Robotics MS Degree – Robotics Center

Robotics MS Degree – Robotics Center
Skip to content
Robotics MS Degree
Requirements
Overview
Admission
Advising
Suggested Plan
2026_4.6.MS Requirements
Complete all of the following:
21 course credits (
12 required, 6 elective, 3-4
allied
); 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
6000 and 7000 level coursework required
Click on each section below for more details.
Core Course Requirement - 12 Credits
Complete at least one course from each core area:
Robot Mechanics Core Area (Required)
ROBOT 6000 |
Robotics I: Mechanics |
3 Credits
(Also offered as CS 6310
or
ECE 6650
or
ME EN 6220)
Robot Control Core Area (Required)
ROBOT 6100 |
Robotics II: Control
3 Credits
(Also offered as CS 6330
or
ECE 6651
or
ME EN 6230)
Cognition Core Area (Choose 1)
ROBOT 6200 |
Motion Planning
3 Credits
(Also offered as 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 Credits
Select 2 classes total from two different categories.
Core courses listed above that are not used to fulfill a core area requirement may also be considered.
ROBOT Special Topics courses (6960/7960) may be considered as electives.
Robot Mechanics Category Electives
ROBOT 7000 |
Manipulation and Mobility
| 3 Credits
(Also offered as ME EN 7230
or
CS 7310)
ROBOT 7010 |
System Identification for Robotics
| 3 Credits
(Also offered as 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
ROBOT 6960 |
Robot Learning
| 3 Credits
ROBOT 6960 |
Advanced Artificial Intelligence
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
ROBOT 6960 |
Algorithmic Foundations of Robotics
3 Credits
Human-Robot Interaction Category
ROBOT 7400 |
Haptics for VR, Teleoperation, and Physical Human-Robot Interaction |
3 Credits
(Also offered as ME EN 7240)
ROBOT 6400 |
Neural Engineering and NeuroRobotics
4 Credits
(Also offered as BME 6440
or
ECE 6654)
ROBOT 6960 |
Intro to Human-Robotic Interaction
3 Credits
Robot Design Category
ROBOT 6500 |
Advanced Mechatronics |
4 Credits
(Also offered as ME EN 6240)
ROBOT 6960 |
Wearable Robotics |
3 Credits
ECE 6780 OR CS 6780 |
Embedded System Design |
4 Credits
ECE 6960 |
Robotic Millisystems |
3 Credits
ROBOT 6960|
Medical Robotics
| 3 Credits
ROBOT 6960 |
Advanced
Design in Robotics
3 Credits
Elective Course Sub-Total: 6 Credits
Allied Courses - 3-4 Credits
Remaining courses to reach the 30-credit hour 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.
Supporting Electives (Recommended allied classes that complement robotics curriculum)
ME EN 6035 |
Design of Experiments
| 3 Credits
ME EN 6250|
Object-Oriented Programming for Interactive Systems |
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
Allied Course Total: 3 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 Research*
| 6 Credits (enroll in your thesis advisor’s section)
or
ROBOT 6920 |
Graduate Project**
| 6 Credits (enroll in your project advisor’s section)
or
Mixed Option: Complete a combination of the options below for a minimum total of 6 credits
ROBOT 6920 |
Graduate Project**
| 1-6 Credits
Approved coursework with intensive projects***
See list below | 1-6 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 be 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:
ROBOT 6500
ME EN 6240
: Advanced Mechatronics
ROBOT 6960: Wearable Robotics
ROBOT 6200
CS 6370
or
ME EN 6225
: Motion Planning
CS 6320: Computer Vision
ROBOT 6400
BME 6440
or
ECE 6654
: Neural Engineering & Neurorobotics
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.
The Master of Science (MS) degree in Robotics at the University of Utah offers a project,  thesis, or "mixed" option (any combination of project-intensive courses, project, or internship credits) . A Robotics Master's degree will provide knowledge for integrating hardware and software with algorithms to create the next generation of intelligent machines.
NOTE to current University of Utah students: The College of Engineering BS/MS Robotics option is
ONLY
available for Mechanical Engineering BS students at this time (beginning Fall 2026).
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].
Admission Deadlines
Semester
Start
Application
Opens
Priority Deadline
(all applicants)
Domestic Students
Final Deadline
International Students
Final Deadline
Fall
August 1
January 1
April 15
January 15
Spring
August 1
N/A
November 1
Fall admission only
Summer
August 1
N/A
March 15
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. 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.
General GRE Test Scores must be submitted to the University of Utah directly from Educational Testing Services (ETS)
Send scores using
Institution Code 4853
(U Utah). A
Department Code
is not necessary for the Robotics application.
Photocopies, student copies, and screen shots will not be accepted
GRE results must be less than five years old at the time of admission
International students must also meet University of Utah
English proficiency
requirement for admission
Applicants should 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).
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 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. We
DO NOT ASSIGN
faculty advisors for thesis-seeking students, so students are encouraged to make these connections quickly. Students must be admitted to the Graduate School of the University of Utah as well as the Robotics graduate program.
Kelly Pearson
Robotics Graduate Student Coordinator
kelly.pearson@utah.edu
Interested students may also contact the Director of Robotics Studies,
Dr. Stephen Mascaro.
Robotics Faculty
Template Plan PDF
MS Plan - Year 1 Fall
Year 1: Fall Semester
Title
Credits
ROBOT 6000
Robotics I: Mechanics
* ME EN 6200:
Classical Control Systems
Elective Course #1
See Allied Options
Allied Course #1
ROBOT 6800
Robotics Seminar
Advisor Department Section
Department Seminar (Thesis students only)
*Suggested if you have not taken a similar course. ROBOT 6000 + ME EN 6200 are pre-reqs for ROBOT 6100
MS Plan - Year 1 Spring
Year 1: Spring Semester
Title
Credits
ROBOT 6100
Robotics II: Control
CS 6640 or
CS 6320
Perception (Core)
See Elective Options
Elective Course #2
ROBOT 6800
Robotics Seminar
MS Plan - Year 2 Fall
Year 2: Fall Semester
Title
Credits
ROBOT 6200 or
CS 6300
Cognition (Core)
ROBOT 6970 or
ROBOT 6920 or
Project Course
Master’s Thesis or
Graduate Project or
Project Course
Allied or Elective Course
If needed to reach
30 total credits
MS Plan - Year 2 Spring
Year 2: Spring Semester
Title
Credits
ROBOT 6970 or
ROBOT 6920 or
Project Course
Master’s Thesis or
Graduate Project or
Project Course
Graduate Handbook Index
General Information
Academic Misconduct
Advising
Financial Information
Health Insurance
Probation
Program of Study
Research Conduct
Student Involvement
Student Responsibilities
Supervisory Committee
Thesis/ Dissertation Help
Transfer Work
Robotics PhD
PhD Degree Requirements
Candidacy for the PhD
Dissertation Defense
Enrollment Requirement
PhD Milestones
Qualifying Exam/ Proposal
PhD Sample Plan
Robotics MS
MS Degree Requirements
MS-Thesis Milestones
MS-Project Milestones
Project
MS Sample Plan
Thesis Defense
The Graduate School
Continuous Registration
Course 7990 Limitation
Graduate School Events Calendar
Graduate School Policies
Graduate School Resources
International TA Policy
ITA Dates
Leave of Absence
Thesis Office Deadlines
Travel Funding
University Resources
Academic Calendar
Campus Safety
Class Schedule
Graduation Deadlines
International Student Scholar Services (ISSS)
Student Resources
Thesis Handbook
University IT Guides