Academic Catalog 2024–2025

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Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics Engineering

Overview

The Bachelor of Engineering degree program in Mechatronics Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Mechatronics Engineering.

ABET is the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.

ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies, and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.

Mechatronics is a modern, multi-disciplined professional engineering major that combines several essential aspects from the fields of Mechanical, Electrical and Computer Engineering. Today, Mechatronics Engineering has evolved to become an explicit and in-demand multi-disciplinary specialization that stands on its own due to rapid advances in modern automation and artificial intelligence in addition to the evolution of complex and intelligent machines.

Every day, mechatronics engineers are involved in the research and development of state-of-the-art technologies in automation, control and robotic systems that are widely adopted in the fields of medicine, security, energy, construction, and economics, to name a few. Some example applications include driver-less autonomous vehicles, medical robots, exoskeletons, artificial human limbs and smart building management systems.

As part of the academic program, six credits of professional experience are also included in the last summer prior to graduation to give students an opportunity to integrate classroom instruction with practical work experience. Students also have the choice to follow an Extended Experiential Learning Study Plan, which requires performing an extended professional experience for an extra semester (Fall or Spring, spanning 6 uninterrupted months) to further gain from working on real-life problems.

Graduates with a degree in mechatronics engineering work in several disciplines, including industrial automation and control, intelligent systems, robotics, manufacturing, product development, oil well drilling, home automation, smart transportation systems, Micro-Electromechanical System (MEMS) devices and smart grids, as well as other fields.

Mission

The mechatronics engineering program will provide students with a comprehensive, specialized, and contemporary education that prepares them for successful careers in industry and graduate studies.

Program Educational Objectives

Within a few years of graduation, the graduates of the Mechatronics Engineering program will:

  • Establish themselves as practicing Mechatronics engineers or be engaged in advanced studies
  • Conduct themselves as effective professionals
  • Demonstrate leadership and collaborate effectively with diverse team members

Student Outcomes

Upon completion of the BE in Mechatronics Engineering, students will acquire the following skills, knowledge, and behaviors:

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  2. 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.
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. 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 context.
  5. 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.
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Admission Requirements

The application process is the same as for all undergraduate programs (see Admissions). Applicants will be evaluated by the School of Engineering Admissions Council and final acceptance will be based on each applicant’s qualifications and the availability of places. More details are found in the SOE Admissions Quick Guide.

Curriculum

The total number of credits required for graduation is 150 credits, including the following:

  • Four Technical Elective courses for emphasis, depending on students’ interests and current market needs
  • Nine courses with a separate industry standard software laboratory or physical laboratory sessions to enhance the learning experience and improve employment opportunity
  • A minimum residency of four years, including three summer semesters

Requirements for graduation are grouped as follows:

  • Technical Electives (12 credits)
  • Mathematics and Science Core Courses (18 credits)
  • Other Engineering Required Courses (18 credits)
  • Mechatronics Engineering Required Courses (83 credits)
  • LAS Requirements (18 credits)
  • Free Elective Course (1 credit)

Technical Electives (12 credits)

Technical Electives could be taken from any of the following courses:

MCE Elective Courses

  • MCE540 Biomechatronics (3 cr.)
  • MCE550 Robotics & Intelligent Systems (3 cr.)
  • MCE552 Computer Vision & Image Processing (3 cr.)

ELE Elective Courses

  • ELE521 Electrical Energy Storage Systems (3 cr.)
  • ELE526 Renewable Energy Sources (3 cr.)
  • ELE535 Information and Coding Theory (3cr.)
  • ELE537 Communication Systems (3 cr.)
  • ELE553 Reliability Evaluation of Engineering Systems (3 cr.)
  • ELE557 Simulation of Electronics Circuits (3 cr.)
  • ELE599D Topics: Electricity Markets & Renewable Energy (3 cr.)

