Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing

Prospective Students

What do engineers do?

You may think of engineers as the designers of cars, computers, airplanes, and bridges, but do you associate them with bubble gum, baseball bats, movie special effects, roller coasters, and synthetic human tissue replacements. Engineers are involved in designing nearly everything you see, touch, and hear. Engineering innovations fuel economic growth, improve health care, and safeguard the environment and engineers have a part in all these and more. More information is available on the American Society for Engineering Education website(opens in new window).

What is Mechatronic Engineering?

Many modern systems and products incorporate a computer, i.e., a microprocessor, as a system component. Mechatronic Engineering is the discipline concerned with the design of those systems. Since "mechatronic systems" include mechanical parts, sensors, actuators, and an on board computer to control them, mechatronic engineering incorporates elements of mechanical engineering, computer engineering, and electrical engineering. Learn more about mechatronic engineering.

What are the job prospects for graduates?

The University helps seniors and recent graduates obtain jobs through its Career Center. Starting salaries of those who use the system are posted on their website. To view the most recent set of data, open their website by clicking on the link below and then click on Career Placement, then Salaries by Major, then Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management. Link to Career Center website

Fundamentals of Engineering Exam

The State of California has an engineering licensing program in which many Mechanical Engineering majors and Mechatronic Engineering majors participate. One can become a Professional Engineer (PE) by passing two exams administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (the first of the two) assesses knowledge of the material studied in an engineering bachelor's degree program and is typically taken during a student's final year. The second exam is taken after the candidate obtains professional experience. Pass-rates of CSU, Chico Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering students on the Fundamentals of Engineering exam are indicated below.

Pass Rates by Year
AdministrationChico Pass-rateNational Average Pass-rateCarnegie Comparator Pass-rate
Spring 201363%82%75%
Fall 201283%80%78%
Spring 201290%86%83%
Fall 201188%79%72%

Information about CSU, Chico

Chico Facts is a list of general information about Chico State and the surrounding community.