WPI’s Online Master of Engineering in Power Systems Engineering prepares electrical engineers for professional practice in the electric utility industry. The program is also a great option for experienced engineers or those who want to reshape their careers.

Composed entirely of technical courses, this program brings together a wide variety of analytical and practical subjects, both classical and current, that are necessary for engineering success in today's power industry. Through course topics in analysis, rotating machinery, transmission and distribution systems, protection and controls, and more, you will be prepared to:

Analyze power flows in delivery networks – both for steady state and transients
Understand electro-mechanical energy conversion and power system operations and planning
Design power delivery networks – both transmission and distribution
Analyze dynamic system response to disturbances
Design protection and control systems
Evaluate design alternatives, including both technical and economic analysis
Lead projects using a full suite of management tools
Understand group and individual dynamics leading to more effective interactions
Identify and mitigate operational risks

Learn from Industry Experts

WPI students work closely with WPI’s renowned Power Systems faculty: real-world, industry experts who enrich the curriculum with decades of experience.

Read the faculty biographies

Whitepaper: Securing the Grid - Today and Tomorrow

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Other online graduate programs in Power Systems:

Courses

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

10 courses, 30 credit hours. All courses include use of modeling and each course normally utilizes one specific application. You will work with a faculty advisor to develop a customized and relevant plan of study selected from the courses below. A thesis is not required.

REQUIRED COURSES

At least 21 total credit hours in ECE with at least 15 credit hours in ECE Power Systems Engineering courses
- Must include ECE 5500. Power System Analysis
Up to 9 credit hours from engineering, mathematics, science or business.

*Credit cannot be awarded for ECE 5521 & 5522 if credit for ECE 5520 has been earned.

**Note that not all courses shown in the graduate catalog are available online. Please check the current course schedule listings. Courses subject to change based on faculty availability.

Thesis option: Currently, WPI’s online graduate programs do not offer a thesis option, as theses cannot be completed online. If you wish to pursue a thesis on campus, it is the student’s responsibility to find an advisor. Please note that depending on the project’s subject and timeframe, there might not be a faculty member willing or able to advise.

COURSE SCHEDULE

FALL TERM

ECE 5500. Power System Analysis
ECE 5511. Transients in Power Systems
ECE 5523. Power System Dynamics
ECE 5521. Protective Relaying (not be taken with ECE 5520)
ECE 5530. Power Distribution
OIE 542. Risk Management and Decision Making

EARLY SPRING TERM

(January Start)

ECE 5500. Power System Analysis
ECE 5511. Transients in Power Systems
ECE 5520. Protection and Control (not to be taken with ECE 5521)
ECE 5522. Advanced Applications in Protective Relaying
ECE 5531. Power System Operations and Planning
ECE 5540. Power Transmission
ECE 523. Power Electronics
MIS 576. Project Management
OBC 505. Teaming and Organizing for Innovation

LATE SPRING TERM

(April Start)

ECE 5500. Power System Analysis
ECE 5511. Transients in Power Systems
ECE 5512. Electromechanical Energy Conversion
ECE 5532. Distributed and Renewable Power Generation
ECE 5521. Protective Relaying (not to be taken with ECE 5520)
CS 525. Computer and Network Security
OIE 542. Risk Management and Decision Making
OIE 598. Engineering Economics
SD 550. System Dynamics Foundation: Managing Complexity

SUMMER TERM

MIS 576. Project Management
ECE 5522. Advanced Applications in Protective Relaying (as needed)
BUS 598: IS Energy Management (every other year starting in AY2020)
Business Elective (as needed)

For additional management and math courses, please click here. Note these courses may not qualify for EPCE participants.

Software used in this program: Matlab, Advanced Design System (ADS), PowerWorld Simulator, PSIM, PSPICE, Magnetic Finite-element analysis tool, SPICE, OCTAVE, Euler Math Toolbox, SciLab, SIMULINK, LTSPICE IV simulator, Verilog Simulator: ModelSim; Design Environment and Synthesis: Quartus II, version 9, Mathcad, S-Math Studio

Prerequisites

Students must have an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from an ABET accredited university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Some graduate engineers from other disciplines may be successful in power systems; however they may need an additional foundation in mathematics (e.g. WPI's MA 501 Engineering Mathematics course).

Have additional questions about admissions or program requirements? Please contact our WPI Online team to review individual situations.

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Explore average salaries of power systems engineers, companies that have hired WPI power systems engineering graduates, sample job titles, and more.

Career Outlook

We are hosting an upcoming webinar to introduce you to our Power Systems Engineering Online graduate program. Learn more about the program, what online learning looks like, the application process, and more! We hope you can join us on Wednesday, October 23 @ 12 pm (ET)

RSVP

Energy Education Program

WPI and the Energy Providers Coalition for Education (EPCE) are partners in providing quality online education to the energy industry. If you work for an organization that is a member of EPCE, you receive a 10% discount on your online WPI tuition. Contact EPCE to determine if you qualify.

Electrical & Computer Engineering Department

Power Systems Engineering Online (MEng)