MEE Elective Courses

COE Elective Courses

  • COE414 Operating Systems (3 cr.)
  • COE415 Computer Programming II (3 cr.)
  • COE416 Software Engineering (3 cr.)
  • COE418 Database Systems (3 cr.)
  • COE423 Computer Architecture (3 cr.)
  • COE424 Digital Systems (3 cr.)
  • COE431 Computer Networks (3 cr.)
  • COE529 Testing for Digital Integrated Circuits (3 cr.)
  • COE543 Intelligent Data Processing & Applications (3 cr.)
  • COE544 Intelligent Engineering Algorithms (3 cr.)
  • COE545 Information Security (3 cr.)
  • COE546 Machine Learning (3 cr.)
  • COE547 Deep Learning (3 cr.)
  • COE554 Computer Vision and Deep Learning (3 cr.)
  • COE593 COE Application (3 cr.)
  • COE529 Topics: Programming for Data Science

or any other Technical Elective course approved by the department

Note that all Technical Electives require at least senior standing in addition to their relevant prerequisites.

Mathematics and Science Core Courses (18 credits)

  • GNE331 Probability & Statistics (3 cr.)
  • MTH201 Calculus III (3 cr.)
  • MTH206 Calculus IV (3 cr.)
  • MTH207 Discrete Structures I (3 cr.)
  • MTH304 Differential Equations (3 cr.)
  • PHY201 Electricity and Magnetism (no lab) (3 cr.)

Other Engineering Required Courses (18 credits)

  • CIE200 Statics (3 cr.)
  • COE201 Computer Proficiency (1 cr.)
  • GNE301 Professional Communication (2 cr.)
  • GNE303 Engineering Ethics (2 cr.)
  • INE320 Engineering Economy (3 cr.)
  • INE428 Project Management (3 cr.)
  • MEE211 Engineering Graphics (1 cr.)
  • SOE Signature Course (3 cr.)

Engineering Elective Signature Courses

  • GNE335 Introduction to Sustainable Engineering (3 cr.)
  • GNE337 Introduction to Virtual Reality (3 cr.)
  • GNE340 Engineering Entrepreneurship (3 cr.)
  • GNE345 Civic Engagement for Engineers (3cr.)
  • GNE430 Management Consulting for Engineers (3cr.)

Mechatronics Engineering Required Courses (83 credits)

  • COE211 Computer Programming (4 cr.)
  • COE312 Data Structures (3 cr.)
  • COE313 Data Structures Lab (1 cr.)
  • COE321 Logic Design (3 cr.)
  • COE322 Logic Design Lab (1 cr.)
  • COE323 Microprocessors (3 cr.)
  • COE324 Microprocessors Lab (1 cr.)
  • ELE300 Electric Circuits (3 cr.)
  • ELE303 Electrical Circuits Lab (1 cr.)
  • ELE401 Electronics I (3 cr.)
  • ELE402 Electronics I Lab (1 cr.)
  • ELE430 Signals & Systems (3 cr.)
  • ELE442 Control Systems (3 cr.)
  • ELE443 Control Systems Lab (1 cr.)
  • ELE501 Microelectronics (3 cr.)
  • MCE301 Electromechanics (3 cr.)
  • MCE410 Mechatronics System Design I (3 cr.)
  • MCE411 Mechatronics System Design II (3 cr.)
  • MCE498 Professional Experience (6 cr.)
  • MCE591 Capstone Design Project I (3 cr.)
  • MCE592 Capstone Design Project II (3 cr.)
  • MEE241 Dynamics (3 cr.)
  • MEE301 Thermodynamics (3 cr.)
  • MEE311 Fluid Mechanics (3 cr.)
  • MEE312 Fluid Mechanics Lab (1 cr.)
  • MEE320 Strength of Materials (3 cr.)
  • MEE321 Material Properties & Processes (3 cr.)
  • MEE341 Kinematics of Machines (3 cr.)
  • MEE351 Computer Aided Design (3 cr.)
  • MEE391 Instrumentation and Measurements (3 cr.)
  • MEE422 Mechanical Engineering Design (3 cr.)

