The field of robotics integrates sensing, information processing, and movement to accomplish specific tasks in the physical world. As such, it encompasses several topics, including mechanics and dynamics, kinematics, sensing, signal processing, control systems, planning, and artificial intelligence. Applications of these concepts appear in many areas including medicine, manufacturing, space exploration, disaster recovery, ordinance disposal, deep-sea navigation, home care, and home automation.
The faculty of the Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics (LCSR), in collaboration with the academic departments and centers of the Whiting School of Engineering, offers a robotics minor in order to provide a structure in which undergraduate students at Johns Hopkins University can advance their knowledge in robotics while receiving recognition on their transcript for this pursuit. The minor is not “owned” by any one department, but rather it is managed by the LCSR itself. Any student from any department within the university can work toward the minor.
Robotics is fundamentally integrative and multidisciplinary. Therefore, any candidate for the robotics minor must develop a set of core skills that cut across these disciplines, as well as obtain advanced supplementary skills. The required Core Skills include:
- Robot kinematics and dynamics (R)
- Systems theory, signal processing, and control (S)
- Computation and sensing (C)
Supplementary advanced skills may be obtained in specialized applications, such as space, medicine, or marine systems; or in one of the three core skills listed above.
Please visit the program's website for current course listings and full minor policies. The Full Minor Course Listing section of the program's website outlines which courses fulfill each requirement. Please always check the website for the most up-to-date listing of courses. Note that all core areas must be covered, but that any advanced/supplementary courses can be chosen from the list, allowing students to balance breadth and depth in their studies.
Declaring the Minor
Students interested in the minor should visit the Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics website for instructions on how to declare the minor.
The information below describes the academic requirements for students entering JHU as degree-seeking students in Fall 2026. Students who entered JHU as degree-seeking students prior to Fall 2026 should view the appropriate archived catalogue.
Courses for the Robotics Minor are categorized by code. To complete the minor, students must complete coursework covering each of the following codes:
- R = Robot Kinematics and Dynamics
- S = Systems Theory, Signal Processing and Control
- C = Computation and Sensing
- L = Laboratory Course
- Sup = Advanced Supplementary Course
The program's website contains the current list of approved courses. The table below outlines the requirements for completing the Robotics Minor.
MINOR REQUIREMENTS
The minor requires a minimum of 6 courses and 18 credits. Grades C- or higher are required. No Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grade is accepted.
- Courses may satisfy more than one code designation.
- Once all code requirements have been fulfilled, students must take additional courses to meet the 18-credit requirement.
- A 600-level version of a 400-level course may be substituted to satisfy the requirement without the need for an exception.
- At least 6 of the 18 credits must be completed outside the student’s primary major department; however, courses cross-listed with the student’s home department may count toward this requirement.
- A maximum of 3 credits may be earned through Customized Academic Learning approved by the Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics (LCSR).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| At least one (R) coded course with SIS POS tag, ROBO-RMRR | ||
| At least one (C) coded course with SIS POS tag, ROBO-RMCC | ||
| At least one (S) coded course with SIS POS tag, ROBO-RMSS | ||
| At least one (L) Lab course with SIS POS tag, ROBO-RMLB | ||
| At least one (SUP) Supplemental Course with SIS POS tag, ROBO-RMSU | ||
| Additional courses to reach the credit requirement | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |