4+1 Robotics Engineering Program

The Robotics Engineering 4+1 Option allows the most qualified UM-Dearborn undergraduate electrical engineering students to earn both the BSE in RE and the MSE in RE in an accelerated format. Admitted students can double-count up to 9 credits of 500-level or above electrical engineering, computer engineering, and robotics engineering elective, core, or cognate courses taken during their junior or senior years. Of these, only one cognate course is allowed.  Please see the College's website for admission requirements and program details.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the option, a student must:

• Be enrolled in the undergraduate RE program at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
• Must have and maintain a 3.2 cumulative CGPA or better for their undergraduate degree and complete two 300-level courses with a B minimum.
• Not be enrolled in two undergraduate programs or in a dual-degree program in either their undergraduate or graduate program.

Double Counting and Transfer Credits

1. The accelerated option allows current UM-Dearborn robotics engineering majors to complete both the BSE and MSE robotics engineering degrees in an accelerated format. Admitted students can double-count up to 9 credits of 500-level or above electrical engineering, computer engineering, and electrical engineering elective, core, or cognate courses taken during their junior or senior years. Of these, only one cognate course is allowed.
2. In practice with the usual graduate student program rules, students may also transfer a maximum of 6 additional 500-level credits toward the 30-credit master's degree. These additional transfer credits can be taken during the junior and senior years and cannot be used for any portion of the undergraduate degree.
3. Depending on the number of double-counted and transfer credits, 15-21 credits of graduate coursework would be needed to complete the master's program after completion of the undergraduate degree.

Admission to the 4+1 Option

1. Participation in the accelerated option is limited to students who have completed at least 60 undergraduate credit hours, have attained junior standing, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2, and have completed two 300-level courses with a B minimum.

2. Admission to the accelerated option is at the discretion of the robotics engineering graduate committee.

3. The online graduate application should be completed with a "Yes" response to the accelerated option question. In addition to submitting the required application materials, the applicants will complete an interview with the RE graduate committee.

4. Students must attain a grade of B or better in each 500-level class taken as an undergraduate student and used for graduate credit in the accelerated option. Failure to do so may result in removal from the accelerated option. 

To successfully achieve the 4+1 option within a five-year timeframe, students can look forward to completing 2 core courses, 2 cognates, and 6 electives, which may even include up to 6 credits of thesis work. Additionally, for those who opt not to use the three transfer credit options, there is an opportunity to engage in 4 graduate courses during the final year of study, providing an enriching academic experience. In this case, students should plan on completing the master’s degree in three terms after the BSE degree is completed.

Robotics Engineering 4+1 Curriculum

In the Robotics Engineering 4+1 option, students would complete the curriculum requirements for the BSE Robotics Engineering and the MSE Robotics Engineering programs, but with the following substitutions of up to 9 credit hours of 500-level or above courses shown below for the BSE Robotics Engineering major. 

Students admitted to the 4+1 Option may substitute: 

• ECE 528 for ECE 428 
• ECE 535 for ECE 435 
• ECE 532 for ECE 4431 
• ECE 560 for ECE 460 
• ECE 545 for ECE 4641 
• ECE 579 for ECE 479 
• ECE 580 for ECE 480 
• ECE 588 for ECE 4881 
• ECE 505 for ECE 473.

In order to receive the full benefit of the 4+1 option, make sure you enroll in the 500-level courses, not the corresponding undergraduate courses.