This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2026-2027 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
The rapid advancement of robotics and autonomous systems is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace. RAS technology fundamentally transforms the modern workforce and economy from self-driving vehicles and manufacturing robots to robotic surgical systems. The interdisciplinary nature of RAS development—spanning multiple engineering disciplines simultaneously—necessitates an integrative educational approach that traditional single-discipline curricula cannot provide.
The Bachelor of Science in Robotics and Autonomous Systems Engineering is a multi-disciplinary program that prepares students with critical competencies to design, implement and analyze modern robotic and autonomous systems. Beyond technical proficiency, the program emphasizes ethical considerations inherent in autonomous systems, particularly AI-based technologies. Students develop critical perspectives on responsibility, bias, fairness and unintended consequences, enabling them to contribute to the responsible development and deployment of these technologies.
The program's core objective is to equip students with foundational knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to navigate future innovations and changes in robotics and autonomous systems technology.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program students will be able to:
- Apply core concepts in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science and artificial intelligence to robotics and autonomous systems.
- Analyze complex, real-world problems and devise innovative and effective solutions using robotics and autonomous systems.
- Apply systems thinking to connect and apply knowledge from diverse engineering fields to robotics and autonomous systems applications.
- Collaborate effectively in multi-disciplinary teams to achieve common goals and solve complex problems.
- Explore the ethical and societal implications of robotic and autonomous systems.
- Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills.
- Demonstrate the ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Special requirements
Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all required engineering courses, in all courses used to satisfy engineering and professional elective requirements, and in the following:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | 4 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 310 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| PHYS 207 & PHYZ 207 | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory | 5 |
Students must maintain a minimum major (ENGR, EGRB, EGRE, EGMN, CMSC) GPA of 2.0
Degree requirements for Robotics and Autonomous Systems Engineering, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major core requirements | ||
| CMSC 436 | Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| EGMN 416 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| EGMN 427 | Robotics | 3 |
| EGRE 354 | Introduction to Feedback Control Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 412 | Introduction to Intelligent Autonomous Systems | 3 |
| ENGR 261 | Introduction to Robotics and Autonomous Systems | 3 |
| ENGR 262 | Foundations of Robotic Programming | 3 |
| ENGR 404 | Senior Design Studio I (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| ENGR 405 | Senior Design Studio II (Laboratory/Project Time) (Major Electives) | 2 |
| Additional major requirements | ||
| CMSC 254 | Introduction to Problem-solving | 4 |
| CMSC 302 | Introduction to Discrete Structures | 3 |
| EGMN 102 | Engineering Statics | 3 |
| EGMN 110 | Engineering Visualization | 2 |
| EGMN 201 | Dynamics and Kinematics | 3 |
| EGMN 315 | Process and Systems Dynamics | 3 |
| EGRE 201 | Fundamentals of Electrical and Computer Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 206 | Electric Circuits | 4 |
| EGRE 207 | Electric Circuits II | 4 |
| EGRE 335 | Signals and Systems | 4 |
| EGRE 337 | Statistical Information Processing | 3 |
| EGRE 399 | Fundamentals of Design and Analysis | 3 |
| ENGR 105 | Engineering Foundations | 3 |
| or EGMN 190 | Introduction to Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering | |
| or EGRE 101 | Introduction to Engineering | |
| ENGR 395 | Professional Development | 1 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 310 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 415 | Numerical Methods | 3 |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| CMSC 225 | Essentials of Artificial Intelligence (atisfies general education AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| ECON 205 | The Economics of Product Development and Markets (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| EGMN 111 | Great Inventions: How They Work and Their Impact on Society (either satisfies general education AOI for creativity, innovation and aesthetic inquiry) | 3 |
| or ENGR 125 | Practical Artificial Intelligence | |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
| PHIL 201 | Introduction to Ethics (satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
| PHYS 207 & PHYZ 207 | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 5 |
| Restricted electives | ||
| Select elective courses from the list below. | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 121 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 121.
Engineering electives
Students must complete a combined total of six credits of engineering electives from the following list:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMSC 531 | 3D Computer Vision for Robot Navigation | 3 |
| EGMN 568 | Robot Manipulators | 3 |
| EGRB 523 | Rehabilitation Engineering and Prostheses | 3 |
| EGRE 455 | Control Systems Design | 3 |
| EGRE 513 | Fundamentals of Modern Systems Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 536 | Introduction to Cyber-Physical Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 553 | Industrial Automation | 3 |
| EGRE 554 | Advanced Industrial Automation | 3 |
Other engineering courses may be counted as electives with permission of the adviser.
All courses used to satisfy engineering elective requirements must be completed with a minimum grade of C.
Students who complete the above requirements will receive a Bachelor of Science in Robotics and Autonomous Systems Engineering.
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| CMSC 254 | Introduction to Problem-solving | 4 |
| EGMN 110 | Engineering Visualization | 2 |
| ENGR 105 | Engineering Foundations or Introduction to Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering or Introduction to Engineering | 3 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication | Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGMN 111 or ENGR 125 | Great Inventions: How They Work and Their Impact on Society (either satisfies general education AOI for creativity, innovation and aesthetic inquiry) or Practical Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| EGRE 201 | Fundamentals of Electrical and Computer Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR 261 | Introduction to Robotics and Autonomous Systems | 3 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 102 | Engineering Statics | 3 |
| EGRE 206 | Electric Circuits | 4 |
| ENGR 262 | Foundations of Robotic Programming | 3 |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 207 & PHYZ 207 | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 5 |
| Term Hours: | 18 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| CMSC 225 | Essentials of Artificial Intelligence (satisfies general education AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| EGMN 201 | Dynamics and Kinematics | 3 |
| EGRE 207 | Electric Circuits II | 4 |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| CMSC 302 | Introduction to Discrete Structures | 3 |
| EGMN 416 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| EGRE 335 | Signals and Systems | 4 |
| EGRE 354 | Introduction to Feedback Control Systems | 3 |
| MATH 310 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGMN 315 | Process and Systems Dynamics | 3 |
| EGMN 427 | Robotics | 3 |
| EGRE 337 | Statistical Information Processing | 3 |
| EGRE 399 | Fundamentals of Design and Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 415 | Numerical Methods | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| CMSC 436 | Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| EGRE 412 | Introduction to Intelligent Autonomous Systems | 3 |
| ENGR 404 | Senior Design Studio I (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| General education course (select AOI in consultation with an adviser) | 3 | |
| Restricted elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 205 | The Economics of Product Development and Markets (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| ENGR 395 | Professional Development | 1 |
| ENGR 405 | Senior Design Studio II (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| PHIL 201 | Introduction to Ethics (satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
| Restricted elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Total Hours: | 121 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 121.