Summer Program in Automation, Robotics, and Coding (SPARC) | NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Summer Program in Automation, Robotics, and Coding (SPARC)

K12 STEM Education
On Campus
Tuition-Based
close up of circuits with hands typing on keyboard in background

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Description

The Summer Program for Automation Robotics and Coding (SPARC) introduces students to the basics of robotics, mechatronics, and programming. This is a 2-week, full-day summer program for rising 9th through 12th-grade high school students. Students do not need experience in robotics to participate in SPARC, but should be academically strong students with an interest in robotics and the ability to take initiative. During the program, students will learn about applications for microcontrollers, interface sensors, and actuators through hands-on manipulation of the components provided in their robotics kit.

PROGRAM LENGTH Two-week summer program
Monday – Friday, 9 am – 4 pm
ELIGIBILITY Must be Age 14+ the day program begins (minimum 15 years old for housing) This program is open to Domestic and International Students
EXPENSES Tuition Fee - $3300
More details

Your Tuition Fee includes the following:

  • Course Fees - $2800
  • Materials Fees - $250
  • University Programs Fees - $50
  • NYU Service Fee - $100
  • NYU Events Fee - $100 ($50 per week)

Add-On Fees - NOTE: RATES MAY CHANGE FOR 2025

  • Optional Housing Fee $616.00 ($308 per week)*
  • Mandatory Meal plan with housing $192 (10 meals plus 30 DD)
  • For International Students - Please note there are additional fees associated with your visa process. Refer to the Office of Global Services for details. 

Unfortunately scholarships and financial aid are not available for this program at this time

30% is due within 1 week of acceptance to hold your spot and the balance is due 1 week before your session start date. 

Tuition deposit is non-refundable.

Students receive a take-home kit with components that they can use to further develop and build projects on their own. 

*For Housing: Students must be 15 years old to stay in on-campus housing and 16 years old to use the on-campus gym.

 

Coursework

SPARC is robotics at a high level: combining concepts and practices from computer science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. Learn about basic electrical components, circuits, and circuit configurations; microcontroller anatomy, features, and programming; coding key constructs like variables, conditionals, loops, data representations; all while building interactive, robotic devices. The program introduces advanced technical skills like how to interface various electrical and electronic components with the microcontroller and how to perform serial and parallel communication. Other challenging content includes learning to add sensors and actuators, how to acquire measurements from sensors, and how to command the actuators under program control.

Important Dates

2025 Program Dates

  • January 1 – Application Opens
  • April 21  – Applications Due
  • Session One  – Orientation  June 13 (via Zoom 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM EST): Program  June 16 – June 27
  • Session Two  – Orientation  July 1 (via Zoom 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM EST): Program  July 7 – July 18  
  • Session Three  – Orientation July 25 (via Zoom 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM EST): Program  July 28 – August 8

I enjoyed learning the basics of binary code and learning how to properly construct a functioning robot. I enjoyed getting to experience college life and meeting new friends.

 

Related Research

SPARC is led by Prof. Vikram Kapila alongside several colleagues from Tandon's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

 

Application

Coming Soon

SPARC Keywords: Computer Sciences, Computer Engineering, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Sensors, Microcontrollers, Circuitry, Electronics, Coding, Robotics, Binary Code