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Mechatronics Engineering
MTSU’s new Mechatronics Engineering degree program is on the cutting edge of a fast-growing industry. Jobs are waiting for engineers to design and enhance robotics and automated systems. The design process of mechatronics combines mechanical, computer, and electrical engineering along with systems integration and technical project management. A surgical robot is a perfect example of a mechatronic system, performing precision mechanical work under sophisticated electronic and sensory control. Unlike traditional programs, MTSU’s mechatronics has a systems approach, breaking the whole down into subsystems and then components, so that graduates can design products with a system in mind, not just one component. Rutherford County auto industry giants Bridgestone, with a mechatronics facility at its LaVergne education center, and Nissan are among worldwide and local partners in the program.
Student: Mechatronics can open more doors
Michigan native Dallas Trahan is among students switching majors after the new Mechatronics Engineering program was approved for fall 2013. Trahan moved with a friend to Nashville while taking a year off college and started attending MTSU “because it was affordable and close by.” His previous academic interest had been electro-mechanical engineering technology. “I want to be a person who can do everything,” Trahan said. “Mechatronics seems to be the way to go. A lot more opportunities could arise; a lot more doors can open than with just an engineering technology degree. With mechatronics, you can do what you want.” First-year coursework in engineering technology will transfer into the new program. Mechatronics engineering courses should begin in spring 2014.
Professor visits Germany, helps develop Level 3
Dr. Ahad Nasab, MTSU mechatronics program coordinator, traveled to Berlin, Germany, in August for an instructor certification workshop at Siemens Technical Academy and to help develop Level 3 certification. MTSU’s mechatronics engineering program is based on a three-tier international certification program created by German engineering firm Siemens AG. Level 3 requires a bachelor’s degree. “We held daily talks on streamlining the Siemens objectives with our new Mechatronics Engineering program,” Nasab said. “Once the model and the requirements are developed, the resulting methods and literature will be distributed worldwide for others to consider Level 3 certification.” New mechatronic and automation equipment costing $500,000 will be housed initially in one of the Voorhies Engineering Technology lab spaces.
While many engineering schools focus on the theoretical, MTSU's Engineering Technology program excels in providing hands-on experiences and skills that are immediately transferrable to the workforce. Examples include
- Automation engineer
- Design engineer
- Plant engineer
- Project manager
- Prototyping and model engineer
- Robotics engineer
- System engineer
Employers of MTSU alumni
Because this degree program is quite new, employer information is still being compiled. However, potential employers who already hire MTSU graduates with degrees in Engineering Technology include
- Bridgestone
- Calsonic Kansei
- Carrier
- EM-Tech
- FloStor Engineering, Inc.
- General Mills
- General Motors
- Mahle
- Nissan
- Schneider Electric
Dr. Vishwas Bedekar
Assistant Professor
vishwas.bedekar@mtsu.edu
Dr. Erica Hu
Assistant Professor
Yating.Hu@mtsu.edu
Dr. Ahad Nasab
Professor | Program Coordinator
ahad.nasab@mtsu.edu
Dr. Charles Perry
Professor
charles.perry@mtsu.edu
Dr. Greg Sedrick
Associate Professor
greg.sedrick@mtsu.edu
A Bachelor’s of Science (B.S.) degree is now available in Mechatronics Engineering, another way MTSU is meeting student and workforce needs. Graduates will have the opportunity to earn a Level 3 Siemen’s international mechatronics certification.
Mechatronics Engineering is a major in the Department of Engineering Technology. Students may transfer into the program with Level 1 or Level 2 certification.
Other undergraduate degrees available through the department include a major in Engineering Technology, leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in one of three concentrations: Computer Engineering Technology, Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology, or Mechanical Engineering Technology. Also offered are majors leading to a B.S. in Construction Management with three concentrations: Commercial Construction Management, Electrical Construction Management, or Land Development/Residential Building Construction Management and in Environmental Science and Technology with two concentrations: in Energy Technology or Environmental Health and Safety. Interested students may take courses in Pre-engineering and Pre-architecture.
Undergraduate minors available include Electronics, Engineering Systems, Engineering Technology, and Construction Management.
Graduate students can pursue a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in either Engineering Technology or Occupational Health and Safety.The sample schedule below is based on the current undergraduate catalog. It is not a substitute for academic advisement. Contact your advisor if you have any questions about scheduling or about your degree requirements or consult the undergraduate catalog (catalog.mtsu.edu) for a complete list of requirements and electives.
