MechE vs CS for future career in robotics?

College Majors Math/Computer Science Majors
21

@Mathophile26 I don’t believe UCLA has a CS minor. Looks like the only 2 minors in engineering are Bioinformatics and Environmental Engineering:
https://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/within-engineering/

However, the engineering majors at UCLA have a technical breadth requirement and one of the technical areas is CS. Our son is an ME there and has started to fulfill the CS breadth area which is 3 courses. UCLA also has a new Computer Engineering major and a Computer Science & Engineering major (in addition to CS) which may or may not have some robotics aspects. Best to check. They also have a good program for freshman with the ASME club called FADE where you learn skills that will be useful for Robotics (Solidworks, machining/manufacturing, and electronics).

22

@youcee my bad! I think I saw “Computer Science Department” on https://www.registrar.ucla.edu/Faculty-Staff/Courses-and-Programs/Major-and-Minor-Codes/Undergraduate-Minors and thought it was a CS minor - thanks for correcting me!!

I have talked to an EE major at UCLA and they have “pathways” I think - is that what you’re referring to? Interesting, so CS could be a part of the ME curriculum. That sounds ideal for me (if a CS minor is not possible). I’ll definitely be checking out the engineering-oriented clubs at colleges! Does your son have any experience in the ASME club? If so, what did he think of it?

23

@Mathophile26 Yes, he enjoyed FADE. A good way to meet kids in your major that first year. Here is the technical breadth requirement that I mentioned (not the easiest thing to make sense of IMO):
https://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/seasoasa/TBA.pdf

FADE
https://www.asmebruins.com/fade

24

@youcee FADE looks amazing! It’s pretty much exactly what I wanted in terms of an engineering club. Thank you so much for your help :slight_smile:

25

It depends on the school, but many of them have pretty substantial minors in engineering.

CS outcomes cover a wide range. It isn’t oversaturated if you are good at it. You can double an ME’s salary on day one. However, the guy fixing my computer at the apple store said he had a BS in CS, and I am guessing he doesn’t make a lot, although I could be wrong.

I you like math, math and/or stats are also excellent minors with a engineering degree.

26

This is a bit redundant with your other thread, but you are making an inappropriate assumption about most ME curricula, that they don’t include the programming you’ll need. My son routinely uses C++, Python and Assembly, along with the higher level programs more commonly associated with ME like Solidworks, MATLAB, and Eagle. If you choose the right programs you will have the exposure you need.

Look into the minor requirements at the schools you are interested in. You don’t typically simply choose CS classes YOU want but rather CS classes THEY say are worthy of calling it a Minor. It will result in taking classes with no application to robotics for the purpose of fulfilling the degree requirements. This is definitely the case at Cal Poly.

It’s also a school you should look at, because it’s a very good, large, and thus well supported program, but it is very competitive to get in for ME.

Lastly, not to slam the Bruins, but every Poly ME gets all the skills taught in FADE without taking a side curriculum. :wink: