Students in the ARET degree are introduced to the fundamentals of power, electronic systems and formal programming techniques common in industry. The curriculum, supported jointly by the departments of Applied Engineering, Safety & Technology and Computer Science, includes in-depth technical content of electronics, control systems, mechanical systems, and computer programming and applications to prepare professionals equipped to design, improve, maintain, and manage robotic and automated process and control systems. Laboratory courses require students to design, program, develop and construct projects independently and in small teams.

The study of robotics and controls involves the design, modeling, optimization, documentation and automation of advanced control problems. This major is designed to produce graduates prepared to work with multiple types of technology to design and implement projects that have advanced programming needs. Typical entry-level professions include software engineers, research and development engineers, systems engineers, computer engineers, process engineers, control systems engineers, controls technicians, field engineers, manufacturing engineers, robotics programmers and robotics technicians.