Systems Engineering Graduate Certificate Online | Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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Admissions Qualifications for the Online Systems Engineering Graduate Certificates

The online graduate certificates in systems engineering require a BS in engineering from an ABET-accredited university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. A variety of prep courses are available to help you fill in requirements gaps and brush up on needed skills.

For specific application requirements, visit our admissions for online programs page.

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

Systems engineering helped me understand how the complexity of a major engineering effort can be controlled and guided so that what the customer wants the customer gets.

Mike Bonin

Senior Engineer
General Dynamics Electric Boat

The Fundamentals of Systems Engineering Graduate Certificate is geared toward new Systems Engineering Professionals looking to build a foundation.

It will prepare you to:

Better understand and work across the major phases of your organization’s systems engineering efforts.
Better utilize the essentials of systems engineering.

Course Requirements

This is a four course (12 credits) systems engineering program comprised of the following courses:

SYS 501. Concepts of Systems Engineering*
SYS 510. Systems Architecture and Design
SYS 511. Systems Integration, Verification and Validation
MIS 576. Project Management

or OIE 542. Risk Management and Decision Making

*SYS 501 is required for SYS 510 and SYS 511

This Graduate Certificate in Systems Engineering provides foundational information in systems engineering while enabling you to focus on topics of specific industry sector interest.

It will prepare you to:

Lead your team to better design and implement complex cyber-physical systems.
Make better decisions under uncertainty.
Approach solutions to complex problems with a systems thinking perspective.

Course Requirements

This is a six courses (18 credits) systems engineering program with courses that are selected in conjunction with an academic advisor.

Required Course:

SYS 501. Concepts of Systems Engineering

Choose two or more from the following:

SYS 510. Systems Architecture and Design
SYS 511. Systems Integration, Verification and Validation
SYS 520. Systems Optimization
SYS 502. Business Practices for Systems Engineers
SYS 579D. Engineering Dependable and Secure Systems
SYS 540. Introduction to Systems Thinking
SYS 521. Model-based Systems Engineering
SYS 579R. Requirements Engineering
SYS 579S. System of Systems Engineering
MA 511. Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists
MA 546. Design and Analysis of Experiments
SD 550. System Dynamics Foundation: managing Complexity
SD 562. Project Dynamics
MIS 500. Innovating with Information Systems
MIS 573. System Design and Development
MIS 576. Project Management
OBC 505. Teaming and Organizing for Innovation
OIE 542. Risk Management and Decision Making
CS 509. Design of Software Systems

The remainder of the academic credit must consist of graduate courses at the 500/600 level and may include up to three credits of directed research.

The Advanced Certificate in Systems Engineering provides master’s degree holders with an opportunity to continue their studies in advanced topics in the discipline in which they hold their graduate degrees or that is closely related to their graduate fields.

It will prepare you to:

Sharpen your skills in leadership and systems engineering.
Deepen your understanding and utilization of essential systems engineering methods and techniques.

Course Requirements

This is a five course (15 credits) systems engineering program with courses that are selected in conjunction with an academic advisor and none of which were included in the student’s prior master’s program or in any other certificate program.

Sample Courses Include:

SYS 510. Systems Architecture and Design
SYS 511. Systems Integration, Verification and Validation
SYS 520. Systems Optimization
SYS 502. Business Practices for Systems Engineers
SYS 579D. Engineering Dependable and Secure Systems
SYS 540. Introduction to Systems Thinking
SYS 521. Model-based Systems Engineering
SYS 579R. Requirements Engineering
SYS 579S. System of Systems Engineering
MA 511. Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists
MA 546. Design and Analysis of Experiments
SD 550. System Dynamics Foundation: managing Complexity
SD 562. Project Dynamics
MIS 500. Innovating with Information Systems
MIS 573. System Design and Development
MIS 576. Project Management
OBC 505. Teaming and Organizing for Innovation
OIE 542. Risk Management and Decision Making
CS 509. Design of Software Systems

*It is assumed that students pursuing this graduate certificate will have completed SYS 501 or the equivalent at another institution.

WPI & INCOSE

WPI has a long standing partnership with the INCOSE. Recently, INCOSE approved WPI’s updated SYS 501. Concepts of Systems Engineering for Academic Equivalency. This will allows any student who receives a final score of 85% or better to waive the Knowledge Exam for INCOSE’s SE Professional certification program, both at the Associate (ASEP) and Certified (CSEP) levels.

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