Major in robotics and earn your bachelor's degree
As one of the first undergraduate robotics programs at a top-ten engineering school, Michigan Robotics has developed cutting-edge courses that stay current with the fast-advancing robotics field.
Robotics students gain an understanding of foundational concepts through hands-on core courses such as human-robot interaction, sensors and signals, and operating systems, then quickly adapt the degree to their interests with electives in areas such as robot control, autonomous robotics, wearable sensors, aircraft structres, or even marine dynamics.
Leveraging the breadth of courses available across other top-ranked departments throughout the University, a Michigan Robotics degree demonstrates the force-multiplying impact of the field across a vast array of applications from medicine to manufacturing, and beyond.
An MBot Omni waits for instructions in ROB 102: Intro to Programming and AI.
A student demonstrates to their professor how a tripedal robot moves outside the lab.
The Michigan Mars Rover team tests its mars rover on the Mars Yard outside of the Ford Robotics Building.
What robotics students do
Learn new concepts
While the robots may operate anywhere from underwater to outer space, the concepts underlying them remain the same. Students gain knowledge of these core technical areas in coursework:
- Sensing of the environment, other robots or humans, and internal information to perceive the state of the world
- Reasoning with models of the world to make decisions to accomplish tasks, satisfy goals, and learn from experience
- Acting upon itself or environment to produce outputs that enable the robot to achieve desired effects on the physical world and interact with people
- Understanding human and social dynamics for robots to effectively work with people and evaluate their impact on society
Grow and inspire community
Both within the U-M robotics community and greater society, students practice one of our core values: enthusiastic outreach. Robotics students can join others on the Robotics Undergraduate Student Council to plan outreach and community events and improve the entire program as liasons to department leadership.
And robotics is one of the most exciting fields to see in action. We get regular requests from the community for tours, demonstrations, and other volunteering opportunities in which our students take part.
Participate in research
Get hands-on experience working alongside faculty and graduate students on robotics research. Undergraduate research opportunities help you develop technical skills, explore potential career paths, and contribute to advancing the field.
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SURE Program: Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering
Paid summer research experiences working directly with faculty on active research projects -
UROP: Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program
Academic year research positions with stipends available across campus -
MDP Research: Multidisciplinary Design Program
Team-based research opportunities combining multiple engineering disciplines
Build and compete
Beyond courses, students often dedicate a large portion of time to a student project team. Like FIRST Robotics, these teams typically have an international organizer that presents competition guidelines each year. Students work throughout the year on designing and building, then participate in international competitions.
Robotics undergraduate highlights
What a robotics degree means
Broad technical skills
Students develop expertise across multiple domains, becoming full-stack roboticists:Versatile career preparation
A robotics degree is full-spectrum across multiple applications and industries. Graduates work at a variety of organizations, including:- AbbVie
- Amazon
- Amazon Robotics
- Bosch
- Carnegie Mellon
- Caterpillar
- Draper
- FANUC
- Ford Motor Company
- General Atomics
- General Motors
- Gentex Corporation
- Hyundai America
- Intel
- Medtronic
- NASA JPL
- Northrop Grumman
- Nuro
- Our Next Energy
- Pratt Miller
- Remora
- Renesas Electronics
- Seoul National Hospital
- SpaceX
- Stellantis
- Stryker
- Symbotic
- Tesla
- University of Michigan
- VRSI
- Walmart
- Wazuh
- wheel.me
- Williams International
Accelerated advanced degree:
Qualified students can pursue an accelerated master’s degree through the Sequential Undergraduate / Graduate Studies (SUGS) program, earning both BSE and MS degrees in five years.
Become a Michigan Robotics undergraduate student
Prospective first-year students
To start exploring your paths to robotics, apply to the College of Engineering.
Transfer students
Transfer directly to Robotics BSE starting Winter 2026. Fall and Winter admission available.