Introduction to Mechatronics
Undergraduate Badge
Grand Rapids • Face to face • 5 Credits
Mechatronics is an interdisciplinary engineering field that integrates mechanical, electrical, computer, and control systems to design and automate smart products and processes. By synergizing hardware, software, and real-time decision-making, it powers innovations like robotics, autonomous systems, and advanced manufacturing.
Overview
In Grand Valley's Introduction to Mechatronics Badge, engineering students will be able to apply design principles to build an electromechanical (robotic) system to achieve specific objectives within a set of constraints. This will include using CAD to graphically communicate their design ideas, CAM to manufacture their ideas, and writing and debugging code to control their robots with microcontrollers.
The badge curriculum includes three required courses, including Introduction to Engineering, Applied Programming for Engineers, and First-Year Engineering Design.
The Mechatronics Badge focuses on project-based learning to build team building skills and gain valuable hands-on experience. Students will gain a fundamental understanding of computer programming and electromechanical systems. Mechatronics is an interdisciplinary engineering area that translates to a variety of job opportunities in the engineering field.
Catalog information for this program is available in the 2025-2026 Under Construction Catalog.
A digital badge, or badge, is a record of achievement that recognizes a student's completion of a coherent and meaningful academic experience. GVSU offers both credit and non-credit bearing badges as digital credentials. Credit-bearing badges include anywhere from 0.5 to 15 academic credits and may include additional noncredit criteria. Credit-bearing badges are also posted to the academic transcript.
Admission Information
This badge is intended for anyone wishing to pick up skills in C programming, microcontrollers, sensors, motors, and design principles. While calculus and engineering graphics classes are not part of the badge, they are all part of the first year engineering sequence and so are prerequisites for EGR 185.
Career Opportunities
Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
Top skills- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Mathematics
- Science
Earnings statistics
| Annual Earnings | Percentile |
|---|---|
| $ 66,870.97 | 10% |
| $ 81,736.82 | 25% |
| $102,683.71 | 50% |
| $128,968.55 | 75% |
| $141,689.94 | 90% |
Design or analyze operational solutions for projects such as transportation optimization, network modeling, process and methods analysis, cost containment, capacity enhancement, routing and shipment optimization, or information management.
Top skills- Reading Comprehension
- Systems Analysis
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Judgment and Decision Making
Earnings statistics
| Annual Earnings | Percentile |
|---|---|
| $ 50,250.68 | 10% |
| $ 61,339.82 | 25% |
| $ 79,750.83 | 50% |
| $101,701.25 | 75% |
| $129,662.29 | 90% |
Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.
Top skills- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Speaking
Earnings statistics
| Annual Earnings | Percentile |
|---|---|
| $ 66,047.58 | 10% |
| $ 80,597.99 | 25% |
| $ 99,606.59 | 50% |
| $123,771.17 | 75% |
| $138,216.06 | 90% |
Research, design, develop, or test automation, intelligent systems, smart devices, or industrial systems control.
Top skills- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
Earnings statistics
| Annual Earnings | Percentile |
|---|---|
| $ 58,691.93 | 10% |
| $ 81,666.34 | 25% |
| $103,686.18 | 50% |
| $133,004.67 | 75% |
| $166,612.13 | 90% |
Design, integrate, or improve manufacturing systems or related processes. May work with commercial or industrial designers to refine product designs to increase producibility and decrease costs.
Top skills- Reading Comprehension
- Mathematics
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Monitoring
Earnings statistics
| Annual Earnings | Percentile |
|---|---|
| $ 66,047.58 | 10% |
| $ 80,597.99 | 25% |
| $ 99,606.59 | 50% |
| $123,771.17 | 75% |
| $138,216.06 | 90% |
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
Top skills- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Listening
Earnings statistics
| Annual Earnings | Percentile |
|---|---|
| $ 71,367.76 | 10% |
| $ 83,553.70 | 25% |
| $102,839.21 | 50% |
| $129,797.46 | 75% |
| $154,302.17 | 90% |
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