Grant Work Completed per Year in Systems Engineering
14
Core Faculty Members
22:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
$498M
In research expenditures in FY23
Degree Overview
Professors Erika Miller and Jeremy Daily discuss the online master's in Systems Engineering. Learn more about the interactive and flexible nature of the program and what it can do for your career.
Earn your master's in systems engineering online
What is systems engineering?
Systems engineering is a discipline that accounts for both the technical and business needs of stakeholders when solving complex problems. It provides a perspective that considers the requirements of all components and constituencies within the system, allowing companies to design the most efficient and effective approaches to solving the problems they face.
Explore cross-disciplinary applications of systems engineering
Many problems faced by companies today are unsolvable by any one area of engineering. Systems engineering emphasizes a systems thinking approach, which allows you to cross disciplines and analyze and understand relationships between various sub-components of a given system. This provides for the design and implementation of solutions that span disciplines (electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, finance, production, etc.) and considers all aspects of the project or product lifecycle.
For example, how do you design, manufacture, bring to market, maintain, and eventually retire a new commercial or military aircraft? A systems engineering solution may bring together mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering along with finance and sales to approach this complex issue. Understanding the relationship between various components and how to organize and manage them in an efficient way is where systems engineering comes into play.
Solve complex problems using systems thinking
Systems thinking is a technique students learn in the master's program, involving various modeling and analysis strategies for understanding the relationship between all components in a system. A system is a construct or collection of different elements that together produce results not obtainable by the individual elements alone. The elements, or parts, can include people, hardware, software, facilities, policies, and documents — all things required to produce systems-level results. The results include system-level qualities, properties, characteristics, functions, and dynamic behaviors and performance.
Examples of systems may include:
A city - with all its structural, economic, environmental, management, energy, healthcare, and other components.
Airline manufacturing - with its associated engineering, project management, financial, design, production and other components.
A smart grid (electric grid) – with networks of suppliers, component manufacturers, market places, and more.
Use systems management to integrate business solutions
Systems management involves the implementation and coordination of technical processes to achieve a specific outcome. This includes things like product lifecycle management (design, manufacturing, in-use, maintenance, and end-of-life), risk management, and engineering team management, among others.
As a whole, students in the online master's in systems engineering program learn to integrate human, physical, energy, communications, management and information requirements through the application of mathematical and scientific principles when designing solutions to complex problems.
What you will learn in the online master's program
CSU's online system's engineering graduate program offers two master's degrees, a Master of Engineering and a Master of Science. Content for both degrees covers technical and management processes to systems design. Technical processes involve modeling and describing systems using a suite of tools to model behavior. This includes:
Systems optimization
Model-based systems engineering
Utility Theory (ways of making decisions and understanding decision support tools)
Lifecycle assessment
Multidisciplinary optimization (MDO)
Probabilistic design
Verification/validation strategies
Additionally, the systems engineering master's program offers the advantage of a hybrid course delivery strategy. This option allows you to study when and where it works best for you, whether that be online while the lecture is happening live on campus or watching a recorded version after work or on the weekend.
Explore Careers
The online master’s programs prepare students for a wide-variety of systems engineering careers, including, but not limited to:
Space and aerospace
Government and military sectors
Power and energy (sectors include creation, distribution, and consumption)
Healthcare systems
Computer networks, information systems, and cyber security
Natural resources and the environment
Agriculture and watershed
Biosciences, biomedical engineering, and health sciences
Urban planning and architecture
Systems engineers are focused on how complex projects are designed and managed over the entire life cycle of the project. They coordinate logistics, teams, and also assume control over machinery. Systems engineers are also often project managers, able to communicate to large teams of people, regardless of location, about complex tasks under demanding situations. The national median salary for Systems Engineers is $110,136. (Source: EMSI)
The program teaches students to leverage knowledge and expertise from the fields of engineering, management, and mathematics when designing and implementing solutions to complex issues.
Systems engineering career opportunities across industries
Government and Military
Systems engineering is highly relevant to projects within government and military sectors. Defense acquisition programs rely on systems engineering as an integral part of decision-making and problem-solving because it looks at everything that can be used and assesses those components to find what’s needed to make systems work. For example, in looking at the entire lifecycle of the F-14 fighter jet, systems engineers consider maintenance, design, running the numbers (hours labor, money, etc.), managing risk, and more. This helps to prevent issues with systems that can’t be fixed or are too costly to fix if a problem arises. As well as improving acquisition quality, systems engineers often work with system security issues, as well as any government and military projects that need to use systems engineering when considering all performance, security, reliability, affordability factors.
