Among its expanding academic offerings, Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) has launched a Mechatronics Engineering program–an interdisciplinary degree that combines electrical, computer and mechanical engineering to create smart, automated systems.
Now serving 56 students this spring semester, the program is making a strong local impact, according to the program chair and professor Luis Cabrales Arriaga.
“There are only three mechatronics programs in the Cal State system, and we are the only engineering program in [the] Salinas Valley,” said Cabralas. “Local industry needed talent available.”
Cabrales, a tenured engineering professor, previously worked at California State University, Bakersfield, where he was a founding member of their Mechatronics program.
“Programs like these take a long time to get off the ground,” Cabrales said, noting that Bakersfield’s program took multiple years to go from concept to implementation. CSUMB’s journey was no different– its program was conceived nearly a decade prior.
“Last fall, we started. Before, our buildings were office spaces, but they were remodeled and we now have the space for these labs,” said Cabrales. Pacific Hall, the current site of the Mechatronics program, houses their two lecture rooms but is unable to accommodate the possibility of growth.
Soon to host three full-time faculty, the program aims to grow regardless of their space. As of this academic year, Mechatronics did not offer second- or fourth-year courses, but with the coming fall will have its first seniors.
Only possible because of the vested interest of Taylor Farms and a $3 million grant, “[the program] is very fortunate. We have been supported at every turn,” said Cabrales.
Cabrales expects the program to be housed in the upcoming Edward “Ted” Taylor Science and Engineering building, where he predicts new labs and unique concentrations of the engineering program.
Namely, agricultural engineering, which had already received progress towards its implementation.
“With location in mind, staff were picked with backgrounds in agricultural systems,” said Cabrales. He expects that an agriculture elective will soon come to the program.
Preparing students for the local workforce was in mind from the beginning. Mechatronics is one of several programs at CSUMB that requires an internship to be taken before graduating.
“Being so close to Silicon Valley means we have so many startups to work with,” said Cabrales. As well, students are expected in their capstone projects to work with these same startups.
Cabrales says, “These companies come to us with real problems. I give our students constraints, and they’re asked to solve them. It’s very hands-on.”