Madison Area Technical College

Madison College’s Core Technical Focus

The curriculum at the Madison Truax Campus bridges the gap between hardware and software, focusing on the systems that drive modern industry. Core technical skills include: • Automation & Control: Programming and troubleshooting Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs), and SCADA systems. • Robotics & Mechanics: Operating and programming automated robotics and vision systems, motion control systems, fluid power (hydraulics/pneumatics), and mechanical drives. • Electronics: AC/DC circuit analysis, single and three-phase power, motor controls, and machine vision.

Hands-On Laboratory Environment Instruction heavily emphasizes applied, lab-based learning. Students train directly on industrial hardware, learning safety standards (including OSHA 10 and ANSI/A3 R15.06), precision measurement, blueprint reading, and system-wide fault diagnostics.

Career Outcomes & Pathways Graduates are qualified for high-demand roles such as Automation Technician, Industrial Maintenance Technician, and Manufacturing Engineering Technician. The program features highly flexible scheduling (day and evening rotations) and offers stackable credentials like the Industrial Electro-Mechanical Essentials Certificate and FANUC Certified Education Robot Training (CERT).

Additionally, the coursework acts as a certified pre-apprenticeship, creating direct pathways to Mechatronics Technician Apprenticeships recognized by the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards.