The systems engineering specialization can help you apply traditional and modern life-cycle models, techniques, and tools in the specification, design, development, and deployment of complex systems. The specialization is designed for midcareer professionals with a technical background who are seeking to enhance their skills in systems engineering theory and practice.
You'll study a variety of cases across different application domains to learn the wide scope of systems concepts. Courses include requirements engineering, system design and development, model-based systems engineering, system integration and testing, system engineering management, and more.
These requirements are for students who enroll in the 2020–2021 academic year. For prior year academic requirements, visit our catalog archive.
About the Information Technology Master's Degree with Systems Engineering Specialization
What You'll Learn
Through your coursework, you will learn how to
- Organize and manage a systems engineering team
- Apply a wide variety of domestic and international standards to systems engineering practice
- Use various computer-aided design and testing tools
Coursework Examples
In past projects, students have had the opportunity to
- Develop a system requirements document
- Break down a complex system into manageable subsystems
- Specify strategies for verifying and validating that the overall system meets requirements
Industry Certification
This program can help prepare you for the following certification exam(s):
Information Technology Master's Degree with Systems Engineering Specialization Requirements
Our curriculum is designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars. You'll learn theories combined with real-world applications and practical skills you can apply on the job right away.
Master's - specialization Courses
Initial Requirement
- UCSP 615
(to be taken within the first 6 credits of study)
Core Courses
- ITEC 610
- ITEC 625
- ITEC 626
- ITEC 630
Specialization Courses
- SYSE 610
- SYSE 620
- SYSE 625
- SYSE 630
- SYSE 640
- SYSE 650
- SYSE 660
Capstone Course
- SYSE 670
Course Rules and Program Progression
- ITEC 610 must be taken in the first term of coursework.
- You must complete 6 credits of core coursework before beginning specialization coursework.
- Specialization courses must be taken in the order listed.
- You must take SYSE 670 in your final term.
Other Requirements
- You must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher at all times.
- All degree requirements must be fulfilled within five consecutive years.
- Any transfer credits must have been earned within the five-year time frame to be applied toward a graduate degree.
Please review our overview of overall master's degree requirements for additional considerations.
Career Preparation
This program is designed to help prepare you for work in systems engineering theory and practice.
Experience Recommended for Success in the Program
We recommend you have a professional or educational background in a technical discipline, such as engineering or computer science. We recommend UCSP 605 if you'd like to improve your graduate writing skills.

When it was time to make his business more innovative, Sunil returned to UMGC for a Doctor of Management degree. UMGC's doctoral program not only helped Sunil expand his business beyond services, it also fostered new connections that led to increased opportunities.
Student Clubs and Organizations
Type: Student organization
Available To: Undergraduate and Graduate
The Computing Club aims to create a dynamic environment where members can work collaboratively, share innovative ideas, enhance their career-readiness, and gain marketable experience in their respective fields.
About the Faculty
Our world-class faculty members combine academic credentials with a wealth of experience in the field.
Faculty members in this program hold or have recently held positions including
- Chief technology officer
- CEO and president
Our faculty work or have worked at organizations including
- An automotive robotics company
- U.S. Department of Energy