Robotics MS Degree

Overview

Admission

Requirements

Advising

Beginning Fall 2024, a Master of Science (MS) degree in Robotics will be available at the University of Utah. A project, thesis, or "mixed" (any combination of project-intensive courses, project, or internship credits) options will be available. A Robotics Master's degree will provide knowledge for integrating hardware and software with algorithms to create the next generation of intelligent machines.

Robotics researchers are employed in a wide range of occupations that are creating the next generation of technological devices. Roboticists create assistive robots [prosthetics, wearable robots], autonomous vehicles [cars, mining equipment, underwater, and aerial], automated warehouses, manufacturing systems, medical devices, and consumer products [vacuums, 3d printers, craft machines].

Students interested in pursuing a Robotics Master of Science Degree should apply to the University of Utah Graduate School application and indicate "Robotics MS" as their chosen program. Students must be admitted to the Graduate School of the University of Utah as well as the Robotics graduate program.

Fall 2024 only: If you already applied to another program at the U or are a current UofU student in another program and want to switch into Robotics, email Robotics Graduate Coordinator Kelly Pearson.

Admission Deadlines

Semester	Domestic Priority	Domestic Final	International Students
Fall	January 1, 2025	April 15, 2024	January 1, 2025
Spring	N/A	November 1, 2024	Fall admission only
Summer	N/A	March 15, 2025	Fall admission only

Due to visa processing timelines, we are only able to admit new international students for Fall semesters. Current international graduate students at the University of Utah who wish to switch into the Robotics program can discuss this option with the Graduate Coordinator.

Admissions requirements are as follows:

Students pursuing a Robotics Master’s degree typically have a bachelor's degree in a STEM related area. Applicants with degrees from other areas will be considered, but students may need to complete additional work (e.g., math, physics, programming, etc.) to be prepared to take robotics courses.
Graduate degree applications will be considered holistically; therefore, specific GRE scores and GPAs are not required for admission. Admitted students typically have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2 (the university requires a 3.0), but students with lower GPA's are encouraged to apply and explain their individual circumstances in their personal statement.
GRE scores are currently not required, but may be considered if they will strengthen the student's application and are strongly recommended as another way to demonstrate English proficiency and academic preparation.
International students must also meet University of Utah English proficiency requirement for admission

Applicants should also provide:

Names and emails of three people that will provide recommendation letters.
A resume or curriculum vitae.
1-2 page personal statement.
Optional technical writing sample (recommended for master's thesis applicants)
Transcripts from all institutions attended (unofficial for the application but official transcripts are required prior to enrollment if admitted).
Application fee ($55 Domestic MS, $65 International MS). Select students who already applied to another program may qualify for a fee waiver code. Request a fee waiver code here. Email Kelly Pearson for more information. A $30 late fee applies after April 1st.

These are minimum requirements and do not guarantee admission. The graduate admissions committee reviews all aspects of the application package before determining acceptance into the Robotics graduate program. Selected applicants will be admitted to the Master’s Project or "Mixed" option by default. Students who wish to pursue the Master’s Thesis option should identify and be admitted by a faculty advisor that will advise their research.

Note: Students that have completed the University’s Robotics Graduate Certificate program can continue directly with the Master’s Project or "Mixed" option, but must complete a university application to formalize the process. Such students wishing to pursue the Master’s Thesis option will need to identify and be admitted by a faculty advisor.

MS requirements

Complete all of the following:

21 course credits (12 required, 6 elective, 3 remaining); AND
2-3 seminar credits; AND
6 credits of thesis or project or “mixed option” (combination of project-intensive courses, internship, or project)

Minimum total of 30 credits
Click on each section below for more details.

Core Course Requirement - 12 Credits

Complete at least one course from each core area:

Robotics Mechanics Core Area (Required)

ROBOT 6000 | Robotics I: Mechanics | 3 Credits
(Also accepted: cross-listed courses CS 6310 or ECE 6650 or ME EN 6220)

Robot Control Core Area (Required)

ROBOT 6100 | Robotics II: Control | 3 Credits
(Also accepted: cross-listed courses CS 6330 or ECE 6651 or ME EN 6230)

Cognition Core Area (Choose 1)

ROBOT 6200 | Motion Planning | 3 Credits
(Also accepted: cross-listed courses CS 6370 or ME EN 6225)
CS 6300 | Artificial Intelligence | 3 Credits

Perception Core Area (Choose 1)

CS 6640 or BME 6640 or ECE 6532 (cross-listed) | Image Processing | 3 Credits
CS 6320 | Computer Vision | 3 Credits

Required Core Area Credit Hour Sub-Total: 12 Credits

Elective Course Requirement - 6-7 Credits

Select 2 classes total from at least two different categories.

Core courses listed above that are not used to fulfill a core area requirement may also be considered.

