Master of science in robotics

Pursue a career with measurable impact in Wayne State University’s industry-driven master of science in robotics degree program. With applications across every aspect of day-to-day life — especially in mobility, manufacturing, agriculture, health care and supply chain management — the hands-on M.S. in robotics positions you for success in a variety of roles and sectors.

Program highlights

• Three concentrations to customize your learning
• State-of-the-art research laboratories
• Thesis or non-thesis track option
• No GRE to apply
• Online study option

What will you learn in the robotics program?

Prepare for fast-paced, high-demand environments at the leading edge of the automation and technology sector. The robotics master’s degree program at Wayne State is designed for smart technology in areas like autonomous driving, connectivity, smart infrastructure and electrification. You’ll study and apply programming languages like Python, develop methods of engineering analysis, and practice theories and applications for robot architectures, sensing, perception, planning, dynamics and control.

M.S. in robotics curriculum

Complete the 30-credit master’s in robotics engineering on a Plan A (Doctoral degree track) or Plan C (professional preparation track) degree path. On Plan A, you will complete 24 course credits and a six-credit master’s thesis. Plan C involves 30 credits of coursework, which can include six credits of internship experience.

The robotics program curriculum offers three concentration options: industrial automation, intelligent control or smart mobility. The industrial automation option can also be completed online.

Review the master of science in robotics program curriculum. 

Three concentration options to customize your study

Wayne State’s master of science in robotics program can be tailored to fit your career ambitions. Build your expertise in one of three concentrations:

• Industrial Automation, hosted by the Engineering Technology (ET) department.

  This program prepares you for heavy industrial environments with skills in engineering analysis, industrial applications of advanced programmable controllers, machine tool laboratories, robotics and flexible manufacturing.

• Intelligent Control, hosted by the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department.

  Place yourself at the forefront of the next generation of technology through courses in fuzzy systems, industrial robot modeling and simulation, Python, VLSI systems, nonlinear control systems, and smart sensor technology.

• Smart mobility, hosted by the Computer Science (CSC) department.

  Design and improve mobility solutions by developing a background in cyber-physical systems, mechatronics, computer graphics, AI and machine learning.

• M.S. in robotics — Industrial automation courses 

  Course code	Course title	Credits
  Foundational Areas (Please select 1 course from each area)		10
  Robot Software & Programming
  CSC 6110	Software Engineering
  or ET 5600	Python: Industrial Applications
  Robot Architectures
  CSC/ECE 5280	Introduction to Cyber-Physical Systems
  or ET 5100	Fundamentals of Mechatronics and Industrial Applications
  Robot Sensing, Perception, Planning, Dynamics & Control
  ECE 5425	Robotic Systems I
  or MIT 5700	Industrial Robots Modeling and Simulation
  Departmental Requirement		4
  ET 7430	Methods of Engineering Analysis
  Electives		16
  EET 5720	Computer Networking Applications
  EET 5730	Embedded Systems Networking
  EET 7720	Advanced Computer Networking
  ET 5110	Advanced Programmable Controllers and Industrial Applications
  ET 5870	Engineering Project Management
  ET 7300	Advanced Battery Systems for Electric-drive Vehicles
  ET 7800	Industrial Robots Dynamics and Control
  MCT 5150	Hybrid Vehicle Technology
  MCT 5210	Energy Sources and Conversion
  MIT 5500	Machine Tool Laboratory
  MIT 7700	Robotics and Flexible Manufacturing
  ET 7999	Master's Project
  Total credits		30

• M.S. in robotics — Intelligent control courses

  Course code	Course title	Credits
  Foundational Areas (Please select 1 course from each area)		10
  Robot Software & Programming
  CSC 6110	Software Engineering
  or ET 5600	Python: Industrial Applications
  Robot Architectures
  CSC/ECE 5280	Introduction to Cyber-Physical Systems
  or ET 5100	Fundamentals of Mechatronics and Industrial Applications
  Robot Sensing, Perception, Planning, Dynamics & Control
  ECE 5425	Robotic Systems I
  or MIT 5700	Industrial Robots Modeling and Simulation
  Departmental Requirements		8
  ECE 5470	Control Systems II
  ECE 7425	Robotics Systems II
  Electives		12
  ECE 5440	Computer-Controlled Systems
  ECE 5620	Embedded System Design
  ECE 6570	Smart Sensor Technology I: Design
  ECE 5690	Introduction to Digital Image Processing
  ECE 5770	Digital Signal Processing
  ECE 6660	Introduction to VLSI Systems
  ECE 7420	Nonlinear Control Systems
  ECE 7430	Discrete Event Systems with Machine Learning
  ECE 7440	Dynamic Systems and Optimal Control
  ECE 7530	Advanced Digital VLSI Design
  ECE 7690	Fuzzy Systems
  ECE 8999	Master's Thesis Research and Direction
  Total Credits		30

