Mechatronics Engineering - Ph.D.

Program Overview

The Ph.D. in Mechatronics Engineering offers an advanced research-oriented curriculum emphasizing mechatronics-related disciplines. Students complete coursework in engineering, control systems, robotics, machine intelligence, and advisor-approved electives, culminating in a dissertation and research. Graduates pursue careers as engineering teachers, engineers, operations research analysts, and more.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Ph.D. degree in Mechatronics Engineering provides an advanced theoretical and/or research-oriented curriculum with significant depth in mechatronics-related discipline, beyond the general fundamentals of the engineering bachelor's degree.

Outline:

• Major Requirements:
• Major Electives (choose from the following):
18 credit hours
• Engineering:
• ENGR 72410 ENGINEERING OPTIMIZATION
• ENGR 73030 MECHATRONICS
• Control Systems:
• ENGR 78004 OPTIMAL CONTROL THEORY
• ENGR 78006 NONLINEAR SYSTEMS AND CONTROL
• ENGR 78007 DIGITAL CONTROL SYSTEMS
• ENGR 78008 INTRODUCTION TO ROBUST CONTROL
• Robotics and Automation:
• CS 73334 HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION
• ENGR 72620 INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION AND CONTROL
• ENGR 77300 MEDICAL ROBOTICS
• ENGR 77400 ROBOTICS: KINEMATICS AND DESIGN
• ENGR 78101 AUTONOMOUS UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS
• Machine Intelligence:
• CS 74201 ADVANCED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
• ENGR 78010 MACHINE VISION
• ENGR 78102 INTELLIGENT SENSING AND PLANNING OF UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS
• Other courses with approval from advisor and/or college:
• Advisor-approved courses in or outside the College of Aeronautics and Engineering:
10-30 credit hours
• Culminating Requirements:
• ENGR 85098 RESEARCH (repeated for 9 credit hours total):
9 credit hours
• ENGR 85199 DISSERTATION I:
230 credit hours
• Minimum Total Credit Hours:

Careers:

• Engineering teachers, postsecondary: 8.6% much faster than the average, 44,600 number of jobs, $103,600 potential earnings
• Engineers, all other: 1.3% slower than the average, 170,100 number of jobs, $103,380 potential earnings
• Electronics engineers, except computer: 1.4% slower than the average, 134,900 number of jobs, $107,540 potential earnings
• Aerospace engineers: 2.8% slower than the average, 66,400 number of jobs, $118,610 potential earnings
• Operations research analysts: 24.8% much faster than the average, 105,100 number of jobs, $86,200 potential earnings

Other:

• Program Learning Outcomes:
• Conduct literature searches, comprehend advanced research materials and uncover connections between related work.
• Perform research, discovery and integration by applying advanced knowledge of mechatronics engineering.
• Communicate problems and solutions in mechatronics engineering clearly, both verbally and in writing.