You may choose to attend a summer term to reduce your load during fall or spring terms but still stay on track to graduate in four years. (Refer to the scholarships website for information regarding use of the Lottery Scholarship for the summer term.)
NOTE: Learning Support courses will alter the sequences on this map. Missing milestones could delay your program.
Mechatronics Engineering Academic Map
Department of Engineering Technology
Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro
Suggested Fall/Spring and Summer/Fall/Spring Four-Year Schedule
Click here for printer friendly academic map.
| FRESHMAN FALL | FRESHMAN SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course | Hours | Milestones/Notes | Course | Hours | Milestones/Notes | |
| ENGR 1100 | 3 | ENGR 2100 | 3 | |||
| MATH 1910 (Math) | 4 | Take MATH 1730 first if weak background in Math. May take MATH 1910 with acceptable Math ACT score (26). | MATH 1920 | 4 | ||
| CHEM 1110/1111 (Nat Sci) | 4 | ENGL 1020 (Comm) | 3 | |||
| ENGL 1010 (Comm) | 3 | ENGR 1210 | 3 | |||
| Hum/FA (Rubric 1) | 3 | CSCI 1170 | 4 | |||
| SUBTOTAL | 17 | SUBTOTAL | 17 | |||
| SOPHOMORE FALL | SOPHOMORE SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGR 2110 | 3 | ENGR 2120 | 3 | |||
| PHYS 2110/2111 (Nat Sci) | 4 | ENGR 2130 | 3 | |||
| MATH 3110 | 4 | MATH 3120 | 3 | |||
| HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030 | 3 | ENGL 3620 | 3 | |||
| Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 1) | 3 | PHYS 2120/2121 | 4 | |||
| SUBTOTAL | 17 | SUBTOTAL | 16 | |||
| JUNIOR FALL | JUNIOR SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGR 3510 | 3 | ENGR 3520 | 3 | |||
| ENGR 3560 | 3 | ENGR 3570 | 3 | |||
| ENGR 3550 | 3 | ENGR 3590 | 3 | |||
| ENGR 3915 | 3 | ENGR 3920 | 3 | |||
| ENGR 3970 | 3 | ENGR 3930 | 3 | |||
| COMM 2200 (Comm) | 3 | |||||
| SUBTOTAL | 18 | SUBTOTAL | 15 | |||
| SENIOR FALL | SENIOR SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGR 4500 | 1 | ENGR 4530 | 3 | |||
| ENGR 4510 | 3 | ENGR 4590 | 3 | |||
| ENGR 4520 | 3 | ENGL 2020, ENGL 2030, or HUM 2610 (Hum/FA) | 3 | |||
| ENGR 4580 | 3 | HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030 | 3 | |||
| Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 2) | 3 | Hum/FA (Rubric 2) | 3 | |||
| SUBTOTAL | 13 | SUBTOTAL | 15 | |||
TOTAL HOURS IN PROGRAM: 128
| FRESHMAN SUMMER | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course | Hours | Milestones/Notes | Course | Hours | Milestones/Notes | |
| Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 1) | 3 | ENGL 1010 (Comm) | 3 | |||
| SUBTOTAL | 3 | SUBTOTAL | 3 | |||
| FRESHMAN FALL | FRESHMAN SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGR 1100 | 3 | ENGR 2100 | 3 | |||
| MATH 1910 (Math) | 4 | Take MATH 1730 first if weak background in Math. May take MATH 1910 with acceptable Math ACT score (26). | MATH 1920 | 4 | ||
| CHEM 1110/1111 (Nat Sci) | 4 | CSCI 1170 | 4 | |||
| ENGL 1020 (Comm) | 3 | ENGR 1210 | 3 | |||
| SUBTOTAL | 14 | SUBTOTAL | 14 | |||
| SOPHOMORE SUMMER | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hum/FA (Rubric 1) | 3 | Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 2) | 3 | |||
| SUBTOTAL | 3 | SUBTOTAL | 3 | |||
| SOPHOMORE FALL | SOPHOMORE SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGR 2110 | 3 | ENGR 2120 | 3 | |||
| PHYS 2110/2111 (Nat Sci) | 4 | ENGR 2130 | 3 | |||
| MATH 3110 | 4 | MATH 3120 | 3 | |||
| ENGL 3620 | 3 | PHYS 2120/2121 | 4 | |||
| SUBTOTAL | 14 | SUBTOTAL | 13 | |||
| JUNIOR SUMMER | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMM 2200 (Comm) | 3 | HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030 | 3 | |||
| SUBTOTAL | 3 | SUBTOTAL | 3 | |||
| JUNIOR FALL | JUNIOR SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGR 3510 | 3 | ENGR 3520 | 3 | |||
