Although a Bachelor’s in engineering is a terminal professional degree, many graduates elect to pursue advanced education. As a result of the broad curriculum in mechatronics, graduates are well prepared to pursue electrical or mechanical engineering, as well as related fields such as biomedical or aerospace engineering. If management-bound, others alums have added an MBA degree to their credentials.
Full-time graduate school is always an option, but many working engineers choose to maintain their employment and take classes as a slower pace. This can be done at a local higher institution or can be pursued through online graduate education such as NC State’s EngineeringOnline. This has the added benefit that employers may cover some or all of the expense of the degree.
Mechatronics is most often studied at the graduate level by students with backgrounds in electrical or mechanical engineering.
United States
- Virginia Tech Robotics and Mechatronics Lab
- NC State Smart Structures and Materials Laboratory
- NASA/JSC Software, Robotics and Simulation Division
- The Mobile Robot Laboratory (Georgia Tech)
- Clemson University Intelligent Systems
- Stanford Smart Product Design Lab
- MIT Model-based Embedded and Robotic Systems
- San Jose State University Mechatronics
England
- Mechatronics Research Group at Loughborough
- Mechatronics and Artificial Intelligence (University of Dundee)
- Mechatronics and Control Research Group, South Bank University, London
Other Nations
- Institute of Robotics, Switzerland
- UNESCO Chair on Mechatronics, Istanbul
- Johannes Kepler University of Linz
Professional Licensure
Licensure of practicing engineers is granted by each state. It is the culmination of dedicated academic study combined with at least 4 years of professional experience. A license is particularly important in fields in which public safety is involved such as civil, electrical or mechanical engineering.
The process includes two exams. The first exam, Fundamentals of Engineering (FE), is usually taken by engineering students near or after completion of an accredited engineering bachelor’s degree. The second exam, Principles and Practices of Engineering, is taken after gaining four or more years of professional work experience.
For more information on licensure in North Carolina, visit North Carolina Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.