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Robotics Engineering B.S.

Information and Policies

Program Learning Outcomes

Student Outcomes

  1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics

  2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors

  3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences

  4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts

  5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives

  6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions

  7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Academic Advising for the Program

The Baskin Engineering Undergraduate Advising office offers general advising for prospective and declared undergraduates majoring in Baskin Engineering programs. The office handles major declarations, transfer credits, course substitutions, articulations, and degree certifications.

Transfer students should also refer to the Transfer Information and Policy section.

Baskin Engineering Building, Room 225
bsoeadvising@ucsc.edu
(831) 459-5840

Getting Started in the Major: Frosh

This major is highly course intensive and sequential; students who intend to pursue this major must begin taking classes for the major in their first quarter at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Math placement is required for one or more of the foundational courses for this major. For more information, please review the Math Placement website.

Transfer Information and Policy

Transfer students who want to pursue the robotics engineering major must have applied and been admitted to UC Santa Cruz as a proposed robotics engineering major.

Transfer Admission Screening Policy

The following courses or their equivalents, are required prior to transfer by the end of spring term for students planning to enter in the fall.

First-year calculus

Both:

MATH 19ACalculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

5
MATH 19BCalculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

5
Linear Algebra

One of:

AM 10Mathematical Methods for Engineers I

5
MATH 21Linear Algebra

5
Differential equations

One of:

AM 20Mathematical Methods for Engineers II

5
MATH 24Ordinary Differential Equations

5
Calculus-based physics

Two quarters of calculus-based physics courses accepted as equivalent to:

PHYS 5AIntroduction to Physics I

5
PHYS 5LIntroduction to Physics I Laboratory

1
PHYS 5CIntroduction to Physics III

5
PHYS 5NIntroduction to Physics Laboratory III

1
Cumulative GPA

A minimum GPA of 2.8 must be obtained in the courses listed above. 

Additionally

In addition, the following courses are recommended prior to transfer to ensure timely graduation.  

CSE 12Computer Systems and Assembly Language and Lab

7
MATH 23AVector Calculus

5
CSE 16Applied Discrete Mathematics

5
CSE 20Beginning Programming in Python

5
CSE 30Programming Abstractions: Python

7
ECE 13Computer Systems and C Programming

7

Also, CSE 12, CSE 16, CSE 101, ECE 9, ECE 10, ECE 13,  and MATH 23A and many general education requirements may be offered by UCSC Summer Session and taken prior to starting the first fall quarter at UCSC. 

Prospective students are encouraged to prioritize required and recommended major preparation prior to transfer, and may additionally complete courses that articulate to UC Santa Cruz general education requirements as time allows. 

Getting Started in the Major: Transfer Students

Transfer students should declare their major in their first quarter at UC Santa Cruz. Instructions for declaring a major in Baskin Engineering are on the Declare Your Major page.

Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process

Major Qualification

Transfer students should refer to the Transfer Admission Screening requirements. 

In order to be admitted into the robotics engineering major students must be listed as a proposed major within Baskin Engineering. Please refer to the Baskin Engineering "Proposed Major Retention" and its "Declaring a Baskin Engineering Major" sections in the catalog or the BE Undergraduate Advising Prepare to Declare page for more information.

In addition to being listed as a proposed Baskin Engineering major, declaration of the robotics engineering major in the first six quarters of enrollment at UC Santa Cruz is based on performance in the following lower-division courses and associated labs required for the major:

Both of these
MATH 19ACalculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

5
MATH 19BCalculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

5
And one of these (whichever is completed first)
AM 30Multivariate Calculus for Engineers

5
MATH 23AVector Calculus

5
And one of these (whichever is completed first):
AM 10Mathematical Methods for Engineers I

5
MATH 21Linear Algebra

5
And all of these:
AM 20Mathematical Methods for Engineers II

5
ECE 9Statics and Mechanics of Materials

5
CSE 12Computer Systems and Assembly Language and Lab

7
CSE 16Applied Discrete Mathematics

5
CSE 30Programming Abstractions: Python

7
ECE 13Computer Systems and C Programming

7
PHYS 5AIntroduction to Physics I

5
PHYS 5LIntroduction to Physics I Laboratory

1
PHYS 5CIntroduction to Physics III

5
PHYS 5NIntroduction to Physics Laboratory III

1

Students in their first six quarters who have completed at least 41 credits in these courses will be admitted to the robotics major if their cumulative GPA is at least 2.8 in all the courses listed above; and they have attempted no more than seven credits resulting in grades of C-, D+, D, D-, F or NP in all of the courses listed above.

Appeal Process

Students who are informed that they are not eligible to declare may appeal this decision by submitting a letter to the undergraduate director within 15 days from the date the notification was mailed. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department will notify the student, the college, and the Office of the Registrar of the decision.

If you have further questions concerning the appeal process, please contact the Undergraduate Advising Office at (831) 459-5840 or email bsoeadvising@ucsc.edu.

More information regarding the appeal process can be found on the BE Undergraduate Advising Appeal Your Major page.

How to Declare a Major

Instructions for declaring a major in Baskin Engineering are on the Baskin Engineering Undergraduate Advising  Declare Your Major page.

Letter Grade Policy

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department requires letter grading for all courses applied toward the B.S. in robotics engineering. This policy includes courses required for the degree that are sponsored by other departments.

Course Substitution Policy

Please refer to the Baskin Engineering section of the catalog for the policy regarding course substitutions.

Double Majors and Major/Minor Combinations Policy

Students completing this major cannot also receive the computer engineering minor or the network and digital technology B.A. degree. 

