Robotics Undergraduate Program
Michigan Robotics received state approval from the Michigan Association of State Universities on June 2, 2022 to establish an undergraduate program. We are launching the Robotics undergraduate major for the Fall 2022 term.
Jump to scheduling and advising information, program requirements, current course options, or review our Robotics Undergraduate Program Guide for more information.
Because robotics is so interdisciplinary, most engineering disciplines offer routes into robotics. Many students in our graduate program come from mechanical, electrical, or computer engineering backgrounds, but also from aerospace engineering, naval engineering, information science, kinesiology, biomedicine, or other fields. There are also several undergraduate project teams where students can learn and apply skills while competing in international competitions.
Currently, we do not offer a SUGS program or minor but we will work to establish these programs in the near-term future after launching the major.
Current undergraduates: keep up-to-date with Robotics
Undergrad Robotics email list
Add yourself to ROBOTICS-UNDERGRAD-INFO through M-Community to receive updates, event information, and more
U-M email required.
Undergrad Q&A Forum on Piazza
Post any Robotics-related questions as well as contribute to the discussion threads.
U-M email required.
Robotics Events
See what’s happening in Robotics, especially the next Robotics Pathways and Careers Speaker Series.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a minor in robotics?
Currently, we do not offer a Robotics minor but we plan to establish one in the near-term future after launching the major. We do not yet have a timeline for when the minor may be available as we are still working hard to launch the major.
What are introductory Robotics classes like?
100-level Robotics classes cover topics such as computational linear algebra, robotic mechanisms, and introduction to programming and artificial intelligence.
This brings the typical upper-level topics to first-year undergraduates, allowing you to cover engineering fundamentals of math and science through robotics projects, an approach we call “coding is believing.”
Get a greater sense of each course below:
How can I get on the waitlist for Robotics courses?
To get on a course waitlist, follow these instructions:
1. Go to your Backpack and search for the class you want to join. In this example, we will use ROB 101.
2. Based on the search criteria you selected, you will see a list of Robotics classes.
3. Click on the class you want to add to your backpack. PLEASE NOTE: For classes with a lecture and lab section, you want to enroll in the lab section. You will be automatically enrolled in the lecture section when you enroll in a lab. For this example, we selected the in-person lab section for ROB 101. We will see the lecture section momentarily. Once on this screen, click “Next”.
4. The following screen shows you the lecture section, which you will be automatically enrolled in by joining the lab. Confirm your selection by clicking “Next” again.
5. Select the box that says “Wait list if class is full.” This will add you to the waitlist. Then, click “Next”.
6. The following screen confirms that both the lecture and lab sections have been added to your backpack.
7. Go to the “Backpack/ Registration” tab. Select the term you want (in this case, Fall 2022) and click “Continue”.
8. Select the relevant class by clicking the checkbox next to it. Then click “Proceed to Step 2 of 3”.
9. Click “Finish Registering”.
10. You will now see a message stating that the class is full and that you have been added to the waitlist. You can also see that you have been waitlisted through the yellow triangles that display next to the class instead of the green checkmark.
11. If you are moved off the waitlist, you will receive an email stating that “You have been issued a permission to enroll in class ROB[courseNumber].” The email will contain instructions for how to use your permission to enroll. Each permission has an expiration date–please pay careful attention to the expiration dates and enroll promptly! If your permission expires, you are not added back onto the waitlist.
How can I get a tour of the new building?
There is a self-guided audio tour of the building for anyone to take at their own pace as they explore the building. Just bring your own mobile device capable of web browsing and your headphones whenever the building is open from Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm. The audio tour should take roughly 30 minutes.
We recommend that interested prospective undergraduates sign up for a tour with the College of Engineering Undergraduate Admissions.
How can I use Robotics’ facilities and resources like M-Air or the Makerspace?
M-Air can be used by research groups, student teams, or courses. More information on M-Air and how to reserve it can be found on the M-Air site.
The Makerspace is designed for use by student teams and MDP projects.
How do I apply as an undergraduate?
Current U-M students can get in touch with our advising team to declare Robotics as their undergraduate major.
Interested prospective undergraduates can find out more about applying to the College of Engineering. Please note that students coming to U-M will be admitted to the College of Engineering (not a specific department) and will declare their major afterwards. Please see the College of Engineering Bulletin for more information on declaring a major.
How do I find out about or apply for financial aid?
More information on financial aid for undergraduates can be found at the College of Engineering’s scholarship and funding site.
More questions?
If you are not a U-M student, please contact Engineering Recruitment and Admissions.
For current students, questions about the Robotics Undergraduate Program can be sent to ugrad-robotics@umich.edu.