Engineering Technology

Robotics and Automation Concentration

The BS in Engineering Technology (ET) program at Drexel University is organized around a multidisciplinary, practice- and systems-based learning approach to solving real-world problems. The program prepares graduates for success as future technology innovators and industry leaders, bringing designs from theory into reality. The ET program stresses multidisciplinary knowledge and extensive use of hands-on laboratory exercises in a majority of the classes. It promotes student-focused teaching and career-focused education, emphasizing a practical application of theory. 

The Engineering Technology (ET) concentration in Robotics and Automation (ET-ROBT) will provide engineering students with a pathway to develop industry-relevant skills in robotics, automation and in their underlying technologies and analytic approaches.

New trends in industry, science and technology are developing and require new engineers to understand how to integrate robotics, automation and effective human-machine teaming for manufacturing and critical services such as healthcare and infrastructure inspection. Such trends include the digital engineering revolution encompassing autonomous cars and drones, the Internet of Things, 5G mobile communications, digital design and advanced manufacturing.

The core ET-ROBT curriculum combines courses and experiences that provide a strong foundation in the disciplines that comprise robotics and automation. This includes kinematics and design, electronics and instrumentation, fluid power and energy, manufacturing, materials, programming and control. The ET-ROBT concentration builds on this foundation and provides depth in industrial robotics and mechatronics, automated manufacturing, system dynamics, digital electronics and signal processing. Students will gain knowledge and be trained to support the integration and use of robotics in the industry and society.

Potential career paths include advanced manufacturing and assembly, medical robotics, construction and infrastructure inspection, bio-robotics, knitted robotics for treatment of medical conditions and robotics for entertainment.

Additional Information

For more information, visit the BS in Engineering Technology page.

Degree Requirements

Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements
COM 230Techniques of Speaking3.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
HIST 285Technology in Historical Perspective4.0
PHIL 315Engineering Ethics3.0
General Educational Electives *9.0
Basic Science Requirements
Chemistry Requirements **3.5-7.0
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I
OR
General Chemistry I
Physics Requirements
PHYS 152Introductory Physics I4.0
PHYS 153Introductory Physics II4.0
PHYS 154Introductory Physics III4.0
Mathematics Requirements ***
MATH 110Precalculus3.0-6.0
or MATH 105 Algebra, Functions, and Trigonometry
MATH 121Calculus I4.0
MATH 122Calculus II4.0
STAT 201Introduction to Business Statistics4.0
Engineering Technology Core
CMGT 240 [WI] Economic Planning for Construction3.0
or CIVE 240 Engineering Economic Analysis
ENGR 111Introduction to Engineering Design & Data Analysis3.0
EET 201Circuit Analysis I4.0
EET 202Circuit Analysis II4.0
EET 204Introduction to Nanotechnology3.0
EET 205Digital Electronics4.0
EET 208Introduction to Programming for Embedded Systems3.0
EET 209Fundamentals of Virtual Instrumentation3.0
EET 311Modeling of Engineering Systems4.0
EET 319PLC Fundamentals4.0
EET 320Renewable Energy Systems3.0
EET 401Applied Microcontrollers4.0
INDE 370Industrial Project Management3.0
MET 100Graphical Communication3.0
MET 101Engineering Materials3.0
MET 204Applied Quality Control3.0
MET 205Robotics and Mechatronics3.0
MET 209Fluid Power4.0
MET 213Applied Mechanics4.0
MET 300Principles of Engineering Design4.0
MHT 205Thermodynamics I3.0
MHT 226Measurement Techniques and Instrumentation3.0
Robotics and Automation Engineering Technology Concentration Requirements
CET 301Advanced Digital Electronics4.0
EET 313Signals and Systems I4.0
INDE 350Industrial Engineering Simulation3.0
MET 310Advanced Robotics and Mechatronics3.0
MET 316Computer Numerical Control3.0
MET 404Digital Instrumentation3.0
MHT 222Applied Dynamics I4.0
MHT 401Mechanical Design I4.0
ROBT Technical Electives 6.0
Capstone Course Requirements
MET 421 [WI] Senior Design Project I3.0
MET 422Senior Design Project II3.0
MET 423 [WI] Senior Design Project III3.0
Miscellaneous
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development ††1.0
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
UNIV E101The Drexel Experience1.0
Free Electives 7.0
Total Credits186.5-193.0
*

See General Education Requirements

**

CHEM course is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

***

MATH course is determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

Students select 6.0 additional credits from any 300 or higher level BET, EET, MET, MHT, INDE, MEM, or ECE courses not already required. See advisor for specific courses.

