Robotics and automation is a rapidly growing field, particularly in the Silicon Valley region. The field is fueled by dramatic innovation given advances in areas such as artificial intelligence and advanced perception technologies. It is highly entrepreneurial with enormous growth in new companies, products and services. And its applications are far-reaching, to include manufacturing, transportation, environmental monitoring, construction, assistive technologies, homeland security, exploration, and more.

Given the growth in this area, there are many outstanding university-based robotics and automation programs. We believe our program, however, has a number of distinctive qualities that set us apart:

• We have numerous opportunities to engage in real-world projects. Many programs claims this, but few define ‘real-world’ the way we do. We mean REALLY real-world, with students developing and operating systems for real clients/customers in order to create real-world value. Examples include controlling spacecraft for NASA, deploying underwater robots off boats in the ocean and inland lakes for leading scientists, and more.
• Unique “robotic field operations” courses for land, sea, air and space systems. These 1-unit courses include hands-on experimental use of real marine robots, land rovers, aerial drones, and spacecraft operations systems. These are experiences that few if any universities throughout the world offer.
• For remote students, several of our courses provide remote interaction with our robotic devices/systems as a means of providing enhanced online learning experiences. We note that many online robotics certificates/degrees are limited to analysis and simulation – this dismisses a significant need in learning how to design, control and operate robotic systems!
• Flex courses in which most content can be delivered online/remotely but for which critical hands-on experiences can be conducted efficiently in just 1-2 days on campus. We soon hope to be able to sponsor short term (3-10 days) educational visas, which would make this flex option particularly attractive for international students, allowing them to come to campus to complete the hands-on portion for one or more courses during that time.
• A co-curricular ‘Badging’ system in skills-oriented topics such as additive manufacturing and the Robot Operating System. These are free for enrolled students, and they’ve been created to provide students with skills and training recommended by our industry partners.

In addition, while other universities may have similar features, our program includes:

• Distinctive, cutting-edge courses in areas such as human-robot collaboration, soft robotics, multi-robot systems, haptics, and more.
• The option for being connected with industry mentors, many of whom graduated from SCU’s engineering programs with a focus on robotics.

The following table provides the current course plan for the primary R&A program courses and particularly relevant elective courses over the next year. Changes may occur, but this information should prove useful for planning purposes. There are many other courses that may be used for the MS and Certificate programs in terms of electives, mathematics, etc.

* Courses supporting both in-person and remote students

F = Flex courses in all hands-on activities may be completed in only 1-2 in-person sessions

Spring 2026

Summer 2026

Fall 2026

Winter 2027

Spring 2027

Courses likely to be offered during the 2026-27 academic year but which have not been scheduled:

• CSEN 266, Artificial Intelligence, 4 units, various instructors
• CSEN 279, Design and Analysis of Algorithms, 4 units, various instructors
• Ecen 250, Introduction to Machine Learning, 3 units, various instructors
• EMGT 380, Introduction to Systems Engineering Management, 2 units
• Ecen 337L, Intro to Robot Operating System, 1 unit

Projected 2027/28 Courses: In addition to the courses listed in the table above, for the 2027-28 academic year schedule, we are hoping to also offer:

• * Mech 207 / Ecen 462, Advanced Mechatronics II, 3 units, Kitts
• * Ecen 524, Robot Learning, 2 units

In terms of selecting courses, students should note the timing of required courses. Required Certificate courses are generally offered once each year. There is one required MS course that is routinely offered once every two years.

Required for MS and Certificate

• Mech 207 / Ecen 460, Advanced Mechatronics, planned for each Fall
• Mech/Ecen 337/338, Robotics I & II, offered together and planned for each Winter

Required for MS

• Mech 207 / Ecen 460, Advanced Mechatronics, planned for each Fall
• Mech/Ecen 337/338, Robotics I & II, offered together and planned for each Winter
• Mech 208 / Ecen 461, Advanced Mechatronics II, planned for every other Fall, 2028/2030/etc.

Our MS program is a residential program in the sense that students are present on campus for most courses and experiences. For our graduate Certificate program, we have both a residential and an online option (the credential awarded upon completion does not distinguish between the two). Designating an online option pertains to our guarantee that 2 or more courses each quarter (during the academic year) allowing remote participation will be offered; this supports timely completion of the Certificate.

Students in the MS program (which is residential) and on international visas have a limit on the number of “online” courses/units that they can take during any quarter. The “blended” courses in the R&A program have sections that are officially listed as ‘in-person’ and ‘online’ so that these students can select the appropriate option to satisfy their residency requirements.

Apart from the residential vs online nature of our programs (the MS and Certificate programs), the courses that are offered for all of the R&A program options have a variety of formats.

Many courses are offered in a “blended” format, allowing students to participate either in person or remotely (see the * designation in the course schedule section for these courses). For example, lectures are presented live for in-person students while also being broadcast live for those who are remote; furthermore, these lectures are recorded and made available to students through our course management system. In-person students are welcome to view lectures online, and similarly, online students may attend in-person lectures if they are able to do so.

A few other courses in the R&A program are offered in a conventional online format, and they are open to all students.

In addition, there are many other in-person-only engineering courses throughout the School of Engineering, some of which are appropriate as elective options in the R&A program.

Finally, we offer several courses in a “flex” format. These courses offer most of their content in an online or blended format; however, they require a brief period of in-person hands-on/applied work. We support short term educational travel visas such that an international student can come to campus for ~3-10 days in order to complete these activities for one or more courses here on-campus. The primary courses offered in this format are our very unique “robotic field operations” courses in which students gain hands-on experience piloting/controlling/operating our robotic field systems. We have these courses for marine robots, land rovers, uncrewed aerial vehicles, and spacecraft.

Robotics and automation is a very interdisciplinary area, and the SCU program attracts candidates with a wide range of backgrounds. Ideally, given the required courses in our program, candidates should have at least one undergraduate level course in each of the following areas:

• Mathematics through differential equations
• Introductory computer programming
• Introductory electronics;
• System dynamics (often a "dynamics" course in mechanical engineering, or a "signals and systems" course in electrical engineering)

Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering typically have had all of these courses as part of their degree program. Students with Computer Engineering degrees may lack system dynamics. Students with Computer Science backgrounds may lack system dynamics and basic electronics.

Students lacking one or more of these courses can complete them (or their equivalents) at other universities or community colleges. They may also complete them through approved online courses from services such as Coursera. The table below identifies several Coursera courses that are routinely offered and which are pre-approved for satisfying our programmatic prerequisites.

If you are uncertain about the degree to which your prior coursework applies to the four prerequisite categories, we will discuss this with you during the application process.

Students with US citizenship may be admitted to the MS or Certificate program without having completed these prerequisite courses; however, they will be necessary in order to enroll in several required courses within the program. Students who have not completed these prerequisite courses may experience delays in their program.

Because of visa constraints, we are currently unable to admit international students to the MS program until they have completed these prerequisite courses. International applicants to the Certificate program can be admitted to the online option without the need for a visa given that it is not a residency program.

We do not have a doctoral program in Robotics and Automation. Our doctoral students enroll in such programs through our Mechanical, Electrical or Computer Engineering departments. We currently have several PhD students performing robotic-oriented dissertation work through the Mechanical Engineering Department.