Master of
Systems Engineering
Designed for both engineers and managers, an advanced degree in systems engineering at Embry-Riddle will prepare graduates for the next stage of their career. A Systems Engineering degree will provide a solid foundation of fundamental systems engineering knowledge while also teaching students how to apply a systems perspective to business and technology. The program features two tracks to choose from: a technical track — focused on system design, analysis, and implementation — and an engineering management track — covering organization, process, and management. This will help complement a student’s professional experience with the confidence and skills needed to successfully lead complex engineering projects.
ERAU faculty members are subject matter experts who possess a wealth of Systems Engineering experience. With extensive backgrounds in managing complex, multidisciplinary, advanced technology projects, students gain valuable insight into Systems Engineering throughout their studies.
Program curriculum is based on an interdisciplinary engineering approach as envisioned and defined by the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
DEGREE DETAILS
This degree is offered at the following campuses. Select a campus to learn more.
About Systems Engineering at the Daytona Beach, FL Campus
Systems engineering looks at the big picture to understand the entire process. Then it works to achieve systems integration, connecting the needs of the customer to the designs of the components. Housed in the Department of Electrical, Computer, Software, and Systems Engineering of the College of Engineering, the M.S. in Systems Engineering program provides the foundations of the systems engineering processes to develop and implement solutions to today’s complex engineering design and operational problems.
Graduates often seek opportunities in project management, systems engineering, systems analysis, reliability engineering, consultancy work, and other areas in industries such as aerospace, defense, transportation, aviation, airport services, energy, information technology, and more. With the thesis option, students are prepared for advancement into doctoral programs.
- The Technical Track builds on an engineering, technical, or physical sciences undergraduate degree to enhance systems thinking and systems engineering methods for solving real-world engineering problems. The Engineering Management Track combines the technical aspects of the field with business-oriented course work for management roles
- The program’s two tracks — technical or engineering management — give students the freedom to tailor their electives. The Daytona Beach Campus offers students the ability to implement systems thinking in state-of-the-art facilities, learning and conducting research alongside engineers from multiple disciplines.
- The program begins with a core of three foundation courses in systems engineering: fundamentals of systems engineering, introduction to systems engineering management, and system requirements modeling and analysis, followed by one or more electives in the student’s area of interest.
- Benefit from classroom interactions with students from a variety of engineering backgrounds, and faculty who have research interests in large-scale and complex systems, as it applies to the aviation, aerospace, and transportation industries.
- Systems Engineers are in demand for their technical expertise and leadership abilities, and they often enter management early in their careers.
Learn more about the Daytona Beach Campus.
Complex engineering projects are at the heart of modern business. In order to innovate, adapt, thrive, and survive, organizations must undertake efforts that require the coordination of different teams, the understanding of complex technology and tools, and the integration of interdepartmental work processes. Leaders who can effectively manage these efforts are in high demand across many industries. The Master of Science in Systems Engineering degree program prepares and qualifies students to take on such a role. Through this focused curriculum, students will establish a solid foundation of fundamental systems-engineering knowledge, learning how to apply a systems perspective to business and technology.
For applicants inclined toward research and later doctoral studies, the program offers a thesis track. Students enrolled in the thesis track can select thesis advisors from the participating faculty in the College of Engineering and the College of Business, as appropriate to individual faculty’s research interests. For applicants more interested in entering or returning to the workplace, the program offers a non-thesis track. Based on their background and interests, students applying for the non-thesis option can select between the two different tracks available, allowing students to tailor their education to their career goals. The Technical track concentrates on system design, analysis, and implementation, while the Engineering Management track concentrates on organization, process, and management. The M.S. in Systems Engineering delivers exceptional learning and an esteemed credential for systems engineers entering the field, engineers wishing to broaden their perspective or advance to management positions, and managers seeking the knowledge and skills necessary for engineering products and services from a systems perspective.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the ERAU admission requirements, applicants must have an undergraduate degree in an engineering discipline, computer science, or the physical sciences. Any engineering degree earned in the United States must be from an ABET accredited program. Students should possess a strong academic record, demonstrated by a 3.0 CGPA or better. Applicants may be admitted conditionally with the provision that they complete specific undergraduate courses prior to enrolling in graduate courses.
