Specialized tracks that build skills in emerging technologies
The MSTI program features core curriclum in hardware/software engineering, business, and design. Students choose either the connected devices or robotics track to learn and apply specialized technology skills.
Connected Devices Track
The connected devices track prepares students to build a wide range of technology solutions, including custom smart devices, AR/VR, drones, and software solutions.
Skills Include:
- Custom hardware design and development including circuit design
- Utilizing standard sensors, input and output devices
- Data collection and processing using machine learning/AI
- UI/UX design (interfaces and controls)
- Hardware/software integration
Robotics Track
Students develop solutions using commerical robotics platforms. The MSTI robotics track features extensive hands-on time with robots, and focuses on using sensor data and ROS2 programming to deploy autonomous robotic solutions.
Skills Include:
- Collect and process sensor data using various machine learning/AI models
- Detect human users or identify objects, and train interaction models
- Program robots to sense their environment
- Program robot navigation and manipulation
- Robotics and environment simulation
Detailed Curriculum
MSTI Curriculum features customized coursework designed for technology product design and management, and is delivered by faculty from the Foster School of Business and the College of Engineering.
Programming for AI Applications
Credits: 4
This course serves as a review of intermediate level objected oriented programming concepts in Python and will also focus on using Python to perform data analysis, visualization, and manipulation. Note: Students who have completely met the MSTI prerequisites may petition to replace this class with an elective.
Design Thinking Studio
Credits: 2
Working in teams, students learn and apply the entire user-centered design process to real-world problem, executing methods to design, prototype and evaluate ideas for innovative solutions in a team project.
Building Effective Teams
Credits: 2
This course teaches strategies to build trust, foster commitment, and drive high performance in teams, even under volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous conditions. You’ll learn how to generate buy-in, define clear roles, and lead or contribute effectively to achieve exceptional results in any team environment.
Responsible Technology
Credits: 2
This course explores the ethical and societal impacts of emerging technologies, focusing on inclusion, bias, harm, and accountability. Through case studies, discussions, and guest speakers, you’ll learn frameworks for responsible innovation and apply them to real-world contexts. You’ll develop the skills and perspective to navigate technology’s challenges as a thoughtful, ethical innovator.
Sensors & Circuits
Credits: 4
Students develop the background and techniques needed to connect digital systems to the physical world.
Fabrication & Physical Prototyping
Credits: 4
Students learn the concepts and skills required to design, prototype and fabricate physical artifacts, including 2-D and 3-D CAD modeling, high-fidelity prototyping (laser cutting, CNC milling, 3-D printing) and low-fidelity prototyping (paper, foam, media). Industry standards for manufacturing are also covered.
Strategic Communications
Credits: 2 This course explores the principles and practices of communications in organizational and digital contexts. Students will learn how to craft compelling messages, deliver presentations, and leverage channels to achieve specific goals. Emphasis is placed on message design, storytelling, and the nuanced dimensions of communication strategy.
Hardware/Software Lab I (Connected Devices track only)
Credits: 4
This is the required spring quarter Lab I course for the Connected Devices track. Students execute a series of projects to integrate software and hardware concepts.
Robotics Lab I (Robotics track only)
Credits: 4
This is the required spring quarter Lab I course for the Robotics track. Students learn and apply fundamental principles for robotics applications including basic manipulation and motion planning.
User Research & Evaluation Studio
Credits: 2
This project-based course focuses on the user research components of the design process. Students learn methods to engage stakeholders and elicit their needs to provide insight for defining requirements for ethically grounded designs. It also covers aspects of evaluation of technology designs with potential users, including usability and user experience evaluation techniques.
Machine Learning & Signal Processing
Credits: 4
Students learn the basics of digital signal processing and machine learning, as well as simple methods for storing, managing and retrieving data in the cloud.
Internship/CPT (optional, Summer A&B)
Students may choose to pursue a part or full time internship to broaden and apply their skills in a real-world industry internship. Additional tuition and fees may apply to earn internship credit.
Global Technology Experience / Study Abroad (optional, Summer A&B)
Students may choose to pursue a study abroad experience either through the Global Innovation Exchange’s Global Technology Experiences or University of Washington Study Abroad.
