Robotics Minor

Coordinator: Nathan Sprague
Phone: (540) 568-3312
Email: spragunr@jmu.edu
Website: https://www.jmu.edu/cise/cs/undergraduate/minors.shtml#robotics

The cross disciplinary minor in robotics is intended to offer STEM majors and students with an interest in science and technology a fundamental understanding of scientific and technical issues involved in the design, construction and application of robots.

Educational Goals

Students will have a basic understanding of robot control systems, sensors, motion, circuits and the overall design of robots.
Students will be able to design and develop autonomous robots and robot control software.
Students will develop an understanding of how advances in robotics technology can be used in diverse applications.
Students will learn to work on a cross disciplinary team developing a technical product.

Required Courses

Basic Preparation ¹

Choose one of the following: 3 Credit Hours

CS 149. Introduction to Programming Credits: 3.00
IA 241. Introduction to Programming and Data Science Credits: 3.00
ISAT 252. Programming and Problem Solving Credits: 3.00

Choose one of the following: 3-4 Credit Hours

The 20 credit hour option is only available with the selection of MATH 232 .

MATH 232. Calculus with Functions II Credits: 3.00
or
MATH 235. Calculus I [C3QR] Credits: 4.00
ISAT 151. Topics in Applied Calculus in ISAT [C3QR] Credits: 4.00

Choose one of the following: 4 Credit Hours

Students who have completed the physical principles area of The Natural World with a course not listed below should meet with the minor advisor.

PHYS 140. College Physics I [C3PP] Credits: 3.00
and
PHYS 140L. General Physics Laboratory [C3L] Credits: 1.00
or
PHYS 240. University Physics I [C3PP] Credits: 3.00
and
PHYS 240L. University Physics Laboratory I [C3L] Credits: 1.00
or
ISAT 152. Topics in Applied Physics in ISAT Credits: 4.00

Core Course

Choose one of the following: 3 Credit Hours

CS 354. Introduction to Autonomous Robotics Credits: 3.00
PHYS 386. Robots: Structure and Theory Credits: 3.00
PHYS 387. Theory and Basic Principles of Mobile Robot Construction and Control Credits: 3.00

Electives

At least one elective must be from a different department from the core course.

Choose at least six credits from the following: 6 Credit Hours

CS 444. Artificial Intelligence Credits: 3.00
CS 445. Machine Learning Credits: 3.00
ENGR 440. Mechatronics Credits: 3.00
ENGR 445. Embedded System Design Credits: 3.00
ISAT 331. Cyber-Physical Industry Credits: 3.00
ISAT 341. Machine Learning and Data Science Credits: 3.00
ISAT 441. Simulation and Modeling Credits: 3.00
ISAT 449. Emerging Topics in Applied Data Science Credits: 3.00
MATH 238. Linear Algebra with Differential Equations Credits: 4.00
MATH 248. Computers and Numerical Algorithms Credits: 4.00
MATH 341. Non-Linear Dynamics and Chaos Credits: 3.00
PHYS 371. Digital Electronics Credits: 2.00
PHYS 372. Microcontrollers and Their Applications (2, 4) Credits: 2.00
PHYS 388. Robots for Humanity Credits: 3.00

Robotics Project Course

CISE 481. Robotics Project Summary Credits: 1.00 ²

Total: 20-21 Credit Hours

Footnotes

¹ A basic preparation course may be waived by the minor advisor if a student has completed a comparable course or experience.

² CISE 481 is intended to summarize a capstone robotics project experience. In order to register for CISE 481 students must have completed or be enrolled in an approved capstone, special topics, or independent study course that involves a robotics project. At the discretion of the robotics minor advisor, students may also qualify for CISE 481 by completing an internship, research experience or professional project that entails robotics design and/or development. Consult the minor advisor for more information.