Lead the Future of Manufacturing
Take your education and experience in automation, digital transformation, or other cutting-edge Industry 4.0 disciplines to the next level.
The only degree of its kind, UW-Stout’s B.S. Automation Leadership provides technology-driven, future-focused students—including two-year graduates from SACA-member schools and others with degrees in automation, mechatronics and other related areas—a gateway to leadership in Industry 4.0.
Continue Your Path to an Automation Leadership Degree
- Transfer Your Professional Core Classes (40 Credits)
- Transfer Any General Education Credits You've Earned to UW-Stout (Up to 27 Credits)
- Complete UW-Stout's Core Automation Leadership Classes, Including Your Capstone, Online (19 Credits)
- Complete SACA Professional-Level Classes (21 Credits)
- Complete Any Remaining General Education Requirements Online

Career-Defining Curriculum
Offering courses aligned with Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) standards, UW-Stout’s Automation Leadership degree offers the relevant leadership and management training to enhance your industry-recognized credentials.
Core Automation Leadership Classes
- Digital Transformation
- Internet of Things in Operations
- Project Management
- Organizational Leadership
- Lean Manufacturing
- Automation Leadership Internship
- Automation Leadership Capstone
Pursue the Concentration That Meet Your Career Goals
- Smart Automation Certification
- Welding Technology
Earn a Professional Certificate While Fulfilling Your Degree Requirements
Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the Bachelor of Science degree in Automation Leadership.
Request Information
Complete Your Degree Online from Anywhere
All UW-Stout degree classes, including core program and remaining general education credits, can be completed entirely online, offering you the flexibility to earn your degree while completing your SACA professional core and professional-level classes on site with a partnering technical college.
Maximize Transfer Credits & Earn Credit for Prior Learning
Transfer up to 88 credits from any technical or community college in the country. In addition to your general education credits, you’ll get credit for program-aligned SACA certifications earned at any SACA-member institution.
Note: 32 credits must be completed at UW-Stout.
SACA certifications earned through employment or otherwise not listed on a college transcript will be reviewed as Prior Learning Credit. A $75 non-refundable fee plus an additional $50 per credit will be assessed when transferring 1-6 credits. When transferring over six credits the $75 non-refundable fee plus an additional $300 fee will be assessed.
Customized Tuition & Fees
UW-Stout degree programs using the all-inclusive customized instruction model are designed with the adult learner in mind. Other universities will present costs and value differently, so make sure you're comparing apples to apples. If you're comparing UW-Stout's online degree customized instruction (CI) tuition to our competitors, keep in mind:
- Customized instruction tuition rate includes the textbook rental fee.
- There are no additional or hidden university-based semester or technology fees.
- Students in customized instruction programs pay the same rate of tuition regardless of where you live--Wisconsin, California, Texas, or in a foreign country.
More Value for Your Money
Customized Instruction also provides:
- Program Director/Coordinator: Faculty with academic and industry expertise.
- Student Services Advisor: One point of contact, providing dedicated support throughout your degree program.
- Course Sequences & Matrices: Plan ahead with clear program outlines so you know what courses are offered when.
- Stackable Courses & Programs: Many of our courses and certificates can be applied to our degree programs.
- Flexibility: Courses are designed to offer the flexibility and convenience working professionals need to get ahead in their careers without sacrificing their current income and responsibilities.
Program Objectives
- Apply innovative technologies in manufacturing engineering and technology areas.
- Conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments and analyze and interpret the results to improve processes.
- Apply knowledge, techniques, skills, and modern tools of digital transformation to solve broadly defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline.
- Design Industry 4.0, IoT, and automation systems, components, or processes meeting specified needs.
- Analyze data produced by Industry 4.0 systems and utilize findings in the pursuit of continuous improvement.
- Apply Industry 4.0 technology to lead digital transformation projects for manufacturing organizations.
- Function effectively as a member as well as a leader on technical teams.
- Communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences and disciplines.