All students in the robotics engineering major must take the courses listed below. Although not required, it is strongly recommended that students interested in the robotics engineering major take ECE 8, Introduction to Robot Automation, in their first or second year. The senior comprehensive requirement for robotics engineering majors is satisfied by completion of the capstone course and the portfolio exit requirement. Students not making sufficient progress in the major may be recommended to change to another major.
Lower-Division Courses
Students who may have originally pursued another major should discuss with the Baskin Engineering Undergraduate Advising office whether or not already completed coursework may be substituted for one or more lower-division requirements.
Either of the following:
AM 10 | Mathematical Methods for Engineers I | 5 |
MATH 21 | Linear Algebra | 5 |
And all the following:
AM 20 | Mathematical Methods for Engineers II | 5 |
CSE 12 | Computer Systems and Assembly Language and Lab | 7 |
And the following:
CSE 20 | Beginning Programming in Python | 5 |
CSE 30 | Programming Abstractions: Python | 7 |
Students with no prior programming will take CSE 20 before CSE 30. Students with a prior programming course, AP credit, or clearing the “Test-out” bar will start with CSE 30.
And either of the following:
MATH 23A | Vector Calculus | 5 |
AM 30 | Multivariate Calculus for Engineers | 5 |
And all the following courses:
ECE 13 | Computer Systems and C Programming | 7 |
CSE 16 | Applied Discrete Mathematics | 5 |
MATH 19A | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
MATH 19B | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
PHYS 5A | Introduction to Physics I | 5 |
PHYS 5L | Introduction to Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
PHYS 5C | Introduction to Physics III | 5 |
PHYS 5N | Introduction to Physics Laboratory III | 1 |
ECE 9 | Statics and Mechanics of Materials | 5 |
ECE 10 | Fundamentals of Robot Kinematics and Dynamics | 5 |
Upper-Division Courses
All of the following:
CSE 100 | Logic Design | 5 |
CSE 100L | Logic Design Laboratory | 2 |
CSE 107 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 5 |
ECE 141 | Feedback Control Systems | 5 |
ECE 167 | Sensing and Sensor Technologies | 7 |
CSE 101 | Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms | 5 |
ECE 101 | Introduction to Electronic Circuits | 5 |
ECE 101L | Introduction to Electronic Circuits Laboratory | 2 |
ECE 103 | Signals and Systems | 5 |
ECE 103L | Signals and Systems Laboratory | 2 |
ECE 118 | Introduction to Mechatronics | 10 |
ECE 121 | Microcontroller System Design | 7 |
Electives
Advanced Robotics Elective
One of the following:
ECE 215 | Models of Robotic Manipulation | 5 |
ECE 216 | Bio-Inspired Locomotion | 5 |
ECE 240 | Introduction to Linear Dynamical Systems | 5 |
ECE 242 | Applied Feedback Control | 5 |
ECE 244 | Digital Control | 5 |
ECE 245 | Estimation and Introduction to Control of Stochastic Processes | 5 |
ECE 246 | Hybrid Dynamical Systems | 5 |
ECE 249 | Introduction to Cyber-physical Systems | 5 |
Upper-Division and Graduate Elective
One course from the following:
AM 114 | Introduction to Dynamical Systems | 5 |
ECE 145 | Estimation and Introduction to Control of Stochastic Processes | 5 |
AM 147 | Computational Methods and Applications | 5 |
CMPM 146 | Game AI | 5 |
CSE 120 | Computer Architecture | 5 |
CSE 113 | Parallel and Concurrent Programming | 5 |
CSE 122 | Introduction to VLSI Digital System Design | 5 |
CSE 125 | Logic Design with Verilog | 7 |
CSE 165 | Human-Computer Interaction | 5 |
CSE 150 | Introduction to Computer Networks | 7 |
CSE 151 | Advanced Computer Networks | 5 |
CSE 151L | Advanced Computer Networks Laboratory | 2 |
ECE 153 | Digital Signal Processing | 5 |
CSE 156 | Network Programming | 5 |
CSE 156L | Network Programming Laboratory | 2 |
CSE 167 | Mobile Sensing and Interaction | 5 |
CSE 106 | Applied Graph Theory and Algorithms | 5 |
CSE 102 | Introduction to Analysis of Algorithms | 5 |
CSE 110A | Fundamentals of Compiler Design I | 5 |
CSE 110B | Fundamentals of Compiler Design II | 5 |
CSE 111 | Advanced Programming | 5 |
CSE 131 | Introduction to Operating Systems | 5 |
CSE 112 | Comparative Programming Languages | 5 |
CSE 115A | Introduction to Software Engineering | 5 |
CSE 118 | Mobile Applications | 5 |
CSE 132 | Computer Security | 5 |
CSE 138 | Distributed Systems | 5 |
CSE 103 | Computational Models | 5 |
CSE 140 | Artificial Intelligence | 5 |
CSE 142 | Machine Learning | 5 |
CSE 160 | Introduction to Computer Graphics | 7 |
