The Robotics Engineering Department offers the Bachelor's/Master's degree with thesis and non-thesis (coursework only) options. The department strives to educate students to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of Robotics Science, Engineering, and Systems; to be aware of the management and systems contexts within which robotic systems are engineered; and to develop advanced knowledge in selected areas of robotics, culminating in a capstone research or design experience.
Admissions Requirements
Eligibility Criteria
Students will be eligible for admission to the program if they have earned an undergraduate degree in Robotics Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering at WPI. Admission decisions will be made by the Robotics Engineering Graduate Program Committee based on all the factors presented in the application. Applications are encouraged during the junior year, after RBE 3001 and 3002 have been completed or during attendance of those courses. In case the student is attending those courses, we encourage the student to request a recommendation letter from the instructor. In the letter, the instructor will comment on the student’s progress in the course.
Double-Counting Courses
WPI allows double counting up to 12 credits. This 12-credit overlap can be achieved through the following mechanisms:
- Up to 12 graduate credits in RBE, CS, ECE, or ME taken by the student may be counted toward meeting the engineering/science/elective requirements of the student's undergraduate major, subject to approval by the student's major department.
- Up to 4 credits (2/3 undergraduate units) of 4000-level undergraduate courses taken by the student in their undergraduate major program may be counted towards the requirements of the master’s degree in Robotics Engineering if the credits can be placed in one of the requirement categories and are approved by the Robotics Engineering Graduate Program Committee.
- Up to 3 credits (1/2 undergraduate unit) can be earned towards fulfillment of the thesis requirement by double counting a Major Qualifying Project, provided that: (1) the MQP involves substantial use of Robotics Engineering at an advanced level, (2) the thesis research is a continuation or extension of the MQP work, (3) the student satisfies the thesis requirement by completing at least 6 additional credits of RBE 599: Thesis Research, and (4) the thesis advisor and Robotics Engineering Graduate Program Committee approve the double counting. MQP work may not be double counted toward the non-thesis option.
Restricted Course Pairs
| Undergraduate Courses | Graduate Courses |
| RBE4701: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | BE595: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence |
| RBE 4540: Vision-Based Manipulation | RBE 595: Vision-Based Manipulation |
| RBE 474X: Hands-On Autonomous Aerial Robotics | BE 595: Hands-On Autonomous Aerial Robotics |
Additional Notes
Students enrolled in a Bachelor's/Master's degree program must complete the Bachelor's and Master's Degree Course Designation Form and have the form signed by the Department’s Graduate Coordinator or the Department Head.
Students intending to graduate with a Bachelor's/Master's degree at the same time should submit the Bachelor's and Master's Degree Course Designation Form to the Registrar's Office in the same semester they intend to graduate. Otherwise, the form should be submitted during the first semester after a student graduates with their bachelor’s degree.