Space and Aerospace
Aerospace has well established systems engineering practices and the industry continues to be at the forefront of systems engineering. Having an academic background in systems engineering provides skills appreciated and sought after by organizations and is seen as central to a space or aerospace company’s function and competitiveness. Colorado has a heavy concentration of large space and aerospace companies to include Ball, ULA, NASA, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Sierra Nevada, Woodward, and Northrop Grumman. CSU’s systems engineering programs have many CEOs from these companies on our executive advisory board. These individuals help drive curriculum and also serve as presenters in many of the courses.
Healthcare
This industry, with its service-oriented systems, needs systems engineers to manage them efficiently while considering cyber security, policy making, financial engineering, patient data management systems, and more, for the organization or hospital. Everyone along the value chain needs to make sure that what they are developing works with all the other systems (or the larger system as a whole).
Power and Energy
The relevant systems in this industry are those that produce and manage power and energy. They include the electric grid, natural gas development, the oil industry, and others. All of these systems are becoming more and more connected and are in need of patches and updates due to the fact that needs and technology have advanced past what the systems were originally built to handle. Networks of suppliers, component manufactures, and market places are all subcomponents of these systems. The companies with the most integrated (and usable) products that work across all these systems will be seen as the premier companies. These products are developed using systems engineering processes.
Master of Engineering
Requirements
The M.E. requires a minimum of 30 credits of graduate work in approved program of study for the concentration.
The M.E. permits students to complete either SYSE 695 Independent Study as a 3-credit capstone or an appropriate 3 credit course that is consistent with the student's plan of study as approved by your department advisor.
Electives or course substitutions must be approved by your department advisor.
Once admitted, please stay in touch with your department advisor and reference Department Resources and the SE Handbook to ensure you are meeting all program requirements.
Curriculum
The M.E. program seeks to establish a strong foundation in systems engineering fundamentals and concludes with electives and the optional capstone project. The ME requires 12 credits of core SE courses, 9 credits of SE depth courses, 6 credits of flexible elective options, and either the 3-credit capstone or another depth course. You are encouraged to start with SYSE 501 but can take the remaining courses in any order provided you are meeting course prerequisites.
Course delivery options allow you to study when and where it works best for you, whether that is streaming the lecture from your computer while it's happening live on campus or watching a recorded version at a time more convenient for you. When registration for a term is open, use our credit courses page to search and register for online courses.
Master of Science
Requirements
The M.S. required a minimum of 30 credits of graduate work in approved program of study. Students select either Plan A (thesis option; requires faculty advisor) or Plan B (project option).
Electives or course substitutions must be approved by your department advisor.
Once admitted, please stay in touch with your department advisor and reference Department Resources and the SE Handbook to ensure you are meeting all program requirements.
Curriculum
The M.S. program provides a 15-credit depth of knowledge in SE areas, 6-12 credits of flexible elective options, and concludes with a thesis or independent study project. You are encouraged to start with SYSE 501 but can take the remaining courses in any order provided you are meeting course prerequisites.
Course delivery options allow you to study when and where it works best for you, whether that is streaming the lecture from your computer while it's happening live on campus or watching a recorded version at a time more convenient for you. When registration for a term is open, use our credit courses page to search and register for online courses.
Learning Experience
Participate in real time or on your schedule
As an online systems engineering graduate student, you can access CSU's curriculum in a variety of ways. You may choose to "attend class" online while the lecture is happening live on campus (synchronous learning). Or, if it works better for your schedule, you can choose to watch a webinar-style version of the lecture later (asynchronous learning).
Study online, but not alone
The online learning environment and course structure of this program encourages interaction with your classmates and professors through group projects, email, and designated online office hours. You even have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in discussions during live lectures.
The Systems Engineering Department within CSU’s College of Engineering is just that: a dedicated university department focused on leading-edge systems engineering research and education. Department faculty are both talented instructors and world-class researchers in the field. In addition, many of CSU’s engineering professors have extensive industry experience, which they bring into the classroom and curriculum. Many of our students are also leaders in their workplaces. You will be learning alongside engineers from organizations like NASA, Lockheed-Martin, Woodward, Inc. and ULA, just to name a few.
