UT officials said this is believed to be the first undergraduate robotics program in the country to allow high school students to apply directly through the Common App or Apply Texas portals.
High school seniors interested in the subject will be able to apply for the program during the college application process.
Robotics students at UT major in engineering or computer science and minor in robotics while conducting hands-on research projects.
Robotics is an interdisciplinary field that “doesn’t fit neatly into any department within the university,” said Peter Stone, director of the program. “It benefits the student who not only wants to get a core degree in engineering or computer science, but who also wants to get a broader education in robotics.”
The program currently serves around 200 students who take courses in five areas: hardware; programming; modeling and control; sensing, perception and planning; and machine learning.
Prior to this launch, students had to be admitted to UT first and later apply to the robotics program as freshman or sophomore students.
From now on, students who know they want to pursue robotics can commit to UT knowing they will be in the program without having to go through additional applications later on.
Admitted students will start robotics research during their first year at UT and start the minor curriculum their second year.
Stone expects the program to be competitive.
“We are not going to limit it to students who have had robotic experience,” Stone said. “There are many students who don’t have that past experience and yet have demonstrated high aptitude for learning and education and are excited about robotics.”
Interested students must submit an essay describing their interest in the field.
Stone said the robotics industry is growing and companies are seeking employees who can work on industrial and domestic robotics.
Industrial robotics include manufacturing and business-oriented machinery, while domestic robotics focuses on consumer products, such as robot vacuum cleaners.
Graduates from the program will have opportunities to work in the industry or pursue graduate studies in the field.
“With unmatched curricular and research opportunities, combined with access to our internationally renowned faculty and network of employers, these students will experience — from day one — the academic excellence and real-world preparation for which our University is known,” said UT President Jay Hartzell in a statement.
“We are creating a first-class, unique educational and experiential program for students seeking to enter this exciting and evolving field,” Hartzell added.
Students can apply to the program through the Common App or Apply Texas. The deadline is Dec. 1.
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