Engineer the Future of Energy. Power Up Your Career.
Bringing together a variety of analytical and practical subjects, both classical and current, WPI’s MS in Power Systems Engineering Online prepares electrical engineers for professional practice in the electric utility 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
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.
Program Requirements
The online power systems engineering degree requires the completion of 30 graduate credit hours. The distribution of credits is as follows:
- 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.
Courses
All Power Systems Engineering graduate courses are 3 credits.
- ECE 523. Power Electronics
- ECE 5500. Power System Analysis*
- ECE 5511. Transients in Power Systems
- ECE 5512. Electromechanical Energy Conversion
- ECE 5520. Protection and Control (not to be taken with ECE 5521)
- ECE 5521. Protective Relaying (not be taken with ECE 5520)
- ECE 5522. Advanced Applications in Protective Relaying
- ECE 5523. Power System Dynamics
- ECE 5530. Power Distribution
- ECE 5531. Power System Operations and Planning
- ECE 5532. Distributed and Renewable Power Generation
- ECE 5540. Power Transmission
To find the next offering of online Power Systems Engineering courses, visit the Registrar’s site.
To view a course description, visit the Graduate Catalog.
Subject to change based on availability.
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!
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- John Sonnelitter
- Protection & Controls Engineer
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
Team members from Graduate & Professional Studies host quick and convenient webinars designed to highlight popular topics when starting grad school. Take a deep dive into specific areas of interest such as how to secure funding, how to ace your application, an overview of student services, and more!
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!
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.
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.