The Master of Science in Robotics provides advanced training and study in robotics-related topics consistent with the program focus on autonomy and AI, field robotics, human-robot interaction, smart materials, security, controls and estimation, bio-inspired systems and advanced manufacturing.
The program provides a strong foundation in mathematics and engineering, while also allowing flexibility to select courses across departments to achieve the breadth and depth required for research and industry advances beyond the state of the art. Students will achieve their educational goals through interdisciplinary coursework and optional research opportunities under the instruction of one or more of the program’s faculty members.
For more detailed information, see the Robotics website.
Degree Requirements
The MS in Robotics offers a flexible curriculum that encourages in-depth study across disciplines from departments and programs hosted in the College of Engineering & Applied Science (CEAS), including aerospace engineering sciences, biomedical engineering, chemical and biological engineering, civil, environmental, and architectural engineering, computer science, electrical, computing, and energy engineering, engineering management, mechanical engineering, and the ATLAS Institute. To fulfill graduation requirements, students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework in courses numbered 5000 or above and taught by members of the graduate faculty, with grades of C or better and a minimum GPA of 3.00. Students may choose to pursue one of two program options: thesis or non-thesis. More detailed information on course requirements and a list of approved courses can be found at the bottom of this page, under “Course Requirements.”
Students in the MS thesis option must complete 4–6 hours of MS thesis credit, two hours of ROBO 5009 Robotics Seminar and one hour of ROBO 5008 Introduction to Research, as part of the required 30 credit hours. They must also meet thesis examination and submission requirements. Non-thesis MS students must complete all coursework requirements but are not required to complete a final examination. A maximum of nine credit hours of graduate coursework may be transferred from another accredited institution if the courses meet program and Graduate School standards. For policies regarding good academic standing, please see the Academic Standards and Advising section of the university’s Graduate Catalog.
Thesis Examination (MS Thesis Option Only)
In addition to completing the required coursework, students pursuing the MS thesis option must write a thesis based on original research conducted under the supervision of a graduate faculty member. The MS thesis must fulfill all Graduate School requirements. After the thesis is completed, a final oral examination is conducted by the student’s thesis committee, which is made up of at least three faculty members. The approved thesis must be submitted to the program and the Graduate School.
Time Limit
Per Graduate School policy, all requirements for the program must be completed within four years of admission to the degree program. A waiver from the Graduate Committee is required for every semester beyond the time limit listed above. Students who wish to extend their time limit (up to one year) will also need to submit a petition to the Graduate School.
Course Requirements
Students must complete ROBO 5000 Introduction to Robotics, plus one course selected from each breadth bin (as listed below), to complete their robotics fundamentals requirements. These courses provide a foundation for advanced study in the field. The remaining 18 credit hours may be chosen from any of the courses on the approved list. This allows for maximum flexibility for students to tailor coursework for a variety of post-graduation career goals. Students may opt to replace up to six of those 18 credit hours with any course offered through a CEAS department or program as non-ROBO engineering electives. Any other course substitutions will require a petition to the Graduate Committee.
Students are not required to submit a course plan to the Graduate Committee for approval, but they are encouraged to work with the Graduate Program Assistant to identify specific courses that will help them reach their objectives.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Course Requirement | ||
| ROBO 5000 | Introduction to Robotics | 3 |
| Breadth Requirement: Dynamics and Mechatronics | ||
| Choose One: | 3 | |
| Space Flight Dynamics | ||
| Microavionics: Introduction to PIC Microcontrollers for Aerospace Systems | ||
| Embedding Sensors and Motors | ||
| Mechatronics and Robotics I | ||
| Finite Element Analysis | ||
| Bioinspired Robotics | ||
| Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (Advanced Dynamics) | ||
| Advanced Robotics | ||
| Breadth Requirement: Perception and Control | ||
| Choose One: | 3 | |
| Statistical Estimation for Dynamical Systems | ||
| Linear Control Systems | ||
| Automatic Control Systems | ||
| Nonlinear Control Systems | ||
| Computer Vision | ||
| Control Systems Analysis | ||
| Applied Stochastic Signal Processing | ||
| Linear Control Systems | ||
| Nonlinear Control Systems | ||
| Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (Advanced Computer Vision) | ||
| Breadth Requirement: Cognition and Interaction | ||
| Choose One: | 3 | |
| Algorithmic Motion Planning | ||
| Decision Making under Uncertainty | ||
| Convex Optimization and Its Applications | ||
| Advanced Robotics | ||
| Algorithmic Human-Robot Interaction | ||
| Machine Learning | ||
| Natural Language Processing | ||
| Theoretical Foundations of Autonomous Systems | ||
| Fundamentals of Neural Networks and Deep Learning | ||
| Current Topics in Computer Science (Deep Reinforcement Learning and Robotics) | ||
| Online Convex Optimization and Learning | ||
| Seminar and Research Requirement (MS Thesis Only) | ||
| ROBO 5008 | Introduction to Research (Intro to Research) 1 | 1 |
| ROBO 5009 | Robotics Seminar 1 | 1 |
| ROBO 6950 | Master's Thesis 2 | 1-6 |
| Robotics Electives 3 | 18 | |
| Small Uncrewed Aircraft System Guidance, Navigation, and Control | ||
| Advanced Spacecraft Dynamics and Control | ||
| Advanced State Estimation | ||
| Uncertainty Quantification | ||
| Special Topics (Hybrid Systems) | ||
| Special Topics (Verifiable Control of Stochastic Systems) | ||
| Special Topics (System Identification for Control) | ||
| Human Operation of Aerospace Vehicles | ||
| Nanomaterials | ||
| Introduction to Virtual Reality | ||
| Current Topics in Computer Science (Physical Human-Robot Interaction) | ||
| Real-Time Embedded Systems | ||
| Programmable Logic Embedded System Design | ||
| Special Topics (Game Theory) | ||
| Special Topics (Constrained Control) | ||
| Sampled Data and Digital Control Systems | ||
| Control Systems Laboratory | ||
| Control of Multi-agent Systems | ||
| Embedded Computer Vision | ||
| Machine Learning for Engineers | ||
| Modeling of Human Movement | ||
| Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (Automated Mechanical Design) | ||
| Mechanics of Soft Matter | ||
| Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems 1 | ||
| Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (Mechatronics 2) | ||
| Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (Industrial Automation) | ||
| Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (Robust Multivariable Control) | ||
| 1 | Two credit hours of Robotics Seminar and one credit hour of Intro to Research is required for MS thesis students and will replace three hours of robotics electives. |
| 2 | Master's Thesis (4-6 credit hours) is required for MS thesis students and will replace 4-6 hours of robotics electives. |
| 3 | Students may substitute courses from other departments and programs in the College of Engineering & Applied Science for up to six hours of robotics electives. Contact the Robotics Program for details. |
Learning Outcomes
By the completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Core Knowledge in Robotics: Demonstrate an understanding of foundational robotics principles.
- Broad Competency Across Robotics Domains: Demonstrate interdisciplinary knowledge in robotics, covering at least three core areas of study.
- Technical Application Skills: Demonstrate capability to apply robotics tools and techniques in coursework to solve practical problems.
- Clear Technical Communication (MS Thesis only): Demonstrate capability to communicate robotics concepts effectively through written and oral assignments.