In the Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering program, you'll learn how to identify, design, analyze, and manage complex systems and processes over their lifecycle.

  • Tailor your program based on skills you need for your job by taking courses from the engineering management, data analytics, artificial intelligence, software engineering, and information science programs.
  • Courses are taught by world-class faculty and industry experts.
  • Become a part of the more than 750,000 Penn State alumni across the world.
  • GRE not required.

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Program Advantages

  • Attain programmatic or technical leadership roles in systems engineering or the management of complex systems.
  • Advance your career into senior positions in technical fields.
  • Immerse yourself in small classes and develop meaningful relationships with faculty and classmates who are professionals and managers in the private and public sectors.
  • Partner with alumni and local employers on relevant projects while fostering industry connections, networking, and job opportunities.
  • Navigate problems that span a variety of technical industries.
  • Take advantage of Career Management Services, which offers a variety of programs, resources, and networking opportunities for students and graduates.
  • Local companies are actively engaged in working with students on relevant projects.

  • Academic Equivalency agreement with the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE). 

  • Simultaneously pursue another degree as part of the concurrent degree program.

Flexibility & Delivery

The Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering features two delivery options: hybrid delivery or fully online. 

Hybrid 

Hybrid delivery combines flexibility with the advantages of in-person instruction on our state-of-the-art campus. Courses are delivered in convenient, seven-week sessions via an in-person/online hybrid format. Many of these courses meet once a week in person and once a week online. Some courses may be delivered fully online.

You can also take classes part-time to fit with your work schedule; pursue your degree at your own pace, completing it in as little as two years; and take a variety of electives from other engineering programs. 

Hybrid courses meet requirements for international students studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa.

Fully Online

To learn about our fully online delivery option, visit the Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering via World Campus. 

Curriculum

The 36-credit program is design-focused and addresses industry challenges like increasing mission complexity, rising development costs, late discovery of design problems, and failure to recognize and deal with risk.

Students choose one of two capstone experience options:

  • Research paper – work independently and with faculty to develop new insights in the field.
  • Project – work in small teams to apply key principles and tools to define, architect, and design a heterogeneous engineering system.

Stackable Credentials

Demonstrate your new skills prior to earning your master’s degree through our stackable Graduate Certificates. You can earn four related certificates within the curriculum of the Master of Systems Engineering degree:

Life-Cycle System Design Certificate

This 9-credit certificate helps you master skills in system architecture, design thinking, requirements engineering, configuration management, integration, and deployment. 

System Modeling and Analysis Certificate

This 9-credit certificate helps you master discrete-time simulation and models for system analysis and optimization; model-based system design, architecting, and engineering; and digital model development and management. 

System Quality and Risk Evaluation Certificate

This 9-credit certificate helps you master reliability analysis; testing strategy, infrastructure, tools, and automation; continuous integration; and risk analysis. 

Technical Management Certificate

This 9-credit certificate helps you master skills in project planning and management, systems thinking, team management, and creative problem-solving strategies. 

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In U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 "Best Online Programs," Penn State Great Valley is ranked:

  • #3 in Master’s in Engineering programs
  • #7 in Master’s in Computer Information Technology programs

In U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 "Best Online Programs for Veterans," Penn State Great Valley is ranked:

  • #2 in Master’s in Engineering programs
  • #4 in Master’s in Computer Information Technology programs