Degree Requirements
Both thesis and non-thesis option require the completion of 30 credits with a common core of 12 credits program core.
Thesis Option
| Core Requirements | ||
| SYS 500 | Fundamentals of Systems Engineering | 3 |
| SYS 530 | System Requirements Analysis and Modeling | 3 |
| SYS 560 | Introduction to Systems Engineering Management | 3 |
| SYS 625 | System Quality Assurance | 3 |
| SYS 700 | Graduate Thesis | 9 |
| Program Electives | 9 | |
Electives will be chosen from existing Daytona Beach campus courses offered in the College of Engineering and/or the College of Business, and must be approved by the student’s advisor or program coordinator. | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Non-Thesis Option - Technical Track
| SYS 500 | Fundamentals of Systems Engineering | 3 |
| SYS 530 | System Requirements Analysis and Modeling | 3 |
| SYS 560 | Introduction to Systems Engineering Management | 3 |
| SYS 610 | System Architecture Design and Modeling | 3 |
| SYS 625 | System Quality Assurance | 3 |
| SYS 690 | Systems Engineering Project | 3 |
| Technical Track Electives | 12 | |
Electives will be chosen from existing Daytona Beach campus courses offered in the College of Engineering and/or the College of Business, and must be approved by the student’s advisor or program coordinator. | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Non-Thesis Option - Engineering Management Track
| SYS 500 | Fundamentals of Systems Engineering | 3 |
| SYS 530 | System Requirements Analysis and Modeling | 3 |
| SYS 560 | Introduction to Systems Engineering Management | 3 |
| SYS 625 | System Quality Assurance | 3 |
| SYS 660 | Organizational Systems Management | 3 |
| SYS 690 | Systems Engineering Project | 3 |
| Engineering Management Track Electives | 12 | |
Electives will be chosen from existing Daytona Beach campus courses offered in the College of Engineering and/or the College of Business, and must be approved by the student’s advisor or program coordinator. | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
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Degree Summary
30 Credits
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About Systems Engineering at the Worldwide & Online Campus
In today’s complex world, individuals who can effectively apply Systems Engineering are in high demand across many industries; those who fill these roles can often rise through the ranks of an organization at an accelerated rate compared to their domain-focused engineering and management counterparts. A master's degree in Systems Engineering could be the optimal path for students wishing to gain the heightened understanding necessitated by increasingly complex systems.
The Master of System Engineering (MSYSE) program at ERAU’s Worldwide & Online Campus is designed for students who have gained knowledge and experience in a technical discipline, including engineering and are looking to broaden their perspective and toolkit. Both traditional students and professionals enter the program with varying levels of experience to understand and apply systems thinking principles and systems engineering tools to different types of systems throughout their lifecycle. Students are exposed to stakeholders, requirements, enterprises, system design, development, quality, operations and maintenance and system disposal over several core courses and are afforded the flexibility to determine to scope of remaining coursework.
This flexibility is achieved through two track options - Engineering Management or Technical - and allows the student to choose four courses that best align with their personal and professional interests.
The program’s two tracks — technical or engineering management — give students the freedom to tailor their electives. At the Worldwide Campus, personal academic advising helps guide a student’s independent capstone project and ensures the coursework is in line with their career goals.
A Capstone Project at the end of the program ensures that coalescence between the electives chosen and systems engineering fundamentals has occurred. So, whether a student wants to apply systems engineering in a specific domain like Unmanned Systems or Human Factors or prefers the project management or Leadership side of things, the MSYSE program is readily adaptable to those needs.
Ultimately, ERAU’s Systems Engineering program takes an applied, rather than theory-based approach to understanding systems engineering. That means students are immersed in real-world projects, encouraged to incorporate their personal and professional experiences into their course work, actively engage in teamwork and are prepared to immediately apply new skills on the job.
