60 Credits AAS 3470/2470, Academic Catalog 2023-2024
Degree Description
Mechatronics is a relatively new and rapidly growing field that integrates electronics, mechanics, pneumatics, hydraulics, and computer control systems to create new and improved automated manufacturing production systems. This program is designed for people who are interested in plant maintenance, set up, installation, and assembly. These jobs are found in medical, electronics, agriculture, biotechnology, and automotive industries.
Campuses: Faribault and North Mankato
Program Start Dates: Fall and Spring Semesters
Estimate for 60 credit program
Tuition is paid on a semester by semester basis and will vary depending on the courses and total credits you take.
Tuition and Fees: $12,302
Tools and Equipment: $1,300
Total Estimated Cost: $13,602 *
Compare the costs and you'll see that tuition at South Central College is much more affordable than other institutions.
*Based on 2023-2024 tuition and fees rates. Does not include extra expenses for online delivery, course fees, or course differental. Books, transportation, and living expenses also not included.
The course requirements listed below are specific to the current school year (noted above). If you need to view the program from previous years view our Catalog Archive.
Required Technical Courses (16 Courses)
Select the following courses:
CMAE1518 Manufacturing Process and Production (2 Credits)
This course is designed to align with the National Skill Standard assessment and certification system for Manufacturing Processes. The course curriculum is based on federally-endorsed national standards for production workers. The course emphasizes Just-In-Time manufacturing principles, basic supply chain management, communication skills, and customer service. (Prerequisites: None)
CMAE1514 Safety Awareness (2 Credits)
This course is designed to align with the National Skill Standard assessment and certification system for Safety Awareness. The course curriculum is based on federally-endorsed national standards for production workers. This course will introduce OSHA standards relating to personal protective equipment, Hazard Communication, tool safety, confined spaces, electrical safety, emergency responses, lockout/tagout, and others. (Prerequisites: None)
CMAE1526 Maintenance Awareness (2 Credits)
This course is designed to align with the National Skills Standard assessment and certification system for Maintenance Awareness. The course curriculum is based upon federally-endorsed national standards for production workers. The Maintenance Awareness course introduces the concepts of Total Productive Maintenance and preventative maintenance. Students will be introduced to lubrication, electricity, hydraulics, pneumatics, and power transmission systems. (Prerequisites: None)
CMAE1522 Quality Practices (2 Credits)
This course is designed to align with the National Skills Standard assessment and certification system for Quality Practices. The course curriculum is based upon federally-endorsed national standards for production workers. Emphasis is placed on continuous improvement concepts and how they relate to a quality management system. Students will be introduced to a quality management system and its components. These include corrective actions, preventative actions, control of documents, control of quality records, internal auditing of processes, and control of non-conforming product. (Prerequisites: None)
MECA1122 Electricity - Devices and Circuits I (3 Credits)
This course provides an exploration of the basics in electricity and electronics. Topics include an overview of direct current, circuit laws, components, and use of test equipment. Students learn the basic technique of troubleshooting electric circuits, including measurement techniques, analysis of faults, and repair procedures. Teamwork, critical thinking, and problem solving are emphasized. Hands-on experience and practical applications are included. (Prerequisites: Must have a score of 56 or higher on the Arithmetic portion of the Accuplacer test or Instructor approval)
MECA1222 Electricity - Devices and Circuits II (3 Credits)
This course provides an exploration of the basics in electricity and electronics. Topics include an overview of alternating current, circuit laws, components, and use of test equipment. Students learn the basic technique of troubleshooting electric circuits, including measurement techniques, analysis of faults, and repair procedures. Teamwork, critical thinking, and problem solving are emphasized. Hands-on experience and practical applications are included. (Prerequisites: MECA 1122))
MECA1223 Mechanical Systems 1 (3 Credits)
This course includes an introduction to mechanical drawings, Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing and simple machines. The student will study the application and kinematic motion of simple machines elements. In addition, lab work will emphasize the safe use of hand tools, portable power tools and mechanical measuring tools and instruments. Troubleshooting of mechanical systems will be emphasized. Technical writing skills and safety procedures will be implemented throughout the course. (Prerequisite: None)
MECA1250 Mechatronics Systems Operations I (3 Credits)
This course will provide the student with the principles of programmable logic controllers (PLC) hardware and fundamental sequence control systems. The student will gain essential knowledge necessary to create and edit basic PLC programs that will include timers, counters and special function blocks. As well as gaining an understanding of interfacing discrete input-output (I/O). The student will also perform fundamental PLC troubleshooting procedures. Technical writing skills and safety procedures will be implemented throughout the course. (Prerequisites: MECA 1122)
MECA2110 Sensors and Control (3 Credits)