Honors

Majors are considered for “Honors in the Major” and “Highest Honors in the Major” based on their GPA and on results of undergraduate research and other significant contributions to Baskin Engineering. Students with a GPA of 3.7 or higher, in most cases, receive highest honors. Students with a GPA of 3.3 or higher but less than 3.7, in most cases, receive honors. Students with particularly significant accomplishments in undergraduate research or contributions to Baskin Engineering may be considered with a lower GPA. Robotics engineering juniors and seniors may also be eligible for election to the UC Santa Cruz chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society founded in 1885.

School of Engineering Policies

Please refer to the Baskin Engineering section of the catalog for additional policies that apply to all Baskin Engineering programs.

Materials Fee and Miscellaneous Fees

Please see the section on fees under Baskin Engineering.

Requirements and Planners
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Course Requirements

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 10Mathematical Methods for Engineers I

5
MATH 21Linear Algebra

5
And all the following:
AM 20Mathematical Methods for Engineers II

5
CSE 12Computer Systems and Assembly Language and Lab

7
And the following:
CSE 20Beginning Programming in Python

5
CSE 30Programming 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 23AVector Calculus

5
AM 30Multivariate Calculus for Engineers

5
And all the following courses:
ECE 13Computer Systems and C Programming

7
CSE 16Applied Discrete Mathematics

5
MATH 19ACalculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

5
MATH 19BCalculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

5
PHYS 5AIntroduction to Physics I

5
PHYS 5LIntroduction to Physics I Laboratory

1
PHYS 5CIntroduction to Physics III

5
PHYS 5NIntroduction to Physics Laboratory III

1
ECE 9Statics and Mechanics of Materials

5
ECE 10Fundamentals of Robot Kinematics and Dynamics

5

Upper-Division Courses

All of the following:

CSE 100Logic Design

5
CSE 100LLogic Design Laboratory

2
CSE 107Probability and Statistics for Engineers

5
ECE 141Feedback Control Systems

5
ECE 167Sensing and Sensor Technologies

7
CSE 101Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms

5
ECE 101Introduction to Electronic Circuits

5
ECE 101LIntroduction to Electronic Circuits Laboratory

2
ECE 103Signals and Systems

5
ECE 103LSignals and Systems Laboratory

2
ECE 118Introduction to Mechatronics

10
ECE 121Microcontroller System Design

7

Electives

Advanced Robotics Elective

One of the following:

ECE 215Models of Robotic Manipulation

5
ECE 216Bio-Inspired Locomotion

5
ECE 240Introduction to Linear Dynamical Systems

5
ECE 242Applied Feedback Control

5
ECE 244Digital Control

5
ECE 245Estimation and Introduction to Control of Stochastic Processes

5
ECE 246Hybrid Dynamical Systems

5
ECE 249Introduction to Cyber-physical Systems

5
Upper-Division and Graduate Elective

One course from the following:

AM 114Introduction to Dynamical Systems

5
ECE 145Estimation and Introduction to Control of Stochastic Processes

5
AM 147Computational Methods and Applications

5
CMPM 146Game AI

5
CSE 120Computer Architecture

5
CSE 113Parallel and Concurrent Programming

5
CSE 122Introduction to VLSI Digital System Design

5
CSE 125Logic Design with Verilog

7
CSE 165Human-Computer Interaction

5
CSE 150Introduction to Computer Networks

7
CSE 151Advanced Computer Networks

5
CSE 151LAdvanced Computer Networks Laboratory

2
ECE 153Digital Signal Processing

5
CSE 156Network Programming

5
CSE 156LNetwork Programming Laboratory

2
CSE 167Mobile Sensing and Interaction

5
CSE 106Applied Graph Theory and Algorithms

5
CSE 102Introduction to Analysis of Algorithms

5
CSE 110AFundamentals of Compiler Design I

5
CSE 110BFundamentals of Compiler Design II

5
CSE 111Advanced Programming

5
CSE 131Introduction to Operating Systems

5
CSE 112Comparative Programming Languages

5
CSE 115AIntroduction to Software Engineering

5
CSE 118Mobile Applications

5
CSE 132Computer Security

5
CSE 138Distributed Systems

5
CSE 103Computational Models

5
CSE 140Artificial Intelligence

5
CSE 142Machine Learning

5
CSE 160Introduction to Computer Graphics

7
CSE 161Introduction to Data Visualization

5
CSE 161LData Visualization Laboratory

2
CSE 180Database Systems I

5
CSE 181Database Systems II

5
CSE 183Web Applications

5
ECE 130Introduction to Optoelectronics and Photonics

5
ECE 130LIntroduction to Optoelectronics Laboratory

1
ECE 135Electromagnetic Fields and Waves

5
ECE 135LElectromagnetic Fields and Waves Laboratory

2
ECE 102Properties of Materials

5
ECE 102LProperties of Materials Laboratory

2
ECE 151Communications Systems

5
ECE 152Introduction to Wireless Communications

5
ECE 153Digital Signal Processing

5
ECE 171Analog Electronics

5
ECE 171LAnalog Electronics Laboratory

2
ECE 172Advanced Analog Circuits

5
ECE 173High-Speed Digital Design

7
ECE 175Energy Generation and Control

5
ECE 175LEnergy Generation and Control Laboratory

2
ECE 193Field Study

5
ECE 198Individual Study or Research

5
CSE 276Optimization 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:
ECE 129ACapstone Project I

5
ECE 129BCapstone Project II

5
ECE 129CCapstone Project III

5
Or these two courses:
ECE 129ACapstone Project I

5
ECE 195Senior Thesis Research

5
ECE 195Senior Thesis Research

5

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
ECE 129ACapstone Project I

5
ECE 129BCapstone Project II

5
ECE 129CCapstone Project III

5
or complete the following courses:
ECE 129ACapstone Project I

5
ECE 195Senior Thesis Research

5
ECE 195Senior Thesis Research

5

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.

Planners

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.