FAQs

Mechatronics is the combination of mechanical, electrical, and controls engineering. Our students gain a well rounded education in both mechanical and electrical engineering concepts, as well as aerospace engineering if they choose to pursue that track. 

If you are undecided between mechanical engineering and electrical engineering, mechatronics could be right for you!

The Mechatronics Engineering program is held at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) in Rockville, Md. 

USG is a consortium of nine Maryland universities, all offering various degree programs. Our program is run in partnership with USG from within the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland.

There isn’t one! Your diploma would say University of Maryland, your instructors are UMD faculty, and you will have access to all of the resources main campus students do. 

No, The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) do not have on campus housing. Many students choose to lease an apartment in the area, but many College Park students who enter our program simply commute from College Park. You are welcome to do what is most convenient for you.

Unfortunately, no. Given our highly hands-on curriculum, we require our Mechatronics Engineering students to come in person to their labs and lectures. In their labs, students are actively working with parts kits, programming robots, testing path trajectories, etc. However, we don’t have class on Fridays, so there are only four days of in-person instruction per week!

No, the program is not a Limited Enrollment Program (LEP). This means that we have no grade minimums when you are applying to the program. 

However, if you are a current University of Maryland student who wishes to apply to mechatronics, you must first apply to the A. James Clark School of Engineering and meet their gateway requirements. Please see the Admissions page more information.

The program requires a C- in all prerequisite courses, and a 2.0 minimum GPA at the time of application.

There are many scholarship opportunities for mechatronics students! 

Our students are uniquely gifted in that they have access to both University of Maryland and The Universities at Shady Grove scholarships, doubling their opportunities.

Additionally, there are departmental grants offering up to $2,000 for our admitted students towards their tuition.

You absolutely can! Please see the Admissions page for more details on how to do so.

Yes, however, at this time, you would submit a freshman application. You must also immediately notify the Mechatronics Coordinator (mechatronics@umd.edu), so we can work with Admissions to verify you are applying to the Universities at Shady Grove and not the College Park campus.