Robot Mechanics Category Electives

ROBOT 7000 | Manipulation and Mobility | 3 Credits
(Also accepted: cross-listed courses ME EN 7230 or CS 7310)
ROBOT 7010 | System Identification for Robotics | 3 Credits
(Also accepted: cross-listed courses ME EN 7220 or CS 7320)

Robot Control Category Electives

ME EN 6200 or ECE 6615 (cross-listed) | Classical Control Systems | 3 Credits
ECE 6670 | Control of Electric Motors | 3 Credits
ME EN 6210 or ECE 6652 or CH EN 6203 (cross-listed) | State Space Control | 3 Credits
ME EN 7200 | Nonlinear Control | 3 Credits
ME EN 7210 | Optimal Control | 3 Credits
ECE 6570 | Adaptive Control | 3 Credits

Cognition Category

CS 6350 | Machine Learning | 3 Credits
CS 6958 | Robot Learning (currently special topics) | 3 Credits

Perception Category

CS 7640 | Advanced Image Processing | 3 Credits
CS 6353 | Deep Learning for Image Analysis | 3 Credits
ECE 6530 | Digital Signal Processing | 3 Credits

Human-Robot Interaction Category

CS 6360 | Virtual Reality | 3 Credits
ROBOT 7400 | Haptics for VR, Teleoperation, and Physical Human-Robot Interaction | 3 Credits
(Also accepted, cross-listed course ME EN 7240)
ROBOT 6400 | Neural Engineering and NeuroRobotics | 4 Credits
(Also accepted, cross-listed courses BME 6440 or ECE 6654)

Robot Design Category

ROBOT 6500 | Advanced Mechatronics | 4 Credits
(Also accepted cross-listed course ME EN 6240)
ROBOT 6960 | Wearable Robotics (currently special topics) | 3 Credits
ECE 6780 OR CS 6780 | Embedded System Design | 4 Credits
ECE 6960 | Robotic Millisystems | 3 Credits
CS 6956 | Medical Robotics | 3 Credits

Elective Course Sub-Total: 6-7 Credits

Remaining Courses - 3-4 Credits

Remaining courses to reach the 30-credit hour coursework minimum requirement may be chosen from core courses and pre-approved electives above, supporting electives below, lecture-based engineering/science courses (e.g., excluding seminars, projects, thesis), or approved non-engineering/science courses. Subject to supervisory committee approval.

Other Supporting Elective Category

ME EN 6035 | Design of Experiments | 3 Credits
ME EN 6100 | Ergonomics | 3 Credits
ECE 6540 | Estimation Theory | 3 Credits
CS 6540 | Human-Computer Interaction | 3 Credits
ME EN 6410 | Intermediate Dynamics | 3 Credits
CS 6340 | Natural Language Processing | 3 Credits
ME EN 6205 | System Dynamics | 3 Credits

Remaining Course Total: 3-4 Credits

Seminar Requirement - 2-3 Credits

Thesis students only complete both seminars (project and “mixed option” students complete only Robotics seminar):

ME EN 6890 or ECE 6900/6910-001 or CS 7930-001 | Department Seminar | 1 Credit (enroll in the seminar associated with your thesis advisor)

AND/ OR

ROBOT 6800 or CS 7942 or ECE 6868 or ME EN 6892 (cross-listed) | Robotics Seminar | 2 Credits (enroll in 2 semesters for 1 credit each semester)

Seminar Sub-Total: Thesis students-3 Credits; Project or Mixed Option students-2 credits

Thesis, Project, or Mixed Option Requirement - 6 Credits

ROBOT 6970 | Master’s Thesis* | 6 Credits (enroll in your thesis advisor’s section)

ROBOT 6920 | Graduate Project** | 6 Credits (enroll in your project advisor’s section)

Mixed Option: Complete a combination of the options below for a minimum total of 6 credits

ROBOT 6920 | Graduate Project** | 1-3 Credits

Approved coursework with intensive projects*** See list below | 3-6 Credits

Thesis or Project or “Mixed Option” Sub-Total: 6 Credits

*Faculty mentoring and graduate committee supervision required for thesis completion. Students meet with committee regularly, prepare and defend thesis in a public presentation and exam. The majority of the three-person committee must consist of robotics faculty. Committee chairs may be regular or auxiliary COE faculty. Theses require rigorous scientific contributions and must be approved by a majority of the advising committee.

**ROBOT 6920 Graduate Project: 1-6 credits can earned through faculty-advised projects, projects with a company, or projects with a student club. Projects must be approved by the Robotics Faculty, and students are required to give a short final presentation of their project(s) (e.g., during robotics seminar, at a conference, etc.).

***Approved Project Intensive Courses include: Advanced Mechatronics, Wearable Robotics, Motion Planning, Computer Vision, and Neural Engineering & Neurorobotics (course numbers above). Courses can be counted as part of the minimum 21 coursework credits. Students choosing to take project-intensive courses to fulfill the project requirement will need to take additional approved courses to reach the 30 credit hour minimum to complete the degree.

Available for Fall 2024-Apply NOW!