Faculty
The systems engineering faculty at CSU bring decades of experience in applying academic research to real-world situations. Developed by Dr. Ron Sega, this program’s coursework is based on extensive research and professional experience with organizations such as NASA, Woodward, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Visit the Systems Engineering website to learn more about the faculty associated with the systems engineering M.E./M.S. programs, and their research specializations.
Hear from Our Students
Hear what our students have to say about CSU's programs, and find out how earning a systems engineering degree online allows you to obtain the same world-class education as on-campus students.
Derek Gray
Find out how Derek applied what he learned in the program to his work as a systems engineer in the aeronautics industry.
Kody Matthews
“I use the processes and tools I learned in class daily to support the projects I am working on in my engineering job. I learned the importance of the holistic approach to making a project successful. I would absolutely recommend CSU Online’s systems engineering program to anyone who is looking to better understand the field. The professors are very knowledgeable and eager to help students learn and understand the material.”
David Myers
“Most programs have very similar core content, but CSU offered electives in areas I was interested in. The ability to choose non-technical electives was attractive to me. Being able to study organizational psychology complimented my degree and my interests. I'm better able to see the connections between technical systems and processes, as well as the people. Balancing school, work, and family can be challenging, but the online courses make it achievable.”
How to Apply
Application Deadlines
Full consideration is given to applicants who meet the given deadline. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed as space within the program allows.
Fall semester
July 1
Spring semester
November 1
Start your application online and upload materials directly into the online system. You can save your progress and return any time.
Download the complete Systems Engineering Application Information Packet prior to starting the application process. This packet provides detailed information regarding CSU's Systems Engineering graduate programs, minimum application qualifications, criteria for admission, and more.
Master of Engineering (M.E.) - 30 credits minimum
B.S. degree from a regionally accredited institution in engineering, business, life sciences, or natural sciences with a GPA of 3.0 or greater
Basic Statistics
Calculus I
Master of Science (M.S.) - 30 credits minimum
B.S. degree from a regionally accredited institution in engineering, mathematics, or a science discipline with a GPA of 3.0 or greater
Basic Statistics
Calculus I
M.S. Plan A (thesis required) – 21 hours coursework with 9 credit hours of thesis work
M.S. Plan B (project required) – 27 hours of coursework with 3 credit hours of project work
For Plan A, a faculty advisor must be secured before admission to the program (the Systems staff will review application materials to determine faculty alignment). It is also the responsibility of the applicant to establish rapport with faculty in a professional manner once all application materials have been submitted.
Plan B does not require an advisor prior to admittance
Note that meeting the minimum department standards does not ensure admission to the program. Admission to Colorado State University graduate programs is based on a number of factors, including prior academic and professional experience and the personal statement.
Prepare the materials below and upload when you apply online.
Three letters of recommendation
Three professional recommendations are required. We recommend letters come from faculty, supervisors, etc. who can accurately speak to your skills. You will provide information about your recommenders in the online application. CSU will contact them with instructions and a link to a secure form they will submit on your behalf.
Resume
Statement of purpose
(2 pages MAXIMUM) The statement of purpose is typically one or two pages and is meant to address the Systems Engineering Admissions Committee and why you would be a good fit for the program. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
Your relevant professional/academic background and skills
Why you are interested in Systems Engineering – provide specific areas of interest and application
Why you are interested in CSU’s program and what you can contribute to CSU
Complete the online graduate application and pay the nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online). Your application will not be reviewed until it is complete and all required materials have been received.
M.E. – Select "Systems Engineering (M.E.) – Distance" when choosing the program of study.
M.S. – Select "Systems Engineering (M.S.) – Distance" when choosing the program of study.
Request one official transcript of all collegiate work completed from all institutions attended. Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required. Transcripts must be received directly from the originating institution to be considered official.
Electronic (preferred):
Digital Transcripts must be submitted by the originating institution using a secure service such as parchment, eScrip-Safe, the National Student Clearinghouse, or e-Quals. Transcripts received via emails are considered unofficial.
Use institution code 4075 for Colorado State University or gradadmissions@colostate.edu if the secure service requires an email address.
Mail (if necessary)
Graduate Admissions
Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062
View your application status at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or to check on updates.
Once your complete application, including supporting materials, is received, the department admission committee will review your application and notify you of their decision.
Proof of English language proficiency is required for applicants from countries or United States territories where there are official languages other than (or in addition to) English. This includes the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico.
