In mechanical, you touch on all kinds of areas...i am glad i did it...it was real tough but just about everything i took is applicable...i do know there is a course called megatronics now...it is supposed to be the new age mechanical area...in what we are doing here, i find we don't get to scientific here, but all we need to do is read of everyones success stories in building these projects and we can see that you don't have to have a diploma to do it...i do know from experience that a ticket in engineering will open a lot of doors for you and you will have a real good hands on idea of all the mathematics etc that are used in alternative energy applications...you will use all the maths; geometry, trigonometry, applied mechanics,fluid mechanics, integral and differential calculus....there is also a ton of computer courses such as autocad, catia and unigraphics.....all of these things are used in a day to day working environment...when you get out, you will be prepared to work at whatever is thrown at you...now mind you, you may forget some of the material, but if you learned it once, you can learn it again quickly...especially if you know that alternative energy is the area you want to come out of school and work in, you have a real good advantage to make it happen...you will have the skills necessary i feel to excell in your field.......and i belive this area is going to take off like wildfire in the next 10 years as energy becomes more expensive and depleted...good luck...pickster