Rutgers logo
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Rutgers logo
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Rutgers logo
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Rutgers logo
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Socially Cognizant Robotics Certificate 

Certificat program in Socially Cognizant Robotics with red graphic robot image

The goal of the program is to train a new type of reflective practitioner, through the convergence of the socially aware technologists and the technology-aware social scientist. The key to fostering such interdisciplinary expertise is an intentional cross-listed training program that creates meaningful collaborations among constituent disciplines. Through a set of core interdisciplinary courses, students will receive training in seven subdisciplines: Robot Embodiment, Control and Planning, Computer Vision, Language and Dialogue, Cognitive Science, Urban Planning and Policy Development. The School of Engineering (SOE), the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) and the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy (Bloustein) have developed this Certificate Program in order to offer graduate students throughout Rutgers a unique interdisciplinary learning opportunity.    

The certificate is comprised of a three-course sequence developed by the SOCRATES NRT faculty:  

  • Robotics and Society (16:332:640 and cross-listings): examines the interplay of technology and society, giving students an understanding of the ethics, unintended consequences, and social implications of robotics. A sequence of foundational lectures will be constructed to provide both technical and social science students with the core prerequisite skills for their cross-disciplines 
  • Socially Cognizant Robotics (16:332:590 and cross-listings)  where students will be exposed to the foundations of robotics and state-of-the-art developments to learn the expected trajectory of robot capabilities that will impact individuals and society. 
  • Design Methods in Socially Cognizant Robotics (16:332:595 and cross-listings) graduate where students gain hands-on experience on a practical project, working together with students from other participating disciplines. 

The Certificate is open to Rutgers graduate students. The departments that the course draws primarily from are: Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) departments from the School of Engineering, Computer Science (CS), and Psychology from the School of Arts and Sciences, Urban Planning and Policy Development from the Bloustein School.  

Optional Activity: N2E Robotics Club  

The SOCRATES NRT has also created a new robotics club ( N2E Robotics Club ) with the goal of broadening participation from both STEM and social science students. N2E Robotics Club has student-taught 1-hour sessions on robotics and robotics coding. Graduate students of the certificate program are encouraged (but not required) to participate and teach in these short workshops with a target audience of undergraduates and first-year graduate students throughout Rutgers.