Mechatronics Engineering Technology, Bachelor of Science (5015)
Program Coordinator
Bryan Reaka, bryan.reaka@wku.edu, (270) 745-7032
This program prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and advanced manufacturing technical skills in support of industrial operations. The major includes instruction in optimization theory, human factors, organizational behavior, industrial processes, industrial planning procedures, systems integration, quality, and project management. Graduates achieve positions of leadership in business and industry while practicing innovation in the global marketplace.
Program Description
A minor or second major is not required. Course requirements for the major are shown below. Students should consult with an advisor in planning their course schedules and career goals.
Project Lead the Way
The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) agrees to grant college level credit for secondary school students from certified Project Lead the Way (PLTW) schools who satisfy the following requirements:
First, students must complete the following two (2) PLTW courses with a grade of B or above and a 6 or above on the End of Course college credit exam: 1. Introduction to Engineering Design; and 2. Principles of Engineering
Second, students must complete two (2) of the following PLTW courses with a grade of B or above and a 6 or above on the End of Course college credit exam: Aerospace Engineering; Biological Engineering; Civil Engineering and Architecture; Computer Integrated Manufacturing; Computer Science and Software Engineering; Digital Electronics; Capstone Course – Engineering Design and Development
Third, students must meet the requirements for admission to Western Kentucky University and enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology program within SEAS. Finally, students requesting the credit must provide a written statement from the instructor of the PLTW program and the principal or guidance counselor, stating the student has successfully completed the program with the above specifications. In addition to the written statement, an official transcript should be submitted for verification.
If the previous four conditions are met, the following three (3) courses will be articulated to the student’s Western Kentucky University record:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MFGE 120 | Basic Electricity | 3 |
| MFGE 205 | CADD for Manufacturing | 3 |
| AMS EL-L (Lower Level Undergraduate Technical Elective) | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Program Requirements (67 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Core Courses | ||
| Select one Finance Elective: | 3 | |
| Accounting for Decision Makers | ||
or ECON 202 | Principles of Economics (Micro) | |
or ECON 203 | Principles of Economics (Macro) | |
or FIN 161 | Personal Finance | |
or MKT 220 | Basic Marketing Concepts | |
| AGMC 371 & AGMC 372 | Agricultural Mechanics and Agricultural Mechanics Laboratory | 3 |
| MFGE 120 | Basic Electricity | 3 |
| MFGE 205 | CADD for Manufacturing | 3 |
| MFGE 217 | Industrial Materials | 3 |
| MFGE 227 | Introduction to Manufacturing Methods | 3 |
| MFGE 271 | Industrial Statistics | 3 |
| MFGE 328 | Robotics and Machine Vision | 3 |
| MFGE 342 | Manufacturing Operations | 3 |
| MFGE 343 | Automated Systems | 3 |
| MFGE 370 | Computer Numerical Control | 3 |
| MFGE 490A | Senior Research for Manufacturing Engineering Technology | 3 |
| SEAS 398 | Internship I | 1 |
| or SEAS 401 | Contemporary Issues in Architecture and Manufacturing | |
| Total Hours | 37 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Management Core | ||
| MFGE 310 | Safety in Industry | 3 |
| MFGE 355 | System Design | 3 |
| MFGE 365 | Systems Operation | 3 |
| MFGE 371 | Quality Assurance | 3 |
| MFGE 390 | Project Management | 3 |
| MFGE 394 | Lean | 3 |
| MFGE 396 | Introduction to Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| MFGE 430 | Technology Management / Supervision / Team Building | 3 |
| Select one Communications Elective: | 3 | |
| Advanced Presentational Speaking | ||
or COMM 330 | Leadership Communication | |
or COMM 346 | Persuasion | |
or COMM 348 | Interpersonal Communication | |
or COMM 349 | Small Group Communication | |
or COMM 362 | Organizational Communication | |
or MGT 261 | Business Communication Fundamentals | |
| Select one Business Law Elective: | 3 | |
| Business Law | ||
or MGT 333 | Management of Nonprofit Organizations | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Program Requirements: | ||
| Select one of the following Chemistry sequences: | 4-5 | |
| Fundamentals of General Chemistry and Fundamentals of General Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| OR | ||
| College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| MATH 117 | Trigonometry (or higher) | 3 |
| PHYS 231 & PHYS 232 | Introduction to Physics and Biophysics I and Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics I | 4 |
| Total Hours | 11-12 | |
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Please consult with your advisor regarding courses within your major that can overlap with Colonnade Program requirements (such as CHEM 105/106 and CHEM 120/121 [E-NS/SL], COMM 349 [K-SY], ECON 202 and 203 [E-SB], and FIN 161 [E-SB]).
Finish in Four Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CHEM 105 & CHEM 106 | 4 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| MATH 117 | 3 | MFGE 217 | 3 |
| MFGE 120 | 3 | MFGE 271 | 3 |
| MFGE 205 | 3 | Finance Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MFGE 227 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| MFGE 371 | 3 | MFGE 342 | 3 |
| PHYS 231 & PHYS 232 | 4 | MGT 301 or MGT 333 | 3 |
| Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | Colonnade - Arts & Humanities | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| AGMC 371 & AGMC 372 | 3 | MFGE 310 | 3 |
| MFGE 328 | 3 | MFGE 343 | 3 |
| MFGE 355 | 3 | MFGE 370 | 3 |
| Communications Elective | 3 | MFGE 390 | 3 |
| Connections - Social and Cultural | 3 | Connections - Local to Global | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENG 300 | 3 | MFGE 365 | 3 |
| MFGE 396 | 3 | MFGE 394 | 3 |
| MFGE 430 | 3 | MFGE 490A | 3 |
| SEAS 398 | 1 | General Elective | 3 |
| Connections - Systems | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||