Program Overview

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Mechanical Design Technology

Program Number:

Your Degree: Associate Degree

Area of Study: Architecture and Engineering

Delivery Method: Some Online/Some In Person

Estimated Time to Complete: 73 Credits | Finish degree in 2 years

Financial Aid Available: Yes

Program Transfers: Yes

Program Overview

As a Mechanical Design Technology student, you will:

• Apply skills that are used to assist in the design process for manufactured products used in everyday life.
• Analyze product reliability costs and design to meet customer needs.
• Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to design parametric part models.
• Use state-of-the-art additive manufacturing technology when creating 3D printed or rapid prototyped parts.
• Acquire hands-on training in various manufacturing processes including machine tool operations, plastics processes, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), hydraulics and pneumatics.
• Interpret and apply American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) drawing standards when creating engineering drawings.
• Apply common industry quality practices when designing parts.
• Learn to work effectively in a team environment.
• Use project management principles when planning for projects, including scope, time and cost.
• Apply math, science and communication skills.
• Explore potential design career paths through field trips to high-tech companies.

Program Details

• Students in the Mechanical Design Technology program can attend full- or part-time.
• Mechanical Design Technology program classes are offered at the Madison College Truax campus.

Mechanical Design Careers

Earning your Associate Degree in the Mechanical Design Technology program at Madison Area Technical College prepares you for valuable work as:

• Mechanical Drafter
• Mechanical Design Technician
• Detailer
• CAD Drafter
• Mechanical Designer

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

• Senior Mechanical Designer
• Tool Designer
• Mold Designer
• CAD Specialist
• Design Engineer
• Project Manager
• Machine Designer
• Professional Engineer
• Engineering Consultant
• Director

Graduates of this program have excellent career potential.

• The average starting salary over the past two years for graduates of the Mechanical Design Technology program at Madison College ranges from $39,500 to $54,500.
• Opportunities exist for graduates to transfer to four-year engineering degree programs, which upon successful completion potentially enhance job potential and growth.

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.

It is strongly recommended to meet with an academic advisor or faculty advisor upon admission to the program and prior to enrolling in courses.

For students planning on transferring, consult your advisor for the best course choices when options are available.

First Semester

• Engineering Technology Communications (3 credits)
• Engineering Technology Fundamentals (2 credits)
• 2-D CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) (1 credit)
• SolidWorks 1 (1 credit)
• SolidWorks 2 (2 credits)
• Fundamentals of Manufacturing/Engineering Materials (2 credits)
• Written Communication (3 credits)
• College Technical Math 1 (5 credits)

Second Semester

• SolidWorks 3 (2 credits)
• Dimensioning Practices (1 credit)
• Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (1 credit)
• Rapid Prototyping (2 credits)
• Statics And Mechanics (3 credits)
• Manufacturing Processes (2 credits)
• Strength Of Materials (3 credits)
• Career Development - Mechanical Design Program (1 credit)

Third Semester (Summer)

• Mechanical Design Technology Field Study Experience (1 credit)

Fourth Semester

• Metal Repair Techniques (2 credits)
• Fluid Power 1 for Industry (1 credit)
• Engineering Technology Practices (3 credits)
• Machine Design (3 credits)
• Plastics for Mechanical Design (3 credits)
• Engineering Technology Project Management (2 credits)
• Quality Systems (2 credits)
• Intro to Ethics: Theory & App (3 credits)

Fifth Semester

• Tool Design Technology (3 credits)
• Engineering Technology Applications (3 credits)
• Technical Reporting (3 credits)
• General Physics 1 (4 credits)
• Psychology Of Human Relations (3 credits)

Admission

To Apply

Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities.

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
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

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.

Transfer Opportunities

UW System Schools

• UW Green Bay: Students who complete an approved transfer program may apply credits towards a degree at UWGB. Students must meet all UWGB degree requirements for graduation. At least 30 credits must be completed at UWGB to satisfy the UWGB residency requirement.
• UW Oshkosh: The terms of the B.S in Leadership & Org Studies agreement are limited to students who complete selective A.A.S or A.A.A. degrees and are admitted to the Organizational Studies emphasis at UW-Oshkosh. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
• UW Platteville: Associate in Science from MC to Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering at UW Platteville.

Wisconsin Private Schools

• Concordia University: Students with an AA, AS or AAS are Advanced Core. Advanced Core requires students to have earned at least 60 credits. Students transferring prior to completion or with less than 60 credits are standard core and credits are evaluated course by course.
• Edgewood College: Upon completion of the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Civil Engineering Technology, Mechanical Design Technology, Electromechanical Technology, or Automated Manufacturing Systems Technology, students will be guaranteed admission to Edgewood College and be able to complete the Bachelor's Degree in Physics with a concentration in Applied Science in as little as 2 years at Edgewood College. Completion of the Associate of Applied Science Degree in one of the above programs guarantees up to 64 general/transfer credits based on course selection.
• Lakeland University: Student who earn an Associate Degree from Madison College can transfer a minimum of 60 credits and a maximum of 72 credits to Lakeland College to be applied to the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree.
• Milwaukee School of Engineering: Completion of an A.A.S. Degree at Madison College after 2015, and meeting admission requirements for the Rader School of Business (RSOB) at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) can earn a B.B.A degree in Technical Sales at MSOE.

