Robotics Master鈥檚 Program
Director Spotlight

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听听The future of robotics will be built by engineers who can think across disciplines, adapt to rapidly evolving technologies, and translate bold ideas into real-world impact. That vision is what excites me most about the future of our program. As robotics continues to transform industries ranging from healthcare and manufacturing to aerospace and autonomous systems, our master's program is growing alongside it鈥攚ith an innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum and expanding opportunities for students to engage in cutting-edge research. We are committed to giving our students the technical depth, breadth of perspective, and hands-on experience they need to become the innovators and leaders who will shape the next generation of intelligent robotic systems.听听
Choose Your Pathway in Robotics
We offer two customizable degree options to help you achieve your goals and advance your career.
| MS Non-thesis | MS Thesis |
|---|---|
| Industry-focused | Research-focused |
| Designed for current engineers or students aiming to advance in industry through a coursework-only path. | Designed for students pursuing careers with a research component or planning to continue into a PhD. |
| Build a broader foundation through a variety of breadth electives. | Build a depth of specialized knowledge through applied research.听 |
| 30 credits | 30 credits |
| Coursework-only (non-thesis track) | Thesis required |
| Can be pursued full-time or part-time | Generally full-time听 |
| In-person/on-campus available听 | In-person/on-campus available听 |
Not sure which path is right for you?Contact our graduate advisors at robo@colorado.edu to discuss your career goals and determine the best fit.
Explore & Apply Your Passions
The Robotics Program is designed around three fundamental focal areas designed to help students develop both breadth and depth of knowledge. They are: Dynamics and Mechatronics, Perception and Control, and Cognition and Interaction. In addition to that foundation, students may pursue one of several robotics specialization areas or design a customized interdisciplinary pathway:
Closely aligned with biological systems, this specialization includes both robotic systems that are human body-mounted and augment physical performance, as well as robotic systems that are developed to mimic unique characteristics of organisms found in the natural world. Courses focus on the theory behind human movement, design methodology for robotic systems, and specific application spaces, such as medicine and wearable technology.
Develop autonomous systems for complex, unstructured environments such as remote terrain, underwater, and outer space. Learn how to integrate advanced robotics, dynamics, control, computer vision, avionics, and optimization to enable robots to navigate, perceive, and make decisions in dynamic and unpredictable settings. Graduate studies in this field emphasize robust algorithms for perception, navigation, and control, coupled with hardware design.
Explore interactions between humans and robotic systems by developing intuitive and responsive technologies based on human needs. This focal area aims to design robots and robotic systems that enhance human capabilities, prioritize user needs, and seamlessly integrate into everyday environments. Courses in this area emphasize usability, safety, and adaptability from the human perspective, and how to build these qualities into robotic systems.
This area combines AI with control theory, probabilistic reasoning, robotic manipulation, and motion planning to create robots capable of analyzing, predicting, and adapting in real time. Learn how to use advanced artificial intelligence to design autonomous systems capable of making reliable, safe decisions in complex, uncertain environments.
Understanding smart materials is vital for advancing adaptable technologies, forming the foundation for breakthroughs in robotics, automation, and biomedical devices. This area of study explores the mechanics of flexible, microscale, and adaptive materials, uncovering principles that enable dynamic responsiveness. Gain expertise in optimizing material properties to meet the complex future requirements of diverse fields like robotics, healthcare, energy, and environmental systems.
This multidisciplinary field focuses on the behavior and regulation of dynamic systems. Systems are often optimized for stability, performance, or other desired outcomes through computational or mathematical techniques. This field blends principles from engineering, mathematics, computer science, and physics to analyze, design, and implement systems that can autonomously respond to changes in their user commands, environment or internal state.
Costs & Financial Information
A master's degree from the College of Engineering and Applied Science represents a valuable investment in your career potential. While costs vary by program, residency status and enrollment type, we're committed to transparency in helping you plan for this important step.
- Tuition structure: Engineering master's programs have different rate structures based on program type, delivery method and course load.
- ROI consideration: Most graduates recoup their educational investment within 2.5 years of completing their degree.
- Flexible options: Many programs offer part-time enrollment, allowing you to distribute costs while maintaining employment.
- Scholarships and fellowships: Program-specific scholarships and fellowships are extremely rare and offers of admission to this program do not come with guaranteed funding. Master鈥檚 students should be prepared to finance their degree using their own resources.
- Assistantships: Assistantship opportunities are also extremely rare, and master鈥檚 students should not rely on finding an assistantship to fund their studies. However, they are encouraged to apply to on-campus hourly positions or off-campus opportunities, some of which could potentially be robotics-related.
- Employer benefits: Many companies provide tuition assistance for job-relevant graduate education.
- Military benefits: Veterans can utilize GI Bill benefits for qualified programs.
For detailed, current information about costs specific to your program of interest and payment options, we recommend visiting the 蜜桃传媒破解版下载 Bursar's Office.
Admissions Requirements & Application Information
Our graduate advisors can provide additional guidance for you as you navigate the application process.
Bachelor's degree (usually in engineering, computer science, physical sciences, or mathematics) from an accredited institution with a preferred GPA of 3.2 or above. This degree should meet or exceed the following:听
- Two semesters of calculus, differential equations with linear algebra OR a focused linear algebra course, and one semester of calculus-based physics;听
- At least two semesters of upper-division undergraduate courses in engineering, computer science, physical sciences, or applied math;
- Completion of a third semester of calculus, a second semester of calculus-based physics, and/or a focused linear algebra course is preferred.
- If your degree does not meet these requirements, please consult our admissions team at robo@colorado.edu before submitting an application.
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- Statement of purpose outlining your goals and interests
- Two letters of recommendation
- Resume/CV highlighting relevant experience
- Undergraduate transcripts
- Domestic applicants must apply by:
- Fall admissions: December 15
- International applicants must apply by:
- Fall admissions: Currently unavailable
- Our paperwork to issue I-20s is still pending approval from the US government. Once we receive that approval, we look forward to welcoming international students into our program.
- Choose your preferred program and gather the required documents.
- Submit your .
- Applications are evaluated by faculty and admissions decisions are typically announced within 6-8 weeks.
- In addition to the above materials, international students must also submit verifiable TOEF, Duolingo or IELTS scores using the institution code 4841 for CU. Once admitted, students must then submit official language scores in order to receive an I-20 for their visa application.听听
- The above requirement is waived for international students who qualify under the following conditions:
- the student鈥檚 native language is English, or
- the student has completed at least one year of full-time study at a U.S. institution (or at an institution in a country where English is the native language), at the time of submission, or within two years from the desired admission.听
- Current 蜜桃传媒破解版下载 students are welcome to reach out to our graduate advisors at robo@colorado.edu for information on how to transfer into our program.
- Students who took graduate coursework at another university may petition to apply up to 9 graduate-level credits of that coursework to their ROBO-MS, if they meet the program鈥檚 and the Graduate School鈥檚 criteria.听听
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore Related Programs
If you鈥檙e not sure this is the program for you, we offer several related degree options for you to consider:
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