Carnegie Mellon University

Requirements

The interdisciplinary Tepper School of Business-Robotics Institute Ph.D. program coursework consists of four components:

  • Robotics core qualifiers, which cover material that every researcher in Automation should know.
  • Carnegie Mellon business school core qualifiers, which cover material that every researcher in Operations Management should know.
  • Advanced course work in automation techniques, providing in-depth expertise.
  • Research competence, demonstrated by an in-depth study and presentation of a research topic, including the first-year and second-year research papers, which are required.

Please note, with regard to the qualifying exams, that students with appropriate preparation prior to their entry to the program may choose to take the qualifying exams prior to the third semester point, however, they must take the entire set of qualifiers as outlined above. For further information, visit the qualifying examinations page.

Our intent is to have each of the three course areas occupy one semester (or less) of full time study, although not necessarily sequentially or full time, with the research competence being demonstrated through a substantial (one semester) project.

Satisfaction of course work and research requirements will be determined by faculty from both the Tepper School and the Robotics Institute.

The remainder of the program consists of research in management of manufacturing and automation, leading to a dissertation. The dissertation must be supervised by a committee including members from both Robotics and the business school.