University General Course Catalog 2025-2026

Dec 06, 2025

University General Course Catalog 2025-2026

Robotics, M.S.

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The College of Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno offers an integrated course of study covering the design, implementation and evaluation of intelligent systems and robots that are able to operate in a real-world environment for those seeking the degree of Master of Science in Robotics. This program will teach students to understand the kinematics and dynamics of the physical systems, component design, sensing/actuation and computation for state-of-the-art robotic systems. Graduate students seeking the degree of Master of Science are given the opportunity to focus on an interdisciplinary course of study in robotics and perform research through the Thesis option (Plan A) or to study several different subjects in robotics through the Courses-Only option (Plan B).

Contact Information

David Feil-Seifer Ph.D., Robotics Graduate Program Director
(775) 784-6469
robotics_admissions@unr. edu
University of Nevada, Reno
Department of Computer Sciences and Engineering, Mail Stop 0171
1664 North Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89557-0330

Program Learning Outcomes

apply robotics research and theory to advance the art, science and practice of the discipline.
design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze, interpret, apply and disseminate the data.
explain fundamental research methodologies and potential applications of robotic systems.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the master’s degree program should have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, or science and have minimum experience that includes the equivalent of an Engineering minor. Applicants should further meet the following minimum criteria and the materials for admission:

A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
International applicants have an additional language requirement as outlined on the Graduate School’s international admission page.
A one-page personal statement describing research interests and career goals.
A Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Two letters of recommendation.

Applicants are encouraged to take and submit GRE scores, but the GRE is not required. Admission decisions are competitive and satisfaction of the above thresholds does not guarantee an admission. Exceptions to these criteria may be made for applicants who show exceptional promise.

I. Program Requirements

Masters level students may choose Plan A (Thesis) or Plan B (Courses-Only). Each option requires that the students complete a theory course and that their courses span several areas of specialization within the college. The specific requirements of each option are detailed below:

Thesis Option
- This option requires a total of 30 units
- 24 units of regular courses
  - 12 credits of this coursework must be completed at the 700 level.
- 6 thesis units (CS/EE/ME/CPE/BME 797)
Courses Only Option
- This option requires a total of 30 credits of coursework.
- 12 credits at the 700-level.
- 18 credits at the 600/700-level.

At most one independent study and one internship study up to 3 credits each is allowed for both options.

A. Introductory Courses Requirement (3 units)

Students must complete one of the following courses with a grade of B or better, if they have not already done so at undergraduate or graduate level:

CPE 670 - Autonomous Mobile Robots (3 units)
ME 622 - Introduction to Robotics (3 units)

B. Breadth Requirement (0 units)

M.S. students must complete one course from each of the following areas with a grade of “B” or better. The most recent list of courses offered in each area can be found in the robotics program handbook:

Actuation and Control
Reasoning and Computation
Sensing

C. Core Courses Requirement (12 units)

Students must complete four of the following courses with a grade of B or better:

CPE 671 - Advanced Robotics (3 units)
CS 655 - Mobile Sensor Networks (3 units)
CS 691 - Topics (3 units)
Human-Robot Interaction
Intro to Aerial Robotics
CS 777 - Robotics For Humanity (3 units)
CS 790X - Seminar: Robotics (1 to 3 units)
CS 791 - Special Topics (3 units)
Robot Manipulators
Multi-Robot Control and Reinforcement Learning
Advanced Mobile Robotics
EE 626 - Microprocessor Applications (3 units)
EE 661R - Stochastic Systems (3 units)
EE 671 - Control Systems II (3 units)
EE 672 - Digital Control Engineering (3 units)
EE 776 - Nonlinear Control Systems (3 units)
AE 658 - Flight Stability and Control (3 units)
AE 672 - Spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control (3 units)
AE 758 - Advanced Navigation and Control (3 units)
ME 682 - Aerodynamics (3 units)
ME 710 - Linear Systems (3 units)
ME 712 - Adaptive Control (3 units)
ME 713 - Robust Control (3 units)

D. Robotics Electives (9 units or 15 units)

Students can use any of the above courses or these additional courses for their additional course credits. Students can take 9 elective credits for the Thesis option or 15 elective credits for the Courses Only Option option:

BME 626 - Biomedical Instrumentation (3 units)
CS 620 - Human-Computer Interaction (3 units)
CS 622 - Introduction to Machine Learning (3 units)
CS 679 - Pattern Recognition (3 units)
CS 682 - Artificial Intelligence (3 units)
CS 685 - Computer Vision (3 units)
CS 687 - Fundamentals of Deep Learning (3 units)
CS 786 - Advanced Computer Vision (3 units)
CS 790Q - Seminar: Machine Learning (1 to 3 units)
EE 665 - Wireless Sensor Networks (3 units)
EE 680 - Digital Signal Processing (3 units)
EE 681 - Image Analysis (3 units)
EE 693H - Independent Study (1 to 3 units)
EE 782 - Random Signal Analysis and Estimation Theory (3 units)
EE 786 - Deep Learning (3 units)
ME 611 - Comparative Biomechanics (3 units)
ME 644 - Intermediate Dynamics (3 units)
ME 650 - Additive Manufacturing Technology (3 units)
ME 663 - Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos (3 units)
ME 740 - Advanced Dynamics (3 units)
MATH 620 - Mathematical Modeling (3 units)
STAT 661 - A First Course in Probability (3 units)
STAT 753 - Stochastic Models and Simulation (3 units)
STAT 775 - Advanced Study of Topics in Probability and Statistics (3 units)

E. Thesis Credits (0 or 6 units)

Thesis MS students are required to enroll in 6-credits of supervised research under any of these course numbers:

BME 797 - Thesis (1 to 6 units)
CPE 797 - Thesis (1 to 6 units)
CS 797 - Thesis (1 to 6 units)
EE 797 - Thesis (1 to 6 units)
ME 797 - Thesis (1 to 6 units)

F. Declaration of Advisor

The students must find an advisor and submit the Declaration of Advisor form (https://www.unr.edu/grad/student-academics/forms) to Graduate School by the end of their second semester in the program.

G. Advisory Committee

The advisory committee should be formed within a year of admission to the M.S. program by submitting a program of study. The advisory-examining committee consists of at least three members of the robotics graduate faculty, two representing the area of specialization and one who is the Graduate School Representative. Courses Only (Plan B) students do not need to assemble an advisory committee, and their program of study and notice of completion only needs to be signed by the graduate director.

Students should find an advisor and submit the program of study form (https://www.unr.edu/grad/student-academics/forms) to Graduate School the semester before they plan to graduate.

II. Total Units (30 units)

Thesis Option is 30 units.

Courses Only Option is 30 units

III. Recommended Schedule

These schedules are merely suggestions and can vary depending on your advisor and course availability etc.

Thesis Plan

First Year

First semester:

CPE 670 Autonomous Mobile Robots OR
ME 622 Introduction to Robotics (3 units)
600/700 level courses (6 units)

Second semester:

600/700 level courses (9 units)

Second Year

Third semester:

600/700 level courses (6 units)
Thesis (3 units)

Fourth semester:

Thesis (3 units)

Courses Only Plan