Machine Technology Degrees & Certificates

What Are Your Goals?

The machine technology department’s certificate and degree offerings have changed effective Fall 2023! We now offer several certificate programs (basic manufacturing, manual machining, CNC machining, industrial maintenance) and an advanced certificate (advanced precision machining). The department also offers an associate’s degree in machine technology.

Some of the certificates are “standalone” and some are “stackable”. A standalone certificate is one which provides students with a comprehensive curriculum in a particular subject, after which they will be prepared for employment in a specific field. This type of certificate is similar to a traditional two-year degree, but does not have general education requirements. A stackable certificate is one which is part of a sequence of short-term credentials accumulated over time to build up students’ qualifications to help them move along a career pathway. This type of certificate helps students gain employment faster and customize their education to meet their specific career goals.

Below, you will find the catalog description and required courses for each degree/certificate.

Basic Manufacturing
(Certificate of Achievement, stackable)

Description: The Laney College Basic Manufacturing CA is a career education program which provides students with theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills required for entry-level work in precision manufacturing. Coursework includes shop safety, operation of machine tools, engineering drawings, 3D solid modeling with CAD, and technical mathematics. The certificate is intended for students who want to continue on to more advanced machining curriculum and for students from other departments who would benefit from a survey of manufacturing processes. The certificate is stackable with the Manual Machining and CNC Machining certificates.

Manual Machining
(Certificate of Achievement, stackable)

Description: The Laney College Manual Machining CA is a career education program which prepares students for work as a manual machinist. The certificate builds upon knowledge gained and skills developed in the Basic Manufacturing certificate. Students achieve competency in the operation of manual machine tools, such as mills, lathes and surface grinders. The coursework also includes a survey of welding processes.

CNC Machining
(Certificate of Achievement, stackable)

Description: The Laney College CNC Machining CA is a career education program which prepares students for work as a CNC machinist, CNC machine operator, CNC setup technician or CNC programmer. The certificate builds upon knowledge gained and skills developed in the Basic Manufacturing certificate. Students achieve competency in the setup, operation and programming of computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools, such as 3-axis mills and 2-axis lathes, but also more advanced 5-axis machining centers and turning centers with live tooling. The coursework includes G-code programming as well as programming with CAM software.

NEW! Advanced Precision Machining
(Certificate of Achievement, stackable)

Description: The Laney College Advanced Precision Machining CA is a career education program which prepares students for the highest level of work in precision manufacturing. The certificate is intended for advanced machine technology students and students with prior work experience as machinists to grow their skill sets to meet increasing demands for precision, miniaturization, complex non-prismatic geometries, exotic materials, automation and quality control in high tech sectors, like medical device, semiconductor, optics and scientific research. The coursework includes fundamentals of precision engineering, multi-axis CNC machining, micromachining, diamond turning, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), and noncontact optical metrology.

INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE
(Certificate of Achievement, standalone)

Description: The Laney College Machine Technology Industrial Maintenance is a multi-disciplinary career technical education certificate that prepares students for work in a wide range of industries. The certificate covers mechanics, machining, electrical and welding skills which play a critical role in the industrial maintenance field. Students also receive an OSHA 30-hour industrial safety certificate. The certificate prepares students for entry-level positions performing installation, maintenance and repair operations on industrial equipment (such as blowers, pumps, motors) and infrastructure (such as piping, conveyance systems) in a wide range of industries (such as refineries, utilities, manufacturing plants).

MACHINE TECHNOLOGY
(Associate in Science Degree)

Description: The Laney College Machine Technology AS degree is a career technical education program that prepares students for work as a machinist, manual machinist, CNC machinist, CNC operator, CNC setup technician or CNC programmer. The degree provides students with the theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills required for precision manufacturing, specifically metal cutting, using both manual and computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools. Coursework includes shop safety, setup and operation of machine tools, precision measurement, engineering drawings, 3D solid modeling with CAD, CNC programming in G-code and with CAM software, technical mathematics and a survey of welding processes.

Looking for some guidance?

Below is our recommendation for which courses to take during each semester to complete the Machine Technology AS degree within two years.