This course will provide students with the principles of measurement and control systems. The student will gain an understanding of different sensor technologies used to measure and detect physical properties used in a variety of electro mechanical, electro hydraulic and electro pheumatic systems. The student, through lab work, will also learn how to use and troubleshoot sensors used in open and closed loop control systems. Technical writing skills and safety procedures will be implemented throughout the course. This course assumes the student understands basic electrical, mechanical, and programming concepts. (Prerequisites: MECA 1122)
MECA2120 Fluid Power 1 (3 Credits)
This course provides the basics of fluid powered devices and systems found in modern industrial machinery and automation. Topics include proper safety procedures, basic laws of fluid mechanics, standard symbols, pumps, control valves, control assemblies, actuators, maintenance procedures, and switching and control devices. At the completion of this course, the student will be able to apply basic laws of fluid mechanics to design and specify characteristics of a pneumatic system; select and size actuators and control valves, and match the pneumatic components with its American National Standards Institute (ANSI) symbol. Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to identify long-term symptoms associated with a lack of preventive maintenance of pneumatic components while demonstrating good safety practices including lock out procedures. Technical writing skills and safety procedures will be implemented throughout the course. (Prerequisite: None)
MECA2123 Mechanical Systems 2 (3 Credits)
This course includes an introduction to mechanical drives, bearing mechanisms, shaft alignment, shaft coupling, clutches and brakes. Also included is an introduction to industrial rigging using slings, hoists, cranes, scaffolds and ladders. Troubleshooting of mechanical systems will be emphasized. Technical writing skills and safety procedures will be implemented throughout the course. (Prerequisite: MECA 1223 and PHYS 101 or equivalent)
MECA2130 Fluid Power II (3 Credits)
This course provides the basics of hydraulically operated devices and systems found in modern industrial machinery and automation. Topics include proper safety procedures, basic laws of fluid mechanics, standard symbols, pumps, control valves, control assemblies, actuators, maintenance procedures, and switching and control devices. At the completion of this course, the student will be able to design and specify characteristics of a hydraulic system, select and size actuators, and match the hydraulic component name with its American National Standards Institute (ANSI) symbol. Additionally, the student should be able to identify long-term symptoms associated with a lack of preventive maintenance of hydraulic components while demonstrating good safety practices including lock out procedures. Technical writing skills and safety procedures will be implemented throughout the course. (Prerequisite: MECA 2120)
MECA2150 Mechatronics Systems Operations II (3 Credits)
This course will focus on advanced principles of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC). The student will become familiar with interfacing input and output with automation motion control systems used in manufacturing. Introduction of analog inputs and outputs, internal registers and tables, comparison functions, computational functions, data move functions, subroutines, data manipulation and sequencing functions, high speed counting, analog functions, trigonometric and advanced math functions. Technical writing skills and safety procedures will be implemented throughout the course. (Prerequisite: MECA 1250)
MECA2235 Robotics (3 Credits)
This course will provide students with the principles of programming and control of multi-axis robotic systems used in an industrial environment. The student will gain the ability to program FANUC Robots and setup an automated robotic work cell. The student will also perform fundamental automated system troubleshooting procedures. Technical writing skills and safety procedures will be implemented throughout the course. This course builds on the student's understanding of basic electrical, mechanical and programming concepts. (Prerequisites: MECA 2110 Sensors and Controls and MECA 2150 Mechatronics System Operation II)
MECA2240 Senior Project (1 - 5 Credits)
The Senior Project at South Central College (SCC) is an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know and to showcase their achievement. The project must be successfully completed as a component of the Mechatronics program, which is a required course for all graduating seniors. The Senior Project is a fitting conclusion to a student's education because through this endeavor, one is able to demonstrate accumulated skills in reasoning, research, problem solving, human interaction, organization, and public speaking. This course may also include an internship and will follow the SCC internship guidelines. This course may also be taken in variable increments of 1 to 5 credits. (Prerequisite: MECA 2150 - Mechatronics Systems Operations I or consent of Instructor)
OR
MECA2241 Senior Internship (1 - 5 Credits)
The Senior Internship at South Central College (SCC) is an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know and to showcase their achievement in an industry setting. The internship must be successfully completed as a component of the Mechatronics program, which is a required course for all graduating seniors. The Senior Internship is a fitting conclusion to a student's education because through this endeavor, one is able to demonstrate accumulated skills in reasoning, research, problem solving, human interaction, organization, and public speaking. The internship will follow the SCC internship guidelines. This course may also be taken in variable increments of 1 to 5 credits. (Prerequisite: MECA 2150 - Mechatronics Systems Operations I or consent of Instructor).