| ENGR 3560 | 3 | ENGR 3570 | 3 | |||
| ENGR 3550 | 3 | ENGR 3590 | 3 | |||
| ENGR 3915 | 3 | ENGR 3920 | 3 | |||
| ENGR 3970 | 3 | ENGR 3930 | 3 | |||
| SUBTOTAL | 15 | SUBTOTAL | 15 | |||
| SENIOR FALL | SENIOR SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGR 4500 | 1 | ENGR 4530 | 3 | |||
| ENGR 4510 | 3 | ENGR 4590 | 3 | |||
| ENGR 4520 | 3 | ENGL 2020, ENGL 2030, or HUM 2610 (Hum/FA) | 3 | |||
| ENGR 4580 | 3 | HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030 | 3 | |||
| Hum/FA (Rubric 2) | 3 | |||||
| SUBTOTAL | 13 | SUBTOTAL | 12 | |||
TOTAL HOURS IN PROGRAM: 128
Graduation information may be accessed here.
Mechatronics Engineering
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: MATH 1630 or MATH 1730. Introduces various engineering fields. Emphasis on problem-solving techniques and the use of mathematics in analyzing technical problems. Topics such as graphical representation of data, estimation, dimensions, units, error estimates, statistics, and team work addressed. Engineering ethics and impact of engineering solutions on society and the environment.NOTE: This was formerly ET 1840.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: CHEM 1110/CHEM 1111. Origin and behavior of materials. Classifications of materials. Physical metallurgy-mechanical and physical properties, crystalline structure, imperfections in solids, phase diagrams, failure mechanisms in materials, hardening and tempering, isothermal diagrams. Involves hands-on experiences through lab sessions in the use of metallurgical and mechanical testing equipment. Lecture and laboratory.
3 credit hours
Introduction to computer-aided design (CAD) for product design, modeling, and prototyping. Individual use and team-based environment to design and prototype a functional and manufacturable marketable product. Application to design, manufacturing, and analysis using geometric tolerancing and dimensioning.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ENGR 1100 and MATH 1910. Corequisite: PHYS 2011 or PHYS 2111. Mechatronics Engineering majors must complete PHYS 2111. Fundamental concepts and conditions of static equilibrium; their application to systems of forces and couples acting on rigid bodies; and the calculation of centers of gravity, centroids, and moments of inertia.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ENGR 2110 and MATH 1920. Kinematics of particles in rectilinear and curvilinear motions. Kinetics of particles, Newton's second law, energy and momentum methods. Systems of particles, Kinematics and plane motion of rigid bodies, forces and accelerations, energy and momentum methods. Introduction to mechanical vibrations.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ENGR 1100 and MATH 1910. Fundamentals of electrical circuits. Volt-ampere characteristics for circuit elements; independent and dependent sources; Kirchhoff's laws and circuit equations. Source transformations; Thevenlin's and Norton's theorems; superposition, step response of first order (RC, RL), and second order (RLC) circuits. Phasor analysis, impedance calculations, and computation of sinusoidal steady state responses. Lecture and laboratory.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ENGR 2130, PHYS 2121, and MATH 3110. Use of Laplace Transform techniques to analyze linear circuits with and without initial conditions. Characterization of circuits based upon impedance, admittance, and transfer function parameters. Determination of frequency response via analysis of poles and zeros in the complex plane. Relationship between the transfer function and the impulse response of a circuit. The Fourier transform. Two-port circuit calculations. Balanced three-phase circuits. Lecture and Laboratory.
