August 17, 2007

Two new degrees at Allan Hancock College, among the first of their kind in California, will couple knowledge of the aerospace and manufacturing industries with the fundamentals of robotics into career opportunities in the field of “mechatronics.” Beginning in fall 2007, the college will offer A.S. degrees in engineering technology and electronics technology, both with an emphasis in mechatronics.

The degrees are a culmination of innovative and pioneering collaborations between Allan Hancock College, NASA (through the Curriculum Improvement Partnership Award), National Science Foundation SpaceTEC consortium, and the California Space Authority (CSA).

What exactly is mechatronics? According to Bob Alldredge, an electronics instructor at Allan Hancock College who helped create the curriculum, the field integrates four main elements: mechanical engineering, electronics, control systems and computer science.

“This curriculum teaches students the fundamentals of complex decision making to the operation of physical systems, such as robotics,” he said. “These physical systems depend on computer software for functionality. Mechatronics emphasizes that link.” (At left, a spacecraft technician inspects the robotic arm of NASA''s Phoenix Mars Lander during the assembly phase of the mission.)

One example for application would be in the aerospace industry, which incorporates mechatronics in the development of production systems and planetary rovers, Alldredge added.

Allan Hancock College is a natural choice to offer this type of curriculum due to its proximity to Vandenberg Air Force Base, according to Paul Murphy, dean of academic affairs.

“What’s important is accessibility—this program is open to all first-time college students and reentry students interested in electronics and engineering,” he said. “It teaches advanced problem-solving skills and provides ‘hands-on’ training with career and academic opportunities. Very little advanced mathematics is required.”

A strong local job market exists for employees with this type of training. According to a recent aerospace technician demand assessment study, more than 1,000 aerospace technicians are located within the Vandenberg area, many of them approaching retirement age.

“It is difficult to recruit qualified technicians to the area, due to the cost of living and the low rate of local turnover,” said Murphy. “The next five years could see a high local demand for qualified technicians.”

Students have the option of finding employment after obtaining an associate degree or continuing their education further. Much of the curriculum in Allan Hancock College’s program is transferable to the California State Universities or other four-year institutions, including CSU Chico, Cal Poly Pomona and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In addition, the college’s Priority Admission Transfer program ensures priority admission consideration of eligible students to such institutions as Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and UC Santa Barbara.

In addition to local employment, significant statewide career opportunities exist for aerospace technicians, due to the fact that California controls one-quarter of the global space industry. Along with aerospace, mechatronics skills are needed for employment in medical facilities, manufacturing, industrial robotics, automotive technology and security systems. Professions incorporating mechatronics skills are consistently ranked among the highest-paying for those with an associate degree, with annual wages ranging from $50,000 to $90,000 and up.

Further enhancement of the Allan Hancock College mechatronics curriculum is made possible by the CSA’s California Innovation Corridor project for WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development). Allan Hancock College is one of more than 60 partners participating in a $15 million, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, with a focus on entrepreneurship development, global competitiveness in manufacturing and the supply chain, and creation of the next generation of innovators and technicians. This grant was the result of CSA’s “Workforce Transformation” proposal, submitted by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the U.S. Department of Labor in January, 2006.

For more information about the new degree programs, call
(805) 922-6966 or toll-free 1-866-DIAL AHC (342-5242) ext. 3201 or email boball@hancockcollege.edu.

- AHC -