††

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

Students not participating in co-op will not take COOP 101; 1 credit of Free Elective will be added in place of COOP 101.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

4 year, no co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CHEM 101*3.5CIVC 1011.0EET 2093.0VACATION
ENGL 101 or 1113.0EET 2083.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
ENGR 1113.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0MATH 1224.0 
MATH 110**3.0MET 1003.0MET 1013.0 
PHYS 1524.0MATH 1214.0PHYS 1544.0 
UNIV E1011.0PHYS 1534.0  
 17.5 18 17 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
EET 2014.0EET 2024.0CMGT 2403.0VACATION
EET 3203.0EET 2043.0COM 2303.0 
MET 2094.0EET 2054.0HIST 2854.0 
STAT 2014.0MET 2053.0PHIL 3153.0 
 MHT 2053.0  
 15 17 13 0
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
EET 3114.0EET 4014.0General Educational Electives***6.0VACATION
EET 3194.0INDE 3703.0Technical Elective3.0 
INDE 3503.0MET 2043.0Free Elective4.0 
MET 2134.0MET 3004.0  
MET 3163.0MHT 2263.0  
 18 17 13 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CET 3014.0EET 3134.0MET 4233.0 
MET 3103.0MET 4043.0General Educational Elective3.0 
MET 4213.0MET 4223.0Technical Elective3.0 
MHT 2224.0MHT 4014.0Free Elective4.0 
 14 14 13 
Total Credits 186.5
*

CHEM course is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

MATH course is determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

***

See General Education Requirements

Students not participating in co-op will not take COOP 101; 1 credit of Free Elective will be added in place of COOP 101.

††

Students select 6.0 additional credits from any 300 or higher level HET, EET, MET, MHT, INDE, MEM, or ECE courses not already required. See advisor for specific courses.

4 year, 1 co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CHEM 101*3.5CIVC 1011.0COOP 101***1.0VACATION
ENGL 101 or 1113.0EET 2083.0EET 2093.0 
ENGR 1113.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
MATH 110**3.0MET 1003.0MATH 1224.0 
PHYS 1524.0MATH 1214.0MET 1013.0 
UNIV E1011.0PHYS 1534.0PHYS 1544.0 
 17.5 18 18 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
EET 2014.0EET 2024.0CMGT 2403.0General Educational Electives6.0
EET 3203.0EET 2043.0COM 2303.0Free Electives7.0
MET 2094.0EET 2054.0HIST 2854.0 
STAT 2014.0MET 2053.0PHIL 3153.0 
 MHT 2053.0  
 15 17 13 13
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
EET 3114.0EET 4014.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
EET 3194.0INDE 3703.0  
INDE 3503.0MET 2043.0  
MET 2134.0MET 3004.0  
MET 3163.0MHT 2263.0  
 18 17 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CET 3014.0EET 3134.0MET 4233.0 
MET 3103.0MET 4223.0General Education elective3.0 
MET 4213.0MET 4043.0Technical elective††3.0 
MHT 2224.0MHT 4014.0Free elective3.0 
 14 14 12 
Total Credits 186.5
*

CHEM course is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

MATH course is determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

***

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

See General Education Requirements.

††

Students select 6.0 additional credits from any 300 or higher level HET, EET, MET, MHT, INDE, MEM, or ECE courses not already required. See advisor for specific courses.

 5 year, 3 co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CHEM 101*3.5CIVC 1011.0COOP 101***1.0VACATION
ENGL 101 or 1113.0EET 2083.0EET 2093.0 
ENGR 1113.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
MATH 110**3.0MATH 1214.0MATH 1224.0 
PHYS 1524.0MET 1003.0MET 1013.0 
UNIV E1011.0PHYS 1534.0PHYS 1544.0 
 17.5 18 18 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
EET 2014.0EET 2024.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
EET 3203.0EET 2043.0  
MET 2094.0EET 2054.0  
STAT 2014.0MET 2053.0  
 MHT 2053.0  
 15 17 0 0
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COM 2303.0CMGT 240 or CIVE 2403.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
EET 3114.0EET 4014.0  
EET 3194.0MET 2043.0  
MET 2134.0MET 3004.0  
PHIL 3153.0MHT 2263.0  
 18 17 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CET 3014.0EET 3134.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
MET 3103.0INDE 3703.0  
MET 3163.0MET 4043.0  
MHT 2224.0MHT 4014.0  
 14 14 0 0
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
HIST 2854.0INDE 3503.0MET 4233.0 
MET 4213.0MET 4223.0General Education elective3.0 
General Education elective3.0General Education elective3.0Technical elective††3.0 
Free Elective3.0Technical elective††3.0Free Elective4.0 
 13 12 13 
Total Credits 186.5
*

CHEM course is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

MATH course is determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

***

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

See General Education Requirements

††

Students select 6.0 additional credits from any 300 or higher level HET, EET, MET, MHT, INDE, MEM, or ECE courses not already required. See advisor for specific courses.

Program Level Outcomes

  • Apply knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to solve broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline;
  • Design systems, components, or processes meeting specified needs for broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline;
  • Apply written, oral, and graphical communication in broadly-defined technical and non-technical environments; and an ability to identify and use appropriate technical literature;
  • Conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments and to analyze and interpret the results to improve processes; and
  • Function effectively as a member as well as a leader on technical teams.