Mechanical Engineering with emphasis on mechatronics?

[vinicius0197]

Hey guys. I'm graduating in mechanical engineering at a university in Brazil. I'm currently on my second semester.
I've started running after a mechanical engineering degree mostly because I've got a strong interest in the field of aircraft engineering, and my initial plan was to graduate in mechanical engineering and then specialize myself in aerospace engineering.
But so, I have just started taking classes on computer programmation this month and I quickly developed a huge interest in the area. I've found out that maybe the area of mechatronics will be better suited for me, and yet, I don't find myself secure enough to change course. I really don't know if this is the better idea, and I've been thinking about finishing my degree at mechanics and then get a specialization (like a master's degree) in some field related to mechatronics, where I could use programmation and other stuff that attracts me in this area. Would this be a good idea? What do you guys think?

 

[Dr. Courtney]

Job markets tend to be local, so if your question is "will the change help me get a job" you should talk with faculty and engineers more familiar with your local job markets.

Supply is not meeting demand in most areas of engineering, but it is a good idea to conform local demand before switching areas.

 

[vinicius0197]

Ok, but there are any fields in mechanical engineering where programming skills would be really useful on a daily basis?

 

[Dr. Courtney]

Ok, but there are any fields in mechanical engineering where programming skills would be really useful on a daily basis?

Most fields that are computationally intensive (numerical modeling) require programming skills on a daily or weekly basis.

There are also jobs that are test and measurement intensive where some programming is often involved to reconfigure the test system for the current experiments.

 

[OldEngr63]

I don't see any close connection between computing and mechatronics. Yes, mechatronics uses computation, but it uses a lot more logic, electronic controls, and dynamics, as I see it.