Frequently Asked Questions

• Why should I look at an Industrial Technology BS Degree?

• Definitions are great but what does it mean to you?

• Why the business and technology combination? 

• What kind of job can I get?
  Who will I work for?

• What do I need to know about IT options?

• Can I enroll in an Internship?

• Does this degree prepare me for graduate study?

Why should I look at an Industrial Technology BS Degree?

• Definition of Industrial Technology (NAIT) 
  o Industrial Technology is a field of study designed to prepare technical and/or management oriented professionals for employment in business, industry, education, and government. Industrial Technology is primarily involved with the management, operation, and maintenance of complex technological systems while Engineering and Engineering Technology are primarily involved with the design and installation of these systems. 

• (NAIT-National Association of Industrial Technology is the accrediting body for IT programs.)
  

Definitions are great but what does it mean to you?

• MSU Moorhead’s Industrial Technology degree blends business and technology in an effort to prepare you to be a college graduate with multiple job offers and opportunities to relocate where you wish. 

• The Industrial Technology degree prepares students for leadership positions in the production and service industries. 

• Curricular focus is directed toward learning experiences that allow the graduate to contribute significantly to the improvement of productivity in a quality-oriented environment. 

• Leadership, project management, and other management courses prepare the graduate to manage effectively in a team based work environment so prevalent today.

Why the business and technology combination? 

• You as a participant in the tomorrow’s knowledge environment face the challenges of continual rapid change, new technology and cultural and ethic interaction like never before. You will learn that today it is not business as usual or as it was even last year. Industry and businesses are fiercely competitive and global competition is changing with whom you do business and where that business activity occurs. 

• Companies are looking for talented individuals who can contribute immediately with ideas. The Industrial Technology curriculum is designed to allow you to understand the integration of business practices and to learn how to use appropriate tools and techniques that will make you and your company more productive and efficient. 

• Our goal is to make YOU a more valuable member of your organization.

What kind of job can I get?
Who will I work for?

• Our annual surveys show that our IT graduates work for small local companies and for large multinational companies. The majority of graduates go to work in the Fargo Moorhead area or in the Twin Cities area. However graduates also go to work on both the east and the west coast and many places in between.

• Job titles vary especially depending on the graduate’s IT option. Graduates report finding positions such as Manufacturing Engineer or Manager, Quality Assurance Engineer or Manager, Application Engineer, Technical Sales Representative, etc. Many of the IT graduates seek employment in management training programs where they may spend 12 to 24 months exploring several different functions within a company before focusing on one. This is a fast track option worth checking out. For further information check out the individual IT options. 

• Salaries range from around $30,000 to the mid $40,000s. The salary is dependent of your experience, job location, size of company, and your responsibilities.

What do I need to know about IT options?

• MSU Moorhead offers an Industrial Technology BS degree with three accredited options. 

1. Industrial Distribution
2. Industrial Management
3. Operations Management 

• Each option meets a different demand and has a different course requirement. You should check out the web site for the options you feel best match your interests. 

Can I enroll in an Internship?

• YES! Internships are required for both Industrial Distribution and Technical Management options and strongly encouraged for Industrial Management. With business cooperation students earn college credit while learning the necessities for successful careers.

• Check out the internship site for more information.

Does this degree prepare me for graduate study?

• Many of our graduates seek further formal education including Masters in Business Administration degrees or technically oriented masters’ degrees such as industrial safety, industrial technology, technology management, etc. 

• You will never quit learning—completing an Industrial Technology is just another step in your life’s adventure.