Robotics Lab II (Robotics track only)
Credits: 4
This is the required autumn quarter lab course for the Robotics track. Students build on foundational knowledge from Lab I: Robotics to continue to learn increasingly complex principles for robotics application including mobility and navigation.
Hardware/Software Lab II (Connected devices track only)
Credits: 4
This the required autumn quarter Lab course for the Connected Devices track. Students continue prototyping hardware/software systems, with the added complexity of signal processing, networking, cloud interfaces and web-based user interfaces.
Programming for Digital & Physical User Interfaces
Credits: 2
Students build fundamental programming skills, with a focus on sensor-based signals (including audio and images) and useful tools for prototyping software and hardware user interfaces.
Visual, Interaction, & Industrial Design Studio
Credits: 2
This course immerses students in the theory and practice of basic design concepts for the design of interactive products that are functionally, emotionally and aesthetically appealing.
Essentials of Entrepreneurship
Credits: 2
Students explore the key issues and strategies involved in evaluating new market opportunities and starting a new venture including identifying new venture opportunities, developing and testing market strategies, evaluating test market performance, and evaluating business plans.
Students learn the basics of finance and accounting for start-up businesses, including reading and understanding a profit-and-loss statement, managing cash flow and margins, and making investments in high-growth businesses.
Capstone I
Credits: 4
This seminar focuses on preparing students for transitioning from student to professional, covering design and software/hardware industry trends and career outlook. Guest lectures in topics relevant to technology innovation, including leadership skills, program management, entrepreneurship, and ethics are presented.
Product Management
Credits: 2
Students gain experience in creating a software/hardware product roadmap and an engineering/development plan.
Tech Marketing
Credits: 2
Students learn how to turn new technologies into market-ready products by building and presenting a commercialization plan. Through lectures, case studies, and teamwork, they gain hands-on experience applying strategies across diverse disciplines.
Corporate & IP Law for Technology Innovators
Credits: 2
This course introduces key areas of business law, including common organizational structures such as corporations, LLCs, and nonprofit/low-profit entities. It also covers the roles of founders, directors and shareholders in each structure, as well as the basics of intellectual property and copyright law.
Capstone II
Credits: 8
Working in teams, students finalize their launch projects with a focus on proof-of-concept prototyping, business case, and final solution in connected devices or robotics innovation.
Fundamentals of Technology Strategy
Credits: 2
Students are introduced to the core concepts of business level strategy with a particular emphasis on establishing and maintaining a competitive advantage through strategy formulation and implementation.
Programming for AI Applications
Credits: 4
This course serves as a review of intermediate level objected oriented programming concepts in Python and will also focus on using Python to perform data analysis, visualization, and manipulation. Note: Students who have completely met the MSTI prerequisites may petition to replace this class with an elective.
Design Thinking Studio
Credits: 2
Working in teams, students learn and apply the entire user-centered design process to real-world problem, executing methods to design, prototype and evaluate ideas for innovative solutions in a team project.
Building Effective Teams
Credits: 2
This course teaches strategies to build trust, foster commitment, and drive high performance in teams, even under volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous conditions. You’ll learn how to generate buy-in, define clear roles, and lead or contribute effectively to achieve exceptional results in any team environment.
Responsible Technology
Credits: 2
This course explores the ethical and societal impacts of emerging technologies, focusing on inclusion, bias, harm, and accountability. Through case studies, discussions, and guest speakers, you’ll learn frameworks for responsible innovation and apply them to real-world contexts. You’ll develop the skills and perspective to navigate technology’s challenges as a thoughtful, ethical innovator.
Sensors & Circuits
Credits: 4
Students develop the background and techniques needed to connect digital systems to the physical world.
Fabrication & Physical Prototyping
Credits: 4
Students learn the concepts and skills required to design, prototype and fabricate physical artifacts, including 2-D and 3-D CAD modeling, high-fidelity prototyping (laser cutting, CNC milling, 3-D printing) and low-fidelity prototyping (paper, foam, media). Industry standards for manufacturing are also covered.