• M.S. in robotics — Smart Mobility

  Course code	Course title	Credits
  Foundational Areas (Please select 1 course from each area)		10
  Robot Software & Programming
  CSC 6110	Software Engineering
  or ET 5600	Python: Industrial Applications
  Robot Architectures
  CSC/ECE 5280	Introduction to Cyber-Physical Systems
  or ET 5100	Fundamentals of Mechatronics and Industrial Applications
  Robot Sensing, Perception, Planning, Dynamics & Control
  ECE 5425	Robotic Systems I
  or MIT 5700	Industrial Robots Modeling and Simulation
  Department Requirement		3
  CSC 5100	Introduction to Mobility
  Electives		17
  CSC 5250	Network, Distributed, and Concurrent Programming
  CSC 5270	Computer Systems Security
  CSC 5825	Introduction to Machine Learning and Applications
  CSC 5870	Computer Graphics I
  CSC 6280	Real-Time and Embedded Operating Systems
  CSC 6800	Artificial Intelligence I
  CSC 6860	Digital Image Processing and Analysis
  CSC 6870	Computer Graphics II
  * CSC 7991	Advanced Topics in Computer Science
  CSC 8990	Graduate Seminar
  CSC 8999	Master's Thesis Research and Direction
  Total Credits		30

Fast track your master’s degree with AGRADE (4+1) 

Save time and money while advancing your credentials in Wayne State’s Accelerated Graduate Enrollment (AGRADE) program. If you are accepted into AGRADE, you will complete both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years by selecting 16 credits of coursework to count toward both your B.S. and M.S. in robotics.

Careers with a master’s in robotics engineering

The thriving industrial robotics sector is projected to expand nearly 12% annually to more than $33 billion in the next decade. The M.S. in robotics equips you with the theoretical expertise and practical skills necessary to design, operate, maintain and reimagine the tools to sustain that growth. 

Salaries in the robotics field range from $60,000 for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians to more than $120,000 for engineers working in nuclear energy, oil and gas. 

Common job titles include:

Tuition and financial aid

Invest in your future at a low overall cost: Wayne State is the most affordable of Michigan’s top research universities, and our generous financial aid packages include scholarships and assistantships that can fund your studies and expand your professional experience.

Learn more about Wayne State’s cost of attendance.

Admission requirements for M.S. in robotics

To apply, you must meet the requirements for admission to the Graduate School, the College of Engineering and the department within the college that administers your chosen concentration. 

While we recommend holding a  bachelor’s or the equivalent in engineering from an accredited college or university, we consider accredited degrees from all science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines for admission. The minimum GPA for regular admission is 2.75, and 2.5 to 2.74 for qualified admission. We will also consider your professional experience in our admission decisions.

Admission to the program is also contingent upon satisfying the following requirements:

• No other supplemental admission documents are required. However, you may submit letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose and a professional resume/CV to aid the admission evaluation process.
• If you have earned your degree(s) from a country where English is not the native language, you must demonstrate English proficiency via a qualified examination: a minimum score of 79 from the internet-based TOEFL (iBT) or 550 from a paper-based TOEFL (pBT), an IELTS score of 6.5 or an overall Duolingo score of 125.
• International applicants are required to submit an official course-by-course transcript evaluation. Accepted evaluation services include WES, ECE or SpanTran. Note that the official transcript evaluation must be transmitted directly from the evaluating agency to the WSU Office of Graduate Admissions. The transcript evaluation will serve as your official transcript.
• All applicants must pay the $50 application fee.

Application deadlines

• Fall (begins in August): July 15
• Winter (begins in January): Nov. 1
• Spring/summer (spring begins in May; summer begins in June): Feb. 1

Learn more about graduate admissions.

Pioneer the future with a master of science in robotics

Leap into the emerging and expanding workforce of robotics technologists and engineering specialists through Wayne State’s master of science in robotics program. Explore opportunities to earn your degree online, concentrate in industrial automation, intelligent control or smart mobility, and define your future with a thesis or internship.

State-of-the-art facilities and laboratories

Advance your capabilities using our robust on-campus assets, including interdisciplinary research spaces like the Robotics and Automation Lab, the CARES Lab, and the CAR Lab.