About Mechatronics Engineering
Mechatronics Engineering is a interdisciplinary area of Engineering that combines Electrical and Mechanical Engineering with Computer Science. In Mechatronics Engineering, the main goal is to design, develop, control, and optimize the mechanical systems controlled by electronics and computers. Industrial robots and drones are quintessential examples of mechatronics systems: they include aspects of electronics, mechanics, and computing. Modern production equipment consists of mechatronic modules that are integrated according to a suitable control architecture. Popular examples include automotive subsystems, including anti-lock brakes and spin-assist, as well as everyday equipment, such as autofocus cameras, video, hard disks, and CD players.
Career Paths in Mechatronics Engineering
The complexity of mechatronics requires at least a bachelor’s degree to get into the field. A large variety of industries demand skilled workers with a degree in Mechatronics Engineering. With a Mechatronics Engineering degree, you are able to work as: a Mechatronics Engineer, a Robotics Engineer, a Control Systems Engineer, an Embedded- Systems Engineer, an Electrical Engineer, a Software Engineer, etc.
The Need for Mechatronics Engineering at CI
CSU Channel Islands is the only public university in the County of Ventura. The campus is strategically located on the so-called “101 Tech Corridor,” sharing the neighborhood with companies such as Amgen, Haas, Teledyne Technologies, HRL Laboratories, and many others, not to mention Point Mugu and Port Hueneme Naval bases, as well as Lockheed, Rocketdyne, and other companies in the greater Los Angeles area. Therefore there is a great need and demand for engineers in the local industry and community.
The local companies strongly support the establishment of an Engineering program on the CI campus, and a comprehensive report was produced in 2013 with a recommendation for an engineering degree that would meet the needs of the community. In this report it was noted that Ventura County hires about 290 engineers each year, not to mention that the local Naval Bases send their officers to complete their Engineering degrees across the nation, which results in high costs for the Navy, and a loss of revenue for Ventura County.
Program Educational Objectives
In accordance with the mission of the California State University Channel Islands, alumni of the Mechatronics Engineering program will be prepared for the following achievements within five years of graduation:
- Exceed the expectations of their employers as professional engineers in a variety of application areas.
- Engage in life-long learning through the pursuit of graduate-level degree programs, professional certifications, or other forms of professional development.
- Approach complex engineering problems facing the world from multiple perspectives, including cross-disciplinary, cross-cultural, and inter- national.
- Actively serve local and professional communities through technical and leadership skills influenced by the ethical and societal implications of their decisions.
Student Learning Outcomes:
By the time of graduation students in the Mechatronics Engineering Program at CSUCI will possess:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Undergraduate Student Enrollment and Graduation Data:
Enrollment and graduation data for the B.S. in Mechatronics Engineering are available on CSU Channel Islands Institutional Research dashboards.
ABET Accreditation:
The Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics Engineering program at CSU Channel Islands is in the process of preparing an application for accreditation from ABET, with plans to submit the application in the fall of 2023. If granted, there will be a request to apply accreditation retroactively to students currently in the program.