Strategic Communications
Credits: 2 This course explores the principles and practices of communications in organizational and digital contexts. Students will learn how to craft compelling messages, deliver presentations, and leverage channels to achieve specific goals. Emphasis is placed on message design, storytelling, and the nuanced dimensions of communication strategy.
Hardware/Software Lab I (Connected Devices track only)
Credits: 4
This is the required spring quarter Lab I course for the Connected Devices track. Students execute a series of projects to integrate software and hardware concepts.
Robotics Lab I (Robotics track only)
Credits: 4
This is the required spring quarter Lab I course for the Robotics track. Students learn and apply fundamental principles for robotics applications including basic manipulation and motion planning.
User Research & Evaluation Studio
Credits: 2
This project-based course focuses on the user research components of the design process. Students learn methods to engage stakeholders and elicit their needs to provide insight for defining requirements for ethically grounded designs. It also covers aspects of evaluation of technology designs with potential users, including usability and user experience evaluation techniques.
Machine Learning & Signal Processing
Credits: 4
Students learn the basics of digital signal processing and machine learning, as well as simple methods for storing, managing and retrieving data in the cloud.
Internship/CPT (optional, Summer A&B)
Students may choose to pursue a part or full time internship to broaden and apply their skills in a real-world industry internship. Additional tuition and fees may apply to earn internship credit.
Global Technology Experience / Study Abroad (optional, Summer A&B)
Students may choose to pursue a study abroad experience either through the Global Innovation Exchange’s Global Technology Experiences or University of Washington Study Abroad.
Robotics Lab II (Robotics track only)
Credits: 4
This is the required autumn quarter lab course for the Robotics track. Students build on foundational knowledge from Lab I: Robotics to continue to learn increasingly complex principles for robotics application including mobility and navigation.
Hardware/Software Lab II (Connected devices track only)
Credits: 4
This the required autumn quarter Lab course for the Connected Devices track. Students continue prototyping hardware/software systems, with the added complexity of signal processing, networking, cloud interfaces and web-based user interfaces.
Programming for Digital & Physical User Interfaces
Credits: 2
Students build fundamental programming skills, with a focus on sensor-based signals (including audio and images) and useful tools for prototyping software and hardware user interfaces.
Visual, Interaction, & Industrial Design Studio
Credits: 2
This course immerses students in the theory and practice of basic design concepts for the design of interactive products that are functionally, emotionally and aesthetically appealing.
Essentials of Entrepreneurship
Credits: 2
Students explore the key issues and strategies involved in evaluating new market opportunities and starting a new venture including identifying new venture opportunities, developing and testing market strategies, evaluating test market performance, and evaluating business plans.
Students learn the basics of finance and accounting for start-up businesses, including reading and understanding a profit-and-loss statement, managing cash flow and margins, and making investments in high-growth businesses.
Capstone I
Credits: 4
This seminar focuses on preparing students for transitioning from student to professional, covering design and software/hardware industry trends and career outlook. Guest lectures in topics relevant to technology innovation, including leadership skills, program management, entrepreneurship, and ethics are presented.
Product Management
Credits: 2
Students gain experience in creating a software/hardware product roadmap and an engineering/development plan.
Tech Marketing
Credits: 2
Students learn how to turn new technologies into market-ready products by building and presenting a commercialization plan. Through lectures, case studies, and teamwork, they gain hands-on experience applying strategies across diverse disciplines.
Corporate & IP Law for Technology Innovators
Credits: 2
This course introduces key areas of business law, including common organizational structures such as corporations, LLCs, and nonprofit/low-profit entities. It also covers the roles of founders, directors and shareholders in each structure, as well as the basics of intellectual property and copyright law.
Capstone II
Credits: 8
Working in teams, students finalize their launch projects with a focus on proof-of-concept prototyping, business case, and final solution in connected devices or robotics innovation.
Fundamentals of Technology Strategy
Credits: 2
Students are introduced to the core concepts of business level strategy with a particular emphasis on establishing and maintaining a competitive advantage through strategy formulation and implementation.
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