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 2021–2022 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

  • Analyze a complex technological challenge from a systems perspective
  • Build appropriate development life-cycle models for different types of projects
  • Design a system and develop approaches for verification, validation, deployment, and support
  • Develop a framework for managing key system engineering activities in a project
  • Construct project requirements for organizational and physical infrastructure
  • Specify appropriate engineering standards for system requirements and design parameters

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 625
  • ITEC 626
  • ITEC 630
  • ITEC 640

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 625 must be taken in the first term of 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.

Recommended Course Sequence

This is our recommended course sequence to progress through this program. This sequence incorporates course prerequisites and program requirements but does not list course alternatives that may be available. We recommend you take a maximum of 6 credits per term. You cannot take a prerequisite with its subsequent course during the same session. Your plan will be unique and dependent on multiple factors, including the number of credits you transfer to this program.

Contact an advisor if you any questions about this plan, course alternatives, or your course load limit.

Sequence Course
1

UCSP 615
2

ITEC 625
3

SYSE 610
4

ITEC 626
5

SYSE 620
6

ITEC 630
7

ITEC 640
8

SYSE 625
9

SYSE 630
10

SYSE 640
11

SYSE 650
12

SYSE 660
13

SYSE 670

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.

Student Clubs and Organizations

  • Computing Club

    • 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.



Finance Your Education

Learn about ways to meet, manage, and lower your education costs.