BUTLER TWP — Butler County Community College trustees approved two new associate degree programs Wednesday night to be implemented this fall: History and Applied Industrial Technology.

Francie Spigelmyer, vice president for academic affairs, said Applied Industrial Technology is a combination among computer-aided drafting, computer-aided machining and automation.

“It gives students a good foundation in a range of areas,” she said.

The broad-based course of study was approved at the recommendation of several local industrial leaders in an advisory board — including Mark Allen of Oberg Industries, Mike Wagner of Butler Technologies and John Oswald of Gatan Inc.

As for history, most of the coursework was previously offered through general studies. Course names and curricula were adjusted to create the new degree, Spigelmyer said.

The history degree title versus the general studies degree will allow classes to be more easily transferred to four-year schools.