CSE 161 | Introduction to Data Visualization | 5 |
CSE 161L | Data Visualization Laboratory | 2 |
CSE 180 | Database Systems I | 5 |
CSE 181 | Database Systems II | 5 |
CSE 183 | Web Applications | 5 |
ECE 130 | Introduction to Optoelectronics and Photonics | 5 |
ECE 130L | Introduction to Optoelectronics Laboratory | 1 |
ECE 135 | Electromagnetic Fields and Waves | 5 |
ECE 135L | Electromagnetic Fields and Waves Laboratory | 2 |
ECE 102 | Properties of Materials | 5 |
ECE 102L | Properties of Materials Laboratory | 2 |
ECE 151 | Communications Systems | 5 |
ECE 152 | Introduction to Wireless Communications | 5 |
ECE 153 | Digital Signal Processing | 5 |
ECE 171 | Analog Electronics | 5 |
ECE 171L | Analog Electronics Laboratory | 2 |
ECE 172 | Advanced Analog Circuits | 5 |
ECE 173 | High-Speed Digital Design | 7 |
ECE 175 | Energy Generation and Control | 5 |
ECE 175L | Energy Generation and Control Laboratory | 2 |
ECE 193 | Field Study | 5 |
ECE 198 | Individual Study or Research | 5 |
CSE 276 | Optimization Theory and Applications | 5 |
Lecture and required concurrent lab course counts as one course.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students in all majors must satisfy that major's upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. The DC requirement in robotics is satisfied by completing the senior capstone course sequence:
Either these three courses:
Or these two courses:
10 credits for the senior thesis course, ECE 195, must be completed for this option.
Comprehensive Requirement
Capstone Requirement
Students must complete one capstone design course that spans three quarters
or complete the following courses:
10 credits for the senior thesis course, ECE 195, must be completed for this option.
Exit Requirement
Students are required to complete an exit survey and attend an exit interview. Portfolios of the students work will be collected from our courses for program evaluation. The portfolios will be reviewed by the Electrical and Computer Engineering undergraduate committee and will include two project reports: ECE 118 and either the senior capstone report (ECE 129A/ECE 129B/ECE 129C) or the student’s senior thesis.
The tables below are for informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.
Four-Year Planner for Robotics Engineering
Below is a sample academic plan for students majoring in robotics engineering. As part of the major declaration process students prepare an academic plan and the selected electives may affect the placement of other courses as well. Careful planning is required to complete the degree within four years. Students who are unable to follow this planner should consult with ECE advisors for alternatives. General education requirements that are not covered in the four-year planner are: CC (Cross-Cultural Analysis), ER (Ethnicity and Race), IM (Interpreting Arts and Media), TA (Textual Analysis), PE (Perspective), and C (Composition).
Year |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
1st (frosh) |
MATH 19A |
MATH 19B |
AM 10 |
|
CSE 20 |
PHYS 5A & PHYS 5L |
CSE 16 |
|
|
CSE 12 |
ECE 13 |
2nd (soph) |
AM 30 or MATH 23A |
ECE 9 |
ECE 10 |
|
PHYS 5C & PHYS 5N |
AM 20 |
CSE 30 |
|
ECE 8 (recommended) |
ECE 101 & ECE 101L |
CSE 107 |
3rd (junior) |
|
ECE 121 |
Upper-division elective |
|
ECE 103 & ECE 103L |
|
ECE 118 |
|
CSE 100 & CSE 100L |
CSE 101 |
|
4th (senior) |
ECE 129A |
ECE 129B |
ECE 129C |
|
ECE 141 |
Advanced robotics elective |
ECE 167 |
|
|
|
|
Plan for Junior Transfers
Below is a sample academic plan for students transferring to UC Santa Cruz in robotics engineering in their junior year. It assumes that all lower-division course requirements have already been satisfied, except ECE 9 and ECE 10. The plan for the third and fourth years will vary according to the electives and capstone selected. As part of the major declaration process students prepare a plan and the selected electives may affect the placement of other courses as well. Careful planning at the time of declaration is required to complete the degree within two years.
This planner assumes that most general education courses have been completed before coming to UCSC.
Year |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
3rd (junior) |
ECE 101 & 101L |
ECE 121 |
ECE 118 |
|
CSE 101 |
ECE 9 |
ECE 10 |
|
CSE 100 & CSE 100L |
CSE 107 |
ECE 103 & ECE 103L |
4th (senior) |
ECE 129A |
ECE 129B |
ECE 129C |
|
ECE 141 |
Advanced robotics elective |
ECE 167 |
|
Elective |
|
|
Curriculum charts for all Baskin Engineering majors are available at the BE Undergraduate Advising Major Curriculum Charts page.