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ENGR 2130. Introduces logic design with emphasis on practical design techniques and circuit implementation. Topics include Boolean algebra; theory of logic functions; mapping techniques and function minimization; logic equivalent circuits and symbol transformations; transistor-transistor-logic (TTL)/metal oxide semi-conductor (MOS) logic into gate implementations; electrical characteristics; propagation delays; signed number notations and arithmetic. Digital design using random logic and programmable logic devices (FPGAs and CPLDs). Lecture and laboratory.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ENGR 2120 and MATH 3110. Continuum, velocity field, fluid statics, manometers, basic conservation laws for systems and control volumes, dimensional analysis. Euler and Bernoulli equations, viscous flows, boundary layers, flow in channels and around submerged bodies, one-dimensional gas dynamics, turbo-machinery. Applications in hydraulic, pneumatic, and fluidics discussed.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ENGR 1210, ENGR 2110, and MATH 3120. Plane stress, plane strain, and stress-strain laws. Application of stress and deformation analysis to members subjected to centric, torsional, flexural, and combined loading. Introduces theories of failure, buckling, and energy methods.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ENGR 2100, ENGR 2120, and ENGR 3560. Analytical design methods. Stress analysis, working stress, combined stresses, failure theories, fatigue failure. Design techniques for shafts, fasteners, gears, bearings, and belt and chain drives. Includes a design project.
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ENGR 2120. The kinematics and dynamics of machinery and its applications to mechatronic systems. Analysis of motion translation/rotation in machinery, energy of machine mechanisms. Involves projects, seminars, and workshops regarding graphical, analytical, and numerical techniques for dynamic analysis and synthesis of machines. Lecture and laboratory.
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor. Project management as sanctioned by the International Project Management Institute and how to assess and boost emotional intelligence or soft skills. Student successfully completing course will earn 20 Professional Development Units (PDUs) issued by the International Project Management Institute.NOTE: This was formerly ET 4915.
3 credit hours
Safety and health in the manufacturing, construction, and utilities industries, including pertinent laws, codes, regulations, standards, and product liability considerations. Organizational and administrative principles and practices for safety management and safety engineering, accident investigation, safety education, and safety enforcement.NOTE: This was formerly ET 4420 - Industrial Safety.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ENGR 2100, ENGR 3915, and ENGR 3970. An interdisciplinary course with both technical and management aspects of large, multifaceted engineering projects. Special emphasis placed on design, implementation, and improvement of mechatronic systems. Topics include systems engineering, engineering management, economics, quality control and engineering, project management, production systems planning and operations, and human factors.
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor. Development of capital budgets. Justification of capital projects using time value of money concepts. Replacement analysis. Review of justification of actual capital projects and computer applications. Introduces economic risk assessment.NOTE: This was formerly ET 4970.
1 credit hour
Prerequisite: Senior standing or completion of all 3000-level courses. Review of topics covered on the general session of the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Covers all aspects of engineering curriculum including mathematics, engineering probability and statistics, chemistry, computers, ethics and business practices, engineering economics, engineering mechanics (statics and dynamics), strength of materials, material properties, fluid mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and thermodynamics.
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ENGR 3510. Introduces programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Emphasizes ladder diagrams and programming of PLC. Introduces network systems such as DeviceNet, ProfiNet, and ProfiBus. Emphasizes the integration of PLCs in automation systems. Lecture and laboratory.
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ENGR 3510. Single- and three-phase power circuit calculations with phasor diagrams and electromagnetic laws. Magnetic field and circuit analysis. Variable frequency drives. Electromechanical energy conversion and rotating machinery modeling and analysis. Construction, equivalent circuit, and performance analysis of three-phase transformers and DC, induction, and synchronous motors. Lectures and laboratory.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ENGR 3520 and ENGR 4510. Theories and applications of control systems, optimization of mechatronic systems, feedback controls, root-locus, digital controls, PID, frequency response, and pole positions. Introduces microcontrollers. Systems approach implemented. Lecture and laboratory.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ENGR 3550, ENGR 3570, and ENGR 3590. Presents specifics in the mechanical design of mechatronic systems. Includes problem analysis, conceptualization, design/material selection, and performance analysis. Addresses mechanical subsystems, bill of materials, and economic analysis of the system. Lecture and laboratory.
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Completion of all 3000-level courses and ENGR 4580. Corequisite: ENGR 4530. Capstone design project. Design and analysis of a complete mechatronic system using controllers, sensors, and actuators. Advance systems programming with current industrial network programs and GUIs. Implementation of project and process management principles as well as professional documentation and presentation. Lecture and laboratory.
Contact and Student Information
Ahad Nasab
ahad.nasab@mtsu.edu
615-898-2052
Jennifer Danylo (A-J)
Jennifer.Danylo@mtsu.edu
615-898-7874 | KUC 322
Department of Engineering Technology
Middle Tennessee State University
MTSU Box 19
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37132