Complex engineering projects are at the heart of modern business. In order to innovate, adapt, thrive, and survive, organizations must undertake efforts that require the coordination of different teams, the understanding of complex technology and tools, and the integration of interdepartmental work processes. Leaders who can effectively manage these efforts are in high demand across many industries.
The Master of Systems Engineering (MSYSE) degree program prepares and qualifies students to take on such a role. Through this focused curriculum, students will establish a solid foundation of fundamental systems-engineering knowledge, learning how to apply a systems perspective to business and technology.
The program is offered in two tracks, allowing students to tailor their education to their career goals. The Technical track concentrates on system design, analysis, and implementation. The Engineering Management track concentrates on organization, process, and management.
The MSYSE delivers exceptional learning and an esteemed credential for systems engineers entering the field, engineers wishing to broaden their perspective or advance to management positions, and managers seeking the knowledge and skills necessary for engineering products and services from a systems perspective.
Program-Specific Criteria
Admissions Criteria
Applicants and students requesting an internal transfer to MSYSE should meet at least one of the following criteria-
- Applicant holds an undergraduate degree from an ABET accredited engineering or engineering technology program and has a 3.0 CGPA or higher on a 4.0 scale in that ABET program
OR
- Applicant has successfully completed an equivalent to both MATH 242 and STAT 211/222 and have a 3.0 CGPA or higher in their undergraduate program
Any applicants with graduate coursework must meet the established graduate transfer CGPA as well.
NOTE: Applicants who fail to satisfy the guidelines for full admission may be considered for possible conditional admission under circumstances determined by the Admissions Office or Program Chair. The candidate will be notified of academic conditions of admission, including specific information on required course prerequisites, at the time a decision is rendered. Students granted custom conditional admission must adhere to the individual terms outlined in their letter of admission and will remain on conditional status until they have satisfied the terms of their conditional admission.
In addition, applicants must submit
- Three (3) letters of recommendation, including one (1) from a recent instructor or trainer
Download the MSYSE Program Recommendation Form - Resume outlining work experience, education, relevant activities and awards
- A type-written Statement of Objectives, demonstrating a strong capacity for written communication and addressing the following topic areas-
- The applicant’s understanding, in their own words, of what Systems Engineering entails
- The applicant’s background and exposure to engineering to-date, in both their academic and professional career
- A statement of the particular MSYSE track the applicant intends to pursue (Technical or Management) and a discussion of why this election was made; If the applicant has chosen an elective set, disclosure and justification of elective selections may also be included
- An explanation of the applicant’s overall academic and career objectives, including how the applicant believes that the MSYSE program will positively contribute to the achievement of stated goals
Current students requesting to transfer into the MSYSE program will be required to meet the same program requirements stated above.
Prerequisite Knowledge
The Master of Systems Engineering degree program is designed to instill specific skills and knowledge, with courses reinforcing one another, building toward student mastery. Access a Curriculum Map, outlining the Program Outcomes and suggested sequencing of student coursework.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Core/Major
| SYSE 500 | Fundamentals of Systems Engineering | 3 |
| SYSE 530 | System Requirements Analysis and Modeling | 3 |
| SYSE 560 | Introduction to Systems Engineering Management | 3 |
| SYSE 625 | System Quality Assurance | 3 |
| SYSE 697 | Systems Engineering Project | 3 |
| Select one track from the following: | 3 | |
Technical Track | ||
SYSE 610 | System Architecture Design and Modeling | |
Engineering Management Track | ||
SYSE 660 | Organizational Systems Management | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Electives
| Electives | ||
| Electives will be chosen from existing Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach and Worldwide courses in other disciplines, and must be approved by the Program Chair. | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| Total Degree Requirements | 30 | |
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Degree Summary
30 Credits
Estimate your tuition by using the Tuition Calculator
View Financial Aid Information
Learn more about the benefits of an Online Degree
Learn about our General Education
Student Achievement Information
Find out about transferring credits to this degree
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Master of Systems Engineering Program
Worldwide & Online Campus
