Dunwoody Automation & Controls Engineering Technology

Automated systems and controls are a fundamental part of modern life. They include any system that uses a sensor and then automatically makes adjustments to the system based on the data the sensor provides. That means everything from the automatic gate at a parking ramp to complex robot-driven manufacturing systems.

Dunwoody’s bachelor completion degree in Automation & Controls Engineering Technology is specifically for those looking to land engineering and management positions in the field.

As a completion degree, it provides a path to a four-year degree and graduates from two-year degrees in electrical maintenance, electronics, mechatronics, industrial controls, and robotics.

Students without a two-year degree who are interested in the most direct path the Bachelor of Science in Automation & Controls Engineering Technology should apply to Dunwoody’s Automated Systems & Robotics or Industrial Controls & Robotics programs.

Controls engineering combines a variety of disciplines, including electrical design, PLC (programmable logic controller) applications, robotics, motors, machine vision, auto-guided vehicles, and factory automation. Students in Dunwoody’s program take advanced coursework in each of those areas.

They also take classes in mathematics, physics, project management, and engineering so they develop the critical thinking, communication, and managerial skills required of the modern engineer.

Classes are lab-intensive so students can apply what they learn to real-world projects.

The program incorporates a senior capstone project in its final semester that gives students the chance to demonstrate industry-relevant controls engineering experience.

As part of the curriculum, students are also prepared to earn the following certifications:

  • PMMI PLC 1 Certification
  • PMMI PLC2 Certification
  • OSHA Machine Guarding
  • ISA Certified Automation Professional

Additional Information

Class topics include:

  • Fundamentals of industrial automation
  • Autonomous-Guided Vehicles (AGV)
  • Advanced industrial controllers
  • Engineering project management
  • Using machine vision for automated inspection
  • Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems

Degree Requirements

To view program requirements, including required courses, electives, course descriptions, and credit hours, visit:

College Catalog: Automation & Controls Engineering Technology

Common Job Titles

  • Controls Engineer
  • Automation Engineer
  • Mechatronics Engineer
  • PLC Programmer
  • Robotics Engineer
  • Application Engineer
  • Process Engineer
  • ECAD Designer

Student Organizations

  • ISA – International Society for Automation – Dunwoody Chapter (coming soon)
  • Robotic Snow Plow Team

Learn more

Facilities

Automation Engineering Lab

Learn how to program and commission automated control systems in a variety of settings.

  • 12 Cognex Machine Vision systems
  • 12 Motion-Control Trainers
  • 12 RoboTeq Auto-Guided Vehicles
  • 12 SCADA/HMI trainers

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 program industrial robots.

  • 8 FANUC LR Mate Industrial Robots
  • 8 Epson T3 SCARA Robots
  • 1 FANUC M1-iA Delta Robot

Controls Engineering Lab

Assemble and program the industrial controls used in discrete manufacturing and advanced process control applications.

  • 24 Individual Work Stations
  • AB CompactLogix PLCs
  • PanelView HMIs
  • Kinetix Motion Controllers
  • Cognex Machine Vision Systems

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 Oscilloscopes
  • 12 powersupplies and function generators
  • 12 Elenco circuit prototyping stations
  • 12 Relay Logic control panels