The Robotics and Automation concentration within the Electrical Engineering major provides students with a foundation in circuits, sensing, signal processing, and control systems, while offering specialized coursework in robotics, electromechanical actuation, and automation technologies.
This concentration prepares students to architect and control robotic and automated systems by integrating electrical engineering fundamentals with actuators, power electronics, sensor interfaces, embedded control, and feedback systems. Students gain extensive hands-on experience through design, control implementation, and project-based work involving robotic and automated systems.
Graduates will be ready for careers in industrial robotics, smart manufacturing, autonomous systems, aerospace and defense automation, and related fields requiring deep expertise in control, sensing, and intelligent electromechanical integration.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion, students will be able to:
- Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Effective Fall 2026
In order to maintain professional standards required of practicing engineers, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 in ECE courses as a graduation requirement. It is the responsibility of any student who fails to maintain a 2.000 average to work with their advisor to correct grade point deficiencies. In addition, ECE courses required for the major at the 100, 200, and 300 level must be passed with a minimum grade of C (2.000); grades below a C will require the student to retake the course. ECE courses designated as an elective are exempt from the C or higher minimum grade requirement.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AUCC | Credits | ||
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 3A | 4 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) | 3A | 1 |
| CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | 1A | 3 |
| ENGR 111 | Fundamentals of Engineering | 3 | |
| ENGR 114 | Engineering for Grand Challenges | 3 | |
| MATH 160 | Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1) | 1B | 4 |
| MATH 161 | Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1) | 1B | 4 |
| PH 141 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1) | 3A | 5 |
| Choose one group from the following:1 | 3 | ||
Group A | |||
| Culture and Coding: Python | 3B | ||
Group B | |||
| 3B | |||
Group C | |||
| 3B | |||
| Total Credits | 30 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| ECE 205 | Analog Circuits I | 3 | |
| ECE 206 | Analog Circuits II | 3 | |
| ECE 232 | Introduction to Project Practices | 1 | |
| ECE 252 | Introduction to Digital Circuits | 3 | |
| ECE 253 | Microcontrollers and C for Internet-of-Things | 3 | |
| MATH 261 | Calculus for Physical Scientists III | 4 | |
| MATH 340 | Intro to Ordinary Differential Equations | 4 | |
| PH 142 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (GT-SC1) | 3A | 5 |
| Select one group from the following:1 | 4 | ||
Group A | |||
| CS1--Computational Thinking with Java | |||
Group B | |||
| CS1--Computational Thinking with Java CS1---No Prior Programming Experience | |||
Group C | |||
| Python for STEM | |||
| CS1--Introduction to Java Programming | |||
| 1C | 1C | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | ||
| Junior | |||
| ECE 303/STAT 303 | Introduction to Communications Principles | 3 | |
| ECE 311 | Linear System Analysis I | 3 | |
| ECE 312 | Linear System Analysis II | 3 | |
| ECE 331 | Electronics Principles I | 4 | |
| ECE 332 | Electronics Principles II | 4A | 4 |
| ECE 341 | Electromagnetic Fields and Devices I | 3 | |
| ECE 342 | Electromagnetic Fields and Devices II | 3 | |
| JTC 300 or CO 301B | Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3) Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3) | 2 | 3 |
| Electives 2 | 7 | ||
| Total Credits | 33 | ||
| Senior | |||
| ECE 401 | Senior Design Project I | 4A,4B | 3 |
| ECE 402 | Senior Design Project II | 4C | 3 |
| ECE 411 | Control Systems | 3 | |
| Technical Electives (See list below) | 12 | ||
| Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |
| Historical Perspectives | 3D | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3C | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 126 | ||
Technical Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS 345 | Machine Learning Foundations and Practice 3 | 3 |
| CS 445 | Introduction to Machine Learning 3 | 4 |
| ECE 412 | Digital Control and Digital Filters | 3 |
| ECE 450 | Digital System Design Laboratory | 1 |
| ECE 451 | Digital System Design | 3 |
| ECE 452 | Computer Organization and Architecture | 3 |
| ECE 455 | Introduction to Robot Programming/Simulation | 3 |
| ECE 456 | Computer Networks | 4 |
| ECE 463 | Electrical Motors and Generators | 4 |
| ECE 528/CS 528 | Embedded Systems and Machine Learning | 4 |
| ECE 529 | Signal Processing & Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| ECE 561/CS 561 | Hardware/Software Design of Embedded Systems | 4 |
| MECH 414 | Machine Learning-Mechanical Engr Automation 3 | 3 |
| MECH 415 | Rotorcraft Modeling and Control | 3 |
| MECH 416 | Introduction to Robotic Manipulators | 3 |
| MECH 564 | Fundamentals of Robot Mechanics and Controls | 3 |
| Select up to one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Advanced Dynamics 3 | ||
| Mechanical Engineering Vibrations 3 | ||
| Advanced Mechanical Systems 3 | ||
- 1
Recommended sequence for most incoming students is Group A: CS 150B to CS 164.
