Autonomous Vehicle Systems, Graduate Certificate

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
446 Engineering Center (map)
(248) 370-2177 • Fax (248) 370-4633
www.oakland.edu/ece/

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Graduate Student Coordinator
Daniel Llamocca
438 Engineering Center
(248)370-4042
llamocca@oakland.edu

Program Coordinator
Brian Dean
446A Engineering Center
(248) 370-2822
bkdean@oakland.edu

Program Description

ECE offers a series of stackable certificate programs that can lead to a M.S. degree in Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering. We have partnered with industry to develop stackable certificates featuring cutting-edge skills in the areas of high demand by employers. You can work at your own pace towards your degree, building skills as you need them to maximize your career success.

The graduate certificate in Autonomous Vehicle Systems is designed to provide students with specialized knowledge and skills in autonomous vehicle technology, with a focus on the development and maintenance of autonomous vehicle systems. The curriculum includes courses on machine learning, computer vision, sensor technology, and control systems engineering, which are essential for the development of autonomous vehicles.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Oakland University Graduate School by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

February 15 (early) April 15 (regular) and July 15 (late) for fall semester
October 1 (early) and November 15 (regular) for winter semester
March 1 (regular) for summer semester
International applicants

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

Graduate Application Requirements
Additional department application requirements

Requirements for recommendations:
Two recommendation forms must be from faculty members of the undergraduate major department or professionals in the field who can evaluate the scholarly achievement and potential of the applicant. These recommendations form an important part of the admission credentials.
Applicants must submit official scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) if they graduated from an institution not accredited by a regional accrediting agency of the USA. The department may choose to waive the GRE requirement if at least one of the following special circumstances is met:
- Applicant’s last degree is from a U.S. institution accredited by a regional accrediting agency.
- Applicant’s overall GPA from last degree is at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Applicant has worked in the USA for at least two years in the engineering profession.
- To request a waiver, applicants must submit a
  Request to Waive GRE
  form to the Graduate School as part of the application packet. The request for waiver is subject to the approval of the Graduate Admissions Committee
Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, systems engineering, or an equivalent degree. Or Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Computer Science, or an equivalent degree, and some experience working in a Mechatronics or Robotics engineering field.
Admission to master’s program is selective; applicants should have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or better for regular admission.
If the applicant’s undergraduate GPA is between 2.7 and 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, admission with limited standing may be offered. For applicants graduated from an institution not accredited by a regional accrediting agency of the USA, a 70% or better percentile score of the GRE Quantitative Reasoning section is required.
Applicants from institutions with which Oakland University has an articulation agreement containing alternative admission criteria will be admitted according to the criteria in that agreement.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Oakland University Graduate School, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

Certificate requirements

Students wishing to complete the Autonomous Vehicle Systems Graduate Certificate will be required to complete 12 credit hours of coursework as outlined below. Courses counted towards a certificate cannot be counted to fulfill the requirements of another certificate.

Course requirements (12 credits)

a. Required course

ECE 5532 - Autonomous Vehicle Systems I (4 credits)

b. Electives

ECE 5415 - Microcomputer-Based Control Systems (4 credits)
ECE 5520 - Automotive Mechatronics I (4 credits)
ECE 6410 - Intelligent Control Systems (4 credits)
ECE 6460 - Autonomous Vehicle Systems II (4 credits)
ECE 6520 - Automotive Mechatronics II (4 credits)

Satisfactory academic progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Department requirements:

The minimum satisfactory grade for graduate work is B. Credit for completion of a course in the Master of Science program will be given for grades of B- or above but no more than two grades may be B-. Graduate credit will not be awarded for grades below B-. To repeat a course, a student must have the permission of the graduate committee of the school.

All grades received as a graduate student are used in computing the GPA except that, if a course has been repeated, the most recent grade is used in the calculation of the GPA. A graduate student is placed on academic probation if the student’s overall GPA drops below 3.0 or if the student receives more than one grade below B, including the original grade(s) of any repeated course(s). A graduate student receiving a grade less than B while on probation is subject to dismissal. A graduate student receiving more than two grades below B is subject to dismissal whether or not the student was put on probation previously.

In all programs, the minimum grade point requirement is an average of at least 3.0. If a student’s GPA is less than 3.0 after having attempted 16 credits, the student will be recommended for dismissal from the program.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information

Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Oakland University Graduate School.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework. (See the Graduate Student Responsibility section of this catalog.)

Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.

Time limits
All graduate certificate students are expected to complete their degree within the time limit established by the University .