Human-Robot Interaction
Master's
Application Deadlines
Fall: Rolling admissions through Aug 1 (domestic & U.S-based international applicants)
Spring: Sep 15
Summer: n/a
Contact
gradadmissions@tufts.edu
Location
Medford/Somerville
Format
On-campusCommitment Options
Full-timePart-time (Daytime)
Average Duration
12 - 24 months
Credits
30
What Will You Study?
Students build an interdisciplinary foundation in human-robot interaction while developing technical depth through one of three departmental pathways. All students share a set of five required core courses, then focus on classes approved by their respective department.
Students may study topics such as:
- Human-robot interaction
- Artificial intelligence
- Robotics and autonomous systems
- Collaborative robotics
- Human-computer interaction
- Affective interfaces
- Digital signal processing
- Machine learning
- Computational perception
- Navigation and state estimation
- Safety-critical systems
- Accessibility and assistive technology
- Human-centered design
- Engineering psychology and cognition
- Social, ethical, and societal dimensions of robots
About Human-Robot Interaction Program
The M.S. in Human-Robot Interaction is offered through three Tufts School of Engineering departments: Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. This interdisciplinary structure gives students access to faculty and coursework across AI, robotics, machine learning, signal processing, controls, human-computer interaction, mechanical systems, perception, navigation, and human-centered design.
Faculty expertise connected to the program includes artificial intelligence, cognitive modeling, natural language understanding, human-robot interaction, human-computer interaction, multi-agent systems, assistive robotics, human-in-the-loop machine learning, developmental robotics, computational perception, navigation, safety-critical transportation systems, statistical signal processing, and engineering education.
Interdisciplinary Robotics and AI
Human-robot interaction at Tufts brings together computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, robotics, AI, human-centered design, and social science. Students learn to examine not only how robots function, but how people understand, trust, collaborate with, and are affected by intelligent systems.
Faculty Mentorship
Graduate students have opportunities to work closely with faculty whose research spans human-robot interaction, artificial intelligence, robotics, accessibility, machine learning, perception, cognition, signal processing, navigation, and human-computer interaction. This mentorship can support students preparing for research, industry, or doctoral study.
Flexible Departmental Pathways
Students can choose the Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering pathway, allowing them to align the degree with their academic background and technical goals. Each pathway combines a shared HRI core with department-approved coursework.
Boston and Cambridge Location
Tufts’ Medford/Somerville campus is located near Boston and Cambridge, giving students access to a major technology, research, robotics, healthcare, and innovation ecosystem. Students benefit from proximity to employers, startups, universities, laboratories, and professional networks.
What Can You Do With an M.S. in Human-Robot Interaction?
Graduates may pursue engineering, research, software, design, or technology-focused roles in areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence, human-robot interaction, machine learning, autonomous systems, assistive technology, human-computer interaction, user research, engineering design, and research and development. Career outcomes vary based on a student’s background, focus area, technical experience, research experience, internship or co-op experience, and professional goals.
Possible paths may include:
- Robotics engineer
- Human-robot interaction researcher
- Machine learning engineer
- Artificial intelligence engineer
- Software developer
- Autonomous systems engineer
- Assistive technology designer
- Human-computer interaction specialist
- Robotics research engineer
- PhD student or research scientist in training
What is the Career Outlook?
Human-robot interaction skills are relevant across robotics, artificial intelligence, human-centered design, autonomous systems, research, and advanced computing.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer and information research scientists had a median annual wage of $140,910 in May 2024. Employment in this occupation is projected to grow 20 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Average Salary: $145K+
Projected Job Growth (2022-2032): 23%
*Sources: Average salary and projected job growth statistics are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. The listed salary is for computer and information research scientists. Human-Robot Interaction salaries may differ.
Can Human-Robot Interaction Students Complete a Co-op?
Eligible M.S. in Human-Robot Interaction students may have the opportunity to participate in the School of Engineering Graduate Cooperative Education Program. The co-op can allow students to apply graduate coursework to real-world engineering, robotics, AI, or technology projects, gain up to six months of full-time work experience, build a resume, and develop professional connections.
Which Departments Offer the Human-Robot Interaction M.S.?
The program is offered through Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. These options are listed separately in the graduate admissions application.
Are Scholarships Available?
The School of Engineering offers partial tuition scholarships for a select group of Engineering master’s and certificate programs. When you apply for admission, you’ll automatically be considered, there’s no separate scholarship application or additional information required. Applicants are encouraged to apply early for priority scholarship consideration.
Is the GRE Required?
GRE General Test scores are not required for applicants who will have received a degree from an institution located in the U.S. or Canada by the time of enrollment. GRE scores are required for all other applicants.
How Do I Apply?
Applicants can apply online through Tufts Graduate Admissions Portal. Required materials typically include transcripts, a resume or CV, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. International applicants may also need to submit English proficiency documentation. Visit the admissions page for current deadlines and application requirements.
Tuition & Financial Aid
At Tufts University, we believe every qualified applicant deserves the opportunity to pursue graduate study. We are dedicated to helping you understand your financial options and to ensuring that graduate education at Tufts is both accessible and within reach.
Tuition costs for this graduate program are billed at a per credit rate:
| Estimated Tuition for MS Program | |
|---|---|
| Tuition* | $1,799 per credit |
| Total Credits Required | 30 |
| Enrollment Status | Full-Time: 3-4 courses per semester (9-12 credits) Part-Time: 1-2 courses per semester (3-6 credits) |
| Estimated Tuition per Semester | Full-Time: $16,191 - $21,588 per semester (9-12 credits) Part-Time: $5,397 - $10,794 per semester (3-6 credits) |
| Estimated Total Tuition* | $53,970 |
*Estimated based on 2025-2026 tuition rates. Rates are subject to change each academic year. For further information about the full cost of attendance, including additional fees and estimated indirect costs (housing, transportation, etc.), please visit Student Financial Services.
The Tufts University School of Engineering offers partial, merit-based tuition scholarships for the majority of our graduate and certificate programs. All applicants are automatically considered for these awards as part of our holistic admissions review process—no separate scholarship application or additional materials are required.
Additional funding opportunities may include Tufts Double Jumbo Scholarships for Tufts graduates, Bridge Program Scholarships for students and alumni from select partner institutions, and veteran and military education benefits for eligible service members and their dependents, including participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
To further support your investment in a Tufts graduate education, a range of financing options are available, including federal and private student loans. For more details, please visit our Graduate Financial Aid page.