Out-of-State Schools

• Bellevue University: Students who complete any associate degree at Madison Area Technical College will have no additional general education core curriculum requirements to meet but must satisfy the Kirkpatrick Signature Series requirement.
• Capella University: Per the agreement, students must complete the associates of arts, associates of science or associates of applied science with an overall GPA of a 2.0 prior to transferring.
• Colorado State University Global Campus: Students graduating with an associate degree from MATC with a 2.0 GPA or higher are guaranteed admissions into CSU-Global and can transfer up to 64 semester credits from MATC to be applied toward earning a Bachelor’s Degree at CSU-Global.
• Franklin University: Franklin University will guarantee acceptance of Madison College graduates with an AA, AS, or AAS. Madison College graduates will have junior standing at Franklin University and may transfer up to 94 additional credits toward their baccalaureate degree.

Career Outcomes

MATC Mechanical Design Technology program graduates are prepared to:

• Prepare detail and assembly drawings for documentation of mechanical components and products.
• Create computer-aid design (CAD) geometry, parts and assemblies.
• Design mechanical components and products.
• Analyze mechanical engineering problems.
• Select purchased parts.
• Work effectively and productively, both independently and within a team work environment to develop customer focused needs.

Graduate Summary

Graduate Report Summary Overview Count

Percents	2022	2023	2024
Number of Program Graduates	11	10	12
Number of Surveys Sent	10	9	12
Number of Surveys Returned	7	9	9
Percent of Surveys Returned
Available for Employment	7	9	8
Percent Available for Employment	100.0%	100.0%	88.9%
Not in Labor Market
Percent Not in Labor Market	0.0%	0.0%	11.1%

Available for Employment Count

Percents	2022	2023	2024
Graduates Employed	7	6	7
Percent of Graduates Employed	100.0%	66.7%	87.5%
Employed in Related Occupation	6	6	5
Percent Employed in Related Occupation	85.7%	100.0%	71.4%
Employed in Unrelated Occupation	1	0	2
Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation	14.3%	0.0%	28.6%
Employed - No Response	0	0	0
Percent Employed - No Response	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Seeking Employment	0	3	1
Percent Seeking Employment	0.0%	33.3%	12.5%

Reaction To Training at Madison College Count

Percents	2022	2023	2024
Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4)	3.4	3.8	3.4
Number of Satisfaction Responses	7	9	9
Very Satisfied (4)	3	7	5
Percent Very Satisfied	42.9%	77.8%	55.6%
Satisfied (3)	4	2	3
Percent Satisfied	57.1%	22.2%	33.3%
Unsatisfied (2)	0	0	1
Percent Unsatisfied	0.0%	0.0%	11.1%
Very Unsatisfied (1)
Percent Very Unsatisfied	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%

Primary Reason for Attending Madison College Count

Percents	2022	2023	2024
Number of Primary Reason Responses	7	9	9
Preparation for Getting a Job
Percent Preparation for Getting a Job
Career Change
Percent Career Change
Improvement of Existing Skills
Percent Improvement of Existing Skills
Preparation for Further Education
Percent Preparation for Further Education
Personal Interest
Percent Personal Interest
Other
Percent Other	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%

When Employment was Obtained Count

Percents	2022	2023	2024
Number of When Employment Obtained Responses	7	6	7
Before Enrollment	1	0	1
Percent Before Enrollment	14.3%	0.0%	14.3%
While Attending the College	1	3	3
Percent While Attending the College	14.3%	50.0%	42.9%
After Training at the College	5	3	3
Percent After Training at the College	71.4%	50.0%	42.9%

Location of Employment (related and unrelated) Count

Percents	2022	2023	2024
Number of Employment Location Responses	7	6	7
In College District	5	6	4
Percent In College District	71.4%	100.0%	57.1%
In Wisconsin, Not in District	1	0	2
Percent of In Wisconsin	14.3%	0.0%	28.6%
Outside of Wisconsin	1	0	0
Percent Outside Wisconsin	14.3%	0.0%	0.0%
Employer Location Unknown	0	0	1
Percent Location Unknown	0.0%	0.0%	14.3%

Salary Trend

2022	2023	2024
Full Time Employment (Related Job)	Full Time Salary Count	6	5	5
Average Monthly Wage	$3,882	$4,276	$4,785
Average Hourly Wage	$22.57	$24.86	$27.82
Average Work Hours per Week	47.0	41.0	40.4
Part Time Employment (Related Job)	Part Time Salary Count		1
Average Hourly Wage		$23.00
Average Work Hours per Week		24.0

Graduate Employers

Graduate Employers for academic year: 2024

Employer(s)	Job Title	City*	State**	Positions
BW Papersystems	Mechanical Designer
Dane Manufacturing	Mechanical Design Technician	Waunakee
Develop LLC	Mechanical Engineer	Verona
Prolec GE	Mechanical Designer	Waukesha
Switchgear Power Systems	Mechanical Detailer	Winneconne

• • Only cities outside of Madison will display. ** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.