What is Mechatronics Engineering? In this major, some topics from Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science are combined to produce graduates who are able to work effectively in all aspects of robotics, automated manufacturing, and the design of mechanical devices with imbedded intelligence.

What can I do with this degree when I graduate? Graduates can look forward to employment in the automotive, aerospace, medical device, heavy equipment and many other industries.

I’ve never heard of Mechatronics. Is it a recognized field?Yes. Most programs in the United States are at the graduate level. There are many undergraduate Mechatronics programs in Europe and Asia. The Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET, the accreditation agency for engineering programs in the United States, now has specific criteria for Mechatronics Engineering.

When does it start? Freshman will be accepted for fall of 2007 and freshman-level courses will be offered that semester.

Is it hard? Graduates in the area of Mechatronics Engineering will be required to master technical elements and to demonstrate particular competence in the areas of communication, solid and fluid mechanics, analog and digital circuits, computer programming, and system design. Graduates will be able to move between the technical and managerial aspects of industry and to serve in key leadership positions within the mechatronics industry.

Is a graduate kind of a "jack of all trades"?Yes and no. This program combines subject matter from different traditional disciplines to create another type of specialist, rather than a generalist. In practice, most engineers work in disciplines beyond their primary one, and Mechatronics Engineers are particularly well prepared to meet that challenge.

What is the curriculum like? Approximately the first two years of study are common with other fields of engineering and includes several semesters of Calculus, Computer Science, Chemistry, and Physics. About one and a half years are Mechanical and Electrical Engineering courses, and the remainder specifically address Mechatronic Devices and Systems.

Graduates of the program are expected to understand both the theory and practice of:
1. computer hardware and software, applications software, and computer-aided design.
2. electrical circuits and systems; microprocessors and embedded systems, electric power and motors, and PC/machine interfacing.
3. mechanics of rigid bodies, fluids, deformable bodies, and mechanisms.
4. programmable logic controllers and industrial computers.
5. structured programming for machine control using industry standard languages.
6. design and implementation of electromechanical systems, including considerations of safety and security.
7. feedback control theory to develop hardware and create software for the control of automated mechanical systems.
8. fundamentals of calculus, differential equations and/or Laplace transforms, discrete math and probability and statistics applied in the area of electromechanical systems.
9. project management techniques applied in the area of electromechanical systems.

The complete list of courses will soon be available in the online catalog at spsu.edu.

Is this an engineering degree or an engineering technology degree? It is an engineering degree designed according to the accreditation requirements of the EAC of ABET.

Is this degree accredited now? Not yet, because ABET doesn't accredit a program until it has graduates. Application will be made for accreditation of the Mechatronics Engineering degree by ABET as early as possible. SPSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and all degrees must adhere to their accreditation requirements.

How does that affect Professional Licensing in Georgia? Georgia like other states requires applicants to graduate from an ABET accredited program or equivalent. Until ABET accreditation is received this program should be viewed as the equivalent.

So, does that mean that when I graduate from the Mechatronics Engineering program I should only have to wait 4 years to take the PE exam?Assuming your experience satisfies the licensing board and you've met all other licensing criteria in place at the time you apply, then yes.

I'm already enrolled as a student at SPSU. How do I change majors? When the program officially begins, in fall of 2007, to change your major you may go to the SPSU Internet site and follow the instructions or you can stop by Building K2 and pick up a change of major form in the office. Fill it out and leave it for us to process. Freshmen will be accepted into the program during the 2007-2008 academic year, freshmen and sophomores in 2008-2009, and so forth. That is because we need to develop some of the courses and make them official.

What if I've graduated from SPSU with an ECET or MET degree, or from any school with an accredited EE or ME degree, and want to come back and get the Mechatronics Engineering degree? Graduates can return and take the requisite courses to satisfy the degree. If you have one of the degrees in question AND have passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam (F.E.) then you only have to take the courses from the other basic discipline plus the courses which are unique to the Mechatronics Engineering degree, and possibly Computer Programming courses. That's about 45 semester hours of courses. We plan to admit returning students for the fall semester of 2009 because some Junior / Senior Mechatronics courses are new and must be developed prior to enrolling student into the courses.

What if I have more questions; who do I contact? Contact Professor R. Glenn Allen in the MET Department, Email: rallen@spsu.edu Phone : 678-915-7381.