Concentration in Robotics

Robotics is a rapidly expanding field that combines mechanical design, sensing, actuation, and computations. Robotic systems are already transforming industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics, and have the potential to further improve productivity and quality of life in many areas of society. As an interdisciplinary field, robotics requires a diverse skill set, making it an exciting area of study for engineering students.

The Concentration in Robotics builds upon the fundamentals from the undergraduate engineering curriculum, and offers students the opportunity to focus on a specific subset of robotics. By pursuing this concentration, students will gain in-depth knowledge and skills in areas such as design, computation, perception, path planning, and real-time control, preparing them for careers in industry or research in one of the many areas encompassed by robotics.

The required course in the concentration offers a system-level view of a robotic system, while the additional classes provide students with a deep-dive into the fundamental building blocks of robotics. In addition to the required course, the concentration also includes a required experiential component, where students will apply what they have learned in a practical setting. The 12-unit concentration is open to all undergraduate engineering students and will be noted on students’ official transcripts. It is recommended that students interested in pursuing a Concentration in Robotics declare their concentration as early as possible in their degree program to facilitate course planning, but in no case later than May 1 of a student’s junior year.

By pursuing a Concentration in Robotics, students will gain a valuable skill set that is highly sought after in today’s job market, and prepare them to meet the current and future needs of society.

Concentration Requirements

1. A sequence of three courses (12 units) consisting of one required course and two additional courses chosen from the list below. Students are expected to have the prerequisites necessary to complete all concentration courses.

Required Course (4 units)

ENG ME 416 – Intro to Robotics (offered fall and spring*) and recommended that it be taken in junior year. 

Additional Courses (Choose two courses – 8 units).

Two courses from any of the lists below, but no more than one from each of group A, B, C or D (courses in group E do not have constraints.)

Group A:
ENG ME 403 – Atmospheric Flight Mechanics and Control
ENG ME 404 – Dynamics and Control of Mechanical Systems
ENG EC 402 – Control Systems
ENG BE 404 – Modern Control in Biomedical Engineering

Group B:
ENG EC414 – Introduction to Machine Learning
ENG EC 418 – Reinforcement Learning
ENG EC 503 – Learning from Data
ENG EC 518 – Robot Learning
ENG EC 523 – Deep Learning

Group C:
ENG EC 444 – Smart and Connected Systems
ENG EC 535 – Introduction to Embedded Systems
ENG EC/ME/SE 544 – Networking the Physical World
ENG EC 545 – Cyber-Physical Systems

Group D:
ENG ME 568 – Soft Robotic Technologies
ENG ME 571 – Medical Robotics

Group E (no constraints):
ENG EC 520 – Digital Image Processing and Communication
ENG ME 345 – Automation & Manufacturing Methods
ENG ME 560 – Precision Machine Design and Instrumentation
ENG ME 570 – Robot Motion Planning

Please note that courses required (by name/number) for the student’s major cannot also be counted towards the three courses applied to fulfill the concentration.

2. Experiential Component: Completion of a well-defined experiential component in Robotics. A laboratory research, internship, senior design project or directed study can satisfy this requirement. Note: The Experiential Component requires completion of ENG ME416 or one of the approved electives from the list above prior to doing the experience.

This requirement must be approved by the Concentration Coordinator. The Experiential Component Proposal form, along with a written proposal, must be submitted to the ENG Registrar’s Office prior to starting the experience. Upon conclusion, the Experiential Component Summary form, including a written summary, must be submitted by 5pm on the due date. 

*will not be offered Spring 2027

Resources

• Concentration Summary Instructions
• Declaration
• Experiential Component Proposal
• Experiential Component Summary
• SARA Complaint Process

Contact

ENG Registrar’s Office: 617-353-6447 or engrec@bu.edu
Concentration Coordinator: Prof. Roberto Tron (tron@bu.edu)