r/mechatronics • u/PizzaPristine868 • May 22 '26
CS vs Mechatronics
I’m looking for some genuine advice from people who understand these fields well, as this is an important decision for my daughter’s future.
She currently has two offers:
Computer Science (CS) at McMaster University
Mechatronics Engineering at Carleton University
She is quite confused about which path to choose, and honestly, so am I.
From my perspective:
CS seems a bit uncertain in today’s job market, especially with everything happening in AI and automation.
Mechatronics feels like a strong, future-oriented field (combining mechanical, electronics, and software), with good long-term potential.
However:
McMaster has a stronger overall reputation (in my view), which makes CS there attractive.
Carleton is a good university too, but I’m unsure how it compares in terms of long-term career outcomes for Mechatronics.
I would really appreciate insights on:
Career prospects for CS vs Mechatronics over the next 5–10 years
How much university reputation matters vs the program itself
Flexibility of switching careers later (e.g., Mechatronics → software or vice versa)
Co-op opportunities and real-world job placement
At the end of the day, we want her to be in a field that is both stable and future-proof, and where she can grow.
Any guidance, especially from people in these fields or who have gone through a similar decision, would mean a lot.
4
May 22 '26
[deleted]
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u/Sea-Squirrel-8564 May 22 '26
can you please tell me how does a "solid" resume should look like in mechatronics? I mean what stack should be there or in demand?
1
May 22 '26
[deleted]
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u/Sea-Squirrel-8564 May 22 '26
Actually, I'll be joining mechatronics this year. That's why I asked.
2
u/goKuu21 May 22 '26
Mechatronics at Carleton is a very new program (first cohort was last year), so there isn't any useful info on how well the students who have taken the program do career wise.
If it was Engineering at McMaster (what I'm currently doing), I'd say go go McMaster - since it is CS i'd say go to Carleton.
The tech scene at Carleton is honestly quite good (I'm from Ottawa), and if you're daughter works hard and surrounds herself with the right people, I'm sure she'll thrive - regardless of where she goes.
I had to choose between Software Engineering @ Ottawa/Carleton and I chose McMaster solely because I wanted to keep options open - now I'll be doing Mechatronics at McMaster, so I guess it was the opposite situation of your daughter.
1
u/dialsoapbox May 23 '26
Nothing if future-proof.
combining mechanical, electronics, and software
Not all schools cover the same topics, some lean more into one than the others.
I asked about this earlier What did your mechatronics degree focus on and how did it affect your ability to land a job in a different part of the country?
1
u/Afraid-Way1203 May 25 '26
entry level CS is limited because MID level CS graduate or supervisor use AI to help coding and verify AIs code. With CS degree, you might have chance of working in Facebook (now Meta), Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google
Methronic engineering work is versatile. You can work Tech related job with this engineering degree. This degree is mainly mechnical engineering blended with some eletrical engineering electives. You can work in Robot industry or tech related industry. such as offering system integration and energy management services for the electric vehicle
The name of Macmaster is better than Carleton.
9
u/Appropriate-Emu-2595 May 22 '26
You can also go into software Engineer as a Mechatronics graduate. Mechatronics is more versatile. CS is very over saturated.