Program Overview

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Machine Tool Operation

Program Number:

Your Degree:

Technical Diploma

Area of Study:

Construction, Manufacturing and Maintenance

Delivery Method:

100% In Person

Estimated Time to Complete:

34 Credits | Finish diploma in 1 year

Financial Aid Available:

Program Overview

As a Machine Tool Operations student, you will:

• Be introduced to Computer Numerical Control (CNC), Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM).
• Acquire skills in basic machining such as milling, manual lathes, and drill presses.
• Learn blueprint reading, measurement, quality control, precision and repair machining.
• Gain knowledge and skills necessary to build and inspect machined parts.
• Get hands-on training in a high-tech work environment.
• Problem solve, team work, math, communication, and computers.
• Prepares students for employment in the machining and metalworking industries.
• Build skills needed to become a skilled craftsman.

Program Details

• Students in the Machine Tool Operations program can attend full- or part-time.
• Machine Tool Operations classes are offered at our Madison Truax campus.

Careers

Earning your One-Year Technical Diploma in Machine Tool Operations program at Madison Area Technical College prepares you for valuable work in:

• Machine Operator
• Repair/Precision Machinist
• CNC Machinist
• Machine Repair Specialist

With additional education and/or work experience, graduates may find employment as:

• Journey-level Tool and Die Maker
• Journey-level Mold Maker
• Journey-level Millwright
• Shop Owner
• Shop Manager
• Industrial Engineer
• Manufacturing Engineer
• Industrial Sales Engineer
• Die and/or Mold Designer
• Educator
• Tool and Die Apprentice
• Mold Making Apprentice
• Millwright Apprentice
• CNC Programmer

Get training for high demand jobs, attractive pay and advancement opportunities.

• Entry level metalworkers can average $30,000-$45,000 with a two-year diploma.
• Precision machining can lead to an engineering or business degree.
• Experienced precision metalworkers earn from $40,000 to $75,000 annually.
• Advancement Opportunities to Manager, Teacher, Shop Owner.
• Ford Motor Co., Cadillac Motor Co., Brown & Sharpe, and Fairbanks Morse were all started by machinists.

Curriculum and Experience

Prospective program students , the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the ** academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.

Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:

• Progress toward your specific requirements
• Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements

If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.

First Semester

• Interpreting Engineering Drawings
• Machine Tool 1
• Machine Tool 2
• Intro to CNC - G-code Programming
• Elements of Basic Metrology
• Math for the Machine Trades

Second Semester

• Introduction to Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GDT)
• Machine Tool 3
• Machine Tool 4
• Manufacturing w/Solid Modeling-2D
• Applied CNC-Conversational and Setup
• Fundamentals of Metallurgy
• Machine Tool-Occupational Development

Get hands-on learning from day one on high-tech equipment.

Admission

To Apply

Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities, so apply today!

International students who wish to apply for, maintain, or transfer their F-1 student visa status to Madison College are required to complete the International Admission Process.

Application Dates

• Fall 2025
  • Application open
  • Application completion deadline is August 31, 2025
• Spring 2026
  • Application open
  • Application completion deadline is January 15, 2026

Admission Requirements

All materials must be submitted by the application deadline.

• 1. Admission Application
  • The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.
• 2. Education Completion
  • Submit official transcripts from the institutions you attended that indicate one of the following:
    • High school completion (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
    • GED/HSED completion
    • College transcript or Madison College experience showing:
      • Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
      • At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale
        • The credits must be completed at a single college and cannot be combined with other transcripts
        • Any transfer credit listed on a transcript does not count toward the 30-credit minimum
        • Credits completed at Madison College are evaluated and do not require a transcript

All high school and/or college transcripts are recommended to be submitted for Credit for Prior Learning evaluation.

Additional Notes

• Class capacity is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis.
• Course prerequisites differ from admission requirements; admission into a program does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses or success in the program. Refer to program curriculum for details.

After Acceptance

Once you are admitted into your program, review the Start of Semester Checklist to prepare for your first day of classes at Madison College.

Questions?

Contact the Enrollment Center at or 608.246.6210.

Career Outcomes

Madison College Machine Tool Operations program graduates are prepared to:

• Apply basic safety practices in the machine shop
• Interpret industrial/engineering drawings
• Apply precision measuring methods to part inspection
• Perform basic machine tool equipment set-up and operation
• Perform programming, set-up and operation of CNC Machine Tools

Graduate Summary

• Number of Program Graduates: 7 (2022), 5 (2023), 9 (2024)
• Number of Surveys Sent: 7 (2022), 4 (2023), 9 (2024)
• Number of Surveys Returned: 7 (2022), 4 (2023), 6 (2024)
• Percent of Surveys Returned: 100% (2022), 100% (2023), 66.7% (2024)
• Available for Employment: 1 (2022), 1 (2023), 1 (2024)
• Percent Available for Employment: 14.3% (2022), 25.0% (2023), 16.7% (2024)
• Not in Labor Market: 6 (2022), 3 (2023), 5 (2024)
• Percent Not in Labor Market: 85.7% (2022), 75.0% (2023), 83.3% (2024)

Graduate Employers

• Plastic Ingenuity Inc (Machinist/Moldmaker, Cross Plains)

Related Programs

• Machine Tooling Technics
• Basic Machining
• CNC Setup Technician
• Machinist Apprenticeship
• Tool & Die Apprenticeship