- 2
Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 126 credits, of which at least 42 credits must be upper-division (300-level or higher).
- 3
Additional prerequisite coursework beyond degree requirements may be required to access some MECH/CS courses.
Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
TO PREPARE FOR FIRST SEMESTER: The curriculum for this major assumes students enter college prepared to take calculus.
In order to maintain professional standards required of practicing engineers, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 in electrical engineering courses as a graduation requirement. It is the responsibility of any student who fails to maintain a 2.000 average to work with their advisor to correct grade point deficiencies. ECE courses required for the major at the 100, 200, and 300 level must be passed with a minimum grade of C (2.000); grades below a C will require the student to retake the course. ECE courses designated as an elective are exempt from the C or higher minimum grade requirement.
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | X | 3A | 4 | |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) | X | 3A | 1 | |
| ENGR 111 | Fundamentals of Engineering | X | 3 | ||
| MATH 160 | Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 4 | |
| Course(s) from Group A, B, or C (See options in Program Requirements Tab) | X | 3B | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | ||||
| Semester 2 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | X | 1A | 3 | |
| ENGR 114 | Engineering for Grand Challenges | X | 3 | ||
| MATH 161 | Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 4 | |
| PH 141 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1) | X | 3A | 5 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Semester 3 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| ECE 205 | Analog Circuits I | X | 3 | ||
| ECE 252 | Introduction to Digital Circuits | X | 3 | ||
| MATH 261 | Calculus for Physical Scientists III | X | 4 | ||
| Course(s) from Group A, B, or C (See options in Program Requirements Tab) | X | 4 | |||
| 1C | X | 1C | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 17 | ||||
| Semester 4 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| ECE 206 | Analog Circuits II | X | 3 | ||
| ECE 232 | Introduction to Project Practices | X | 1 | ||
| ECE 253 | Microcontrollers and C for Internet-of-Things | X | 3 | ||
| MATH 340 | Intro to Ordinary Differential Equations | X | 4 | ||
| PH 142 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (GT-SC1) | X | 3A | 5 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | ||||
| Junior | |||||
| Semester 5 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| ECE 303/STAT 303 | Introduction to Communications Principles | X | 3 | ||
| ECE 311 | Linear System Analysis I | X | 3 | ||
| ECE 331 | Electronics Principles I | X | 4 | ||
| ECE 341 | Electromagnetic Fields and Devices I | X | 3 | ||
| Electives | X | 3 | |||
| Total Credits | 16 | ||||
| Semester 6 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| ECE 312 | Linear System Analysis II | X | 3 | ||
| ECE 332 | Electronics Principles II | X | 4A | 4 | |
| ECE 342 | Electromagnetic Fields and Devices II | X | 3 | ||
| JTC 300 or CO 301B | Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3) Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3) | X | 2 | 3 | |
| Electives | X | 4 | |||
| Total Credits | 17 | ||||
| Senior | |||||
| Semester 7 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| ECE 401 | Senior Design Project I | X | 4A,4B | 3 | |
| ECE 411 | Control Systems | X | 3 | ||
| Technical Electives (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) | X | 6 | |||
| Arts and Humanities | X | 3B | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | ||||
| Semester 8 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| ECE 402 | Senior Design Project II | X | 4C | 3 | |
| Technical Electives (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) | X | 6 | |||
| Historical Perspectives | X | 3D | 3 | ||
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | X | 3C | 3 | ||
| The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study. | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 15 | ||||
| Program Total Credits: | 126 | ||||

