College Life

Private Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• University of Dayton
• Illinois Institute of Technology
• Ohio Northern University
• Western Washington University

State Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• Central Washington University
• Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
• Ferris State University
• Indiana State University

Classes in the Major

Electrical and Mechanical Power Systems. Until some wise pony scientist creates a machine powered on wishes and shamrocks, they have to run the old fashioned way. This means the twin industrial engines of electrical and mechanical power. Because a factory without power is really just a giant building where they store tetanus.

Packaging Fundamentals. Packaging is really the first thing you forget when it comes to a product. After all, that's just the stuff that's in the way of the thing you actually want. Packaging does have several pretty important purposes. First, it lets you know what's in there, usually with attractive pictures and branding. It also keeps everything in one easy-to-transport container, which can be useful for large or modular devices. Lastly, and probably most importantly, it protects the product. You don't want a TV with a giant crack across the screen, do you? That's why it has all that styrofoam and whatnot in there.

Quality Systems Management. Just behind actually making the product is making sure it functions the way it's supposed to. "Quality Assurance" is a bit of a euphemism in the corporate world, and it usually comes down to people attempting to break a device to ensure that it can't be broken by relatively normal use. Quality Systems Management focuses on leading a full team, as well as keeping the quality in the manufacturing end.

Managerial Accounting. Sorry, there's math. As much as we hate to admit it, that old canard is true: math is pretty useful. This is the most important kind of math for anyone running a business, too. Accounting. Making certain that the business is profitable is important. It's pretty much the main idea behind businesses. While you, as an engineer, have less to do with that side, it's important to know about it.

Supply Chain and Logistics. This is everything that gets the product from the supplier to the consumer. Everything. That probably sounded a little more ominous than it was supposed to. For industrial technology majors, this gives a more holistic idea of the entire process. With this training, you can theoretically be at any point in the chain. Beginning to end.