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WPI’s power systems engineering master's degree online 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, the master’s in power engineering online 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
Graduate Catalog

Admissions Qualifications for the Power Systems Engineering Master’s Degree

Excellent candidates have an ABET accredited undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Engineers from other disciplines may be successful in Power Systems with coursework in AC Circuits and Signals as well as significant mathematics including Linear Algebra and Differential Equations.

If you do not have a bachelor's degree, please view our list of undergraduate programs.

For specific application requirements, visit our admissions for online programs page. Have additional questions? Please contact our WPI Online team to review individual situations.

Learn from Power 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. That's part of what makes WPI among the best universities for MS in power systems!

Read the faculty biographies

Whitepaper: Securing the Grid - Today and Tomorrow
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A great program that had a good balance between theoretical and practical power system applications, I would recommend any engineer in the power industry to take this.
John Sonnelitter
Protection & Controls Engineer
Florida Power & Light

Curriculum

  • Program 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

    *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.

    View academic term start dates for online power systems courses.

  • Course Schedule
    FALL TERM
    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
    • MA 501. Engineering Mathematics
    LATE SPRING TERM

    (April Start)

    • ECE 5511. Transients in Power Systems
    • ECE 5530. Power Distribution
    • ECE 5532. Distributed and Renewable Power Generation
    • ECE 5521. Protective Relaying (not to be taken with ECE 5520)
    • CS 525. Computer and Network Security
    • SD 550. System Dynamics Foundation:  Managing Complexity
    SUMMER TERM
    • ECE 5522. Advanced Applications in Protective Relaying (as needed)
    BUSINESS COURSES
    • MIS 576. Project Management
    • OIE 542. Risk Management and Decision Making
    • OBC 505. Teaming and Organizing for Innovation

    For additional course offerings to satisfy your degree requirements, click here. Please note, additional business courses do not qualify for EPCE membership rate.

    Software used for the power systems engineering master’s degree: 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

Other online graduate programs in Power Systems:

Interested in gaining a foundation in key disciplines related to power systems engineering like protection and controls and power transmission? WPI's power systems engineering certificate online is perfect for those interested in elevating their career in the power industry. Maybe you're looking to gain a business edge? The online master's in Power Systems Management may be just the degree for you. Students work with industry experts and learn about the business side of the power industry.

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Graduate Studies Series

Learn from our enrollment team members and other guests by attending quick and convenient 30-minute webinars we designed to highlight popular topics when starting grad school. Take a deep dive into specific areas of interest such as applications and funding.

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On-Demand Webinar

Power Systems Info Session

View our on-demand webinar to be introduced to WPI's online graduate programs in Power Systems. Get an overview of program logistics, what online learning looks like, the application process, and more!

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Podcast

Ask Us Anything – Power Systems Podcast

Listen and learn! Enjoy this recording from our June 2020 Q&A webinar. Questions were answered by online power students Ahvinash Bansi and Benjamin Franco, along with an online programs manager, a student success manager, and Mike Ahern, Dir. of Power Systems Engineering.

Hear More on Soundcloud about Ask Us Anything – Power Systems Podcast
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Energy Education Program

Energy Providers Coalition for Education logoWPI 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.