January 25th, 2027
- August 30th, 2027
- January 24th, 2028
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Program cost (2026-27). Total program tuition is $50,500 (Year 1: $24,309; Year 2: $26,191). Required fees (device) total $1,556 and books, supplies, materials and course/program fees total $990, for an estimated total program cost of $53,046.
Cost of attendance. For the 2025-26 academic year Dunwoody lists average annual costs (which vary by program) of $27,704 tuition, $744 books and supplies and $710 fees, plus living expenses of $3,898 food, $11,766 on-campus or $12,106 off-campus housing, $2,000 transportation and $2,200 miscellaneous.
Financial aid. Most Dunwoody students receive some form of financial aid, including federal and state grants, federal loans and work study. Start by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); Dunwoody’s federal school code is 004641. A completed FAFSA is also required to be considered for Dunwoody scholarships, and each year Dunwoody gives out nearly $4 million in scholarship funding.
Minnesota programs. Dunwoody participates in the Minnesota State Grant, Dream Act, Postsecondary Child Care Grant, GI Bill Scholarship, Indian Scholarship, Fostering Independence Grant, State Work-Study and SELF Loan programs.
Veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes Dunwoody as a Benefits Eligible College, and Dunwoody is a Yellow Ribbon School. Dunwoody waives the application fee and enrollment fees for veterans and military students.
Payment plans. Dunwoody offers a payment plan option for students to divide the balance owed each semester into smaller payments; students must enroll in the payment plan each semester.
Curriculum
The Industrial Controls & Robotics (ICON), AAS requires 60 credits. By the end of this program, students will be able to:
- Apply the concepts of basic electricity.
- Demonstrate required industry safety standards.
- Explain the operation of electronic devices.
- Troubleshoot circuits and systems using industry standard test equipment.
- Analyze electrical schematics and mechanical prints.
- Perform maintenance on mechanical systems.
- Commission and maintain industrial control systems.
- Commission and maintain industrial robots.
Class topics include:
- Basic electricity and electronics
- Mechanical systems
- Electronic sensors
- Programmable logic controllers (PLCs)
- Industrial robotics
- Motion-control systems
- Advanced packaging and manufacturing systems
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
Common job titles. Possible job titles upon graduation include:
- Maintenance Mechanic
- Controls Engineer
- Field Service Engineer
- Assembler
- Electro-Mechanical Technician
Recent employers of graduates. Companies that hire our graduates include:
- Medtronic
- Delkor Systems
- OakRiver Technology
- PaR Systems
- Emerson
- Design Ready Controls
2024-25 graduate outcomes. Of 8 Industrial Controls & Robotics graduates in 2024-25, the in-field employment rate was 100% and the career outcomes rate was 100% (Dunwoody Career Services Annual Report 2024-2025; employment recorded up to six months after graduation).
Average salary. $62K (Average Salary, Robotics & Electronics A.A.S.; 2023-24 Dunwoody Career Services Annual Report, as shown on the program page).
What to expect as a Dunwoody College of Technology student
Student organizations. Opportunities to get involved outside of the classroom include:
- Robotic Snow Plow Team
- Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK)
- SkillsUSA
Campus Address
Why Accreditation Is Important
Dunwoody College of Technology is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and registered with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the Minneapolis Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Percentages are of total fall enrollment. 9 students whose race or ethnicity was not reported are included in that total but shown as no category, so the figures above come to 99.4% rather than 100%.
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