LAS Requirements (18 credits)

Core Courses (6 credits)

  • ENG202 Advanced Academic English (3 cr.)
  • COM203 Art of Public Communication (3 cr.)

Elective Courses (12 credits)

The additional 12 credits of Liberal Arts and Sciences Electives should be taken according to Curriculum Z as described below:

  1. Digital Cultures (3 credits)
  2. Change Makers (6 credits)
  3. LAS Free Elective, Arts & Humanities (3 credits)

A list of courses for each of the above categories can be found under Curriculum Z here.

Free Elective (1 credit)

Recommended Study Plan

Year One

Fall (16 credits)

  • MTH201 Calculus III (3 cr.)
  • MTH207 Discrete Structures I (3 cr.)
  • PHY201 Electricity and Magnetism (no lab) (3 cr.)
  • CIE200 Statics (3 cr.)
  • COE201 Computer Proficiency (1 cr.)
  • ENG202 Advanced Academic English (3 cr.)

Spring (17 credits)

  • MTH206 Calculus IV (3 cr.)
  • MEE211 Engineering Graphics (1 cr.)
  • MEE241 Dynamics (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)
  • COE211 Computer Programming (4 cr.)
  • MTH304 Differential Equations (3 cr.)

Summer (7 credits)

  • Free Elective (1 cr.)
  • GNE331 Probability & Statistics (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)

Year Two

Fall (15 credits)

  • ELE300 Electric Circuits (3 cr.)
  • ELE303 Electrical Circuits Lab (1 cr.)
  • MEE321 Material Properties & Processes (3 cr.)
  • COE312 Data Structures (3 cr.)
  • COE321 Logic Design (3 cr.)
  • GNE301 Professional Communication (2 cr.)

Spring (18 credits)

  • ELE401 Electronics I (3 cr.)
  • ELE402 Electronics I - Lab (1 cr.)
  • ELE430 Signals & Systems (3 cr.)
  • COE313 Data Structures - Lab (1 cr.)
  • COE322 Logic Design Lab (1 cr.)
  • COE323 Microprocessors (3 cr.)
  • MEE320 Strength of Materials (3 cr.)
  • MEE391 Instrumentation and Measurements (3 cr.)

Summer (9 credits)

  • COM203 Art of Public Communication (3 cr.)
  • INE320 Engineering Economy I (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)

Year Three

Fall (17 credits)

  • ELE442  Control Systems (3 cr.)
  • ELE443  Control Systems - Lab (1 cr.)
  • MEE311 Fluid Mechanics (3 cr.)
  • MEE312 Fluid Mechanics - Lab (1 cr.)
  • MEE351 Computer Aided Design (3 cr.)
  • GNE303 Engineering Ethics (2 cr.)
  • COE324 Microprocessors - Lab (1 cr.)
  • MCE410 Mechatronics System Design I (3 cr.)

Spring (15 credits)

  • MEE341 Kinematics of Machines (3 cr.)
  • MCE301 Electromechanics (3 cr.)
  • MCE411 Mechatronics System Design II (3 cr.)
  • MCE Technical Elective (3 cr.)
  • SOE Signature Course (3 cr.)

Summer (6 credits)

  • MCE498 Professional Experience (6 cr.)

Year Four

Fall (15 credits)

  • MEE301 Thermodynamics (3 cr.)
  • MCE591 Capstone Design Project I (3 cr.)
  • MCE Technical Elective (3 cr.)
  • MCE Technical Elective (3 cr.)
  • ELE501 Microelectronics (3 cr.)

Spring (15 credits)

  • INE428 Project Management (3 cr.)
  • MEE422 Mechanical Engineering Design (3 cr.)
  • MCE592 Capstone Design Project II (3 cr.)
  • MCE Technical Elective (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)