MECA2250 Mechatronics Systems Operations III (3 Credits)
This course will focus on advanced principals of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC). The student will become familiar with interfacing input and output with automation motion control systems used in manufacturing. Introduction of PLC networking, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Proportional - Integral - Derivative (PID) Control and the use of Human Machine Interface (HMI) in a Control System. Troubleshooting exercises, technical writing assignments and safety procedures will be implemented throughout the course. (Prerequisite: MECA 2150)
Required Arts and Sciences (4 Courses)
To earn an AAS degree, students must complete 15 MNTC credits in 3 of the 10 MNTC goal areas. The following courses are required:
ENGL100 Composition (4 Credits)
Composition is concerned with developing, through theory and practice, the ability to communicate in written form for personal and professional reasons. Students will develop writing skills, analytic skills, and critical thinking skills. Students will complete readings, papers, grammar exercises, and in-class activities. Students will complete research and write a research paper. Students will learn methods of writing informatively and persuasively. (Prerequisites: Must have a Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher, or completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher AND completion of either ENGL 0090 or EAP 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher.) (MNTC 1: Communication)
ENGL240 Technical Communication (4 Credits)
This course will teach the essential skills of technical communication. It is an introduction in written communication, design production, and design evaluation of technical information. Adapting technical material using a procedural writing style targeted for specific audiences is emphasized. Students will be using rhetorical analysis, collaborative writing, and usability testing. Topics include the design, writing, and editing of proposals and reports. (Prerequisite: ENGL 100 or a score of 104 or higher on the Sentence Skills portion of the Accuplacer test) (MNTC 1: Communication)
PHYS101 Introductory Physics (3 Credits)
A one semester course covering the basic principles of physics at a conceptual level and with a minimal amount of math. Topics generally included mechanics, simple machines, atomic structure, heat, light, and sound. Lecture and laboratory. (Prerequisites: Next-Generation Accuplacer Arithmetic score of 250 to 300 AND Next-Generation Accuplacer QAS score of 200 to 236 or Classic Accuplacer Arithmetic score of 56 or higher AND Elementary Algebra score of 0 to 75 or completion of MATH 0075 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher.) (MNTC 3: Natural Sciences)
MATH120 College Algebra (4 Credits)
This course is mainly concerned with functions, most of which are algebraic. It begins with general treatment of equations and inequalities and then proceeds to cover linear functions, quadratic functions, polynomial and rational functions, piecewise functions, equations involving radicals and absolute values, logarithms and exponentials, systems of equations and inequalities, permutations and combinations. (Prerequisites: Next-Generation Accuplacer AAF score of 250 or higher or Classic Accuplacer Arithmetic score of 56 or higher AND Classic Accuplacer Elementary Algebra score of 76 or higher AND a Classic Accuplacer College Math score of 50 or higher, or completion of either MATH 0085 or MATH 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher or ACT Math score of 22 or higher or MCA Math score of 1158 or higher.) (MNTC 4: Mathematical/Logical Reasoning)
PLEASE NOTE: All program plans are preliminary and curriculum may change without notice. Your catalog of record may have different requirements.