The Ph.D. in Systems Engineering prepares students to become leaders in systems engineering. Throughout the program, students produce significant academic contributions, in terms of original research, to the field. These contributions drive advancements and lead to improvements in energy efficiency, environmental impact, cybersecurity, and economic growth, among other areas of application for systems engineering.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

  1. Effectively analyze, design, or implement integrated system solutions.
  2. Effectively use and create systems engineering tools such as modeling and simulation of a system.
  3. Evaluate systems interfaces between stakeholder and technical domains effectively and efficiently.
  4. Exemplify a variety of roles in multi-disciplinary teams including systems engineer, technical expert, and leader, product owner, upper management.
  5. Contribute technically to the systems engineering field of knowledge.

Effective Fall 2024

Core Requirements
SYSE 701Research Methods in Systems Engineering3
Select 7 courses from the following:21
Grid Integration of Wind Energy Systems
Engineering Project and Program Management
Project Management: Information Technology
Advanced IT Project Management
Engineering Optimization: Method/Application
Engineering Decision Support/Expert Systems
Intellectual Property and Invention Systems
Engineering Risk Analysis
Spaceflight and Biological Systems
Modeling Human Systems Behavior
Design Analysis of Engineering Experiments
Electrical Power Engineering
Coupled Electromechanical Systems
Simulation Modeling and Experimentation
Foundations of Systems Engineering
Systems Thinking for the Real World
Systems Sensing and Imaging Analysis
Overview of Systems Engineering Processes
Dynamics of Complex Engineering Systems
Human Systems Integration
Engineering Data Design and Visualization
Systems-Based AR/VR Environmental Realism
Augmented/Virtual Reality Systems Development
Security Engineering for Systems Engineers
Secure Vehicle and Industrial Networking
Systems Engineering Architecture
Cybersecurity Awareness for Systems Engineers
Analytics in Systems Engineering
Cost Optimization for Systems Engineers
Systems Requirements Engineering
Introduction to Systems Test and Evaluation
Advanced Model-Based Systems Engineering
Technical Electives 118
Research
SYSE 799ADissertation: PhD 230
Program Total Credits:72

A minimum of 72 credits are required to complete this program. 

1

Select 18 credits with approval by student’s advisory committee. A maximum of 6 credit hours are permitted at the 400-level. The remainder must be at the 500-level or above.

2

3 credit hours of SYSE 795 may be used by students who have had their Ph.D. research, which was performed while enrolled at CSU, accepted for publication (completely or with minor revisions) in at least two peer-reviewed journal or conference publications may fill out a form listing citations and validating documentation and have the form approved by the student’s Ph.D. committee. 

For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.

Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees

NOTE:  Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.

Forms are available online.

Step Due Date
1. Application for admission (online) Six months before first registration
2. Diagnostic examination when required Before first registration
3. Appointment of advisor Before first registration
4. Selection of graduate committee Before the time of fourth regular semester registration
5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) Before the time of fourth regular semester registration
6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) Two terms prior to final examination
7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) Within two working days after results are known
8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) When change is made
9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website
9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying
10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee
11. Final examination Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website
12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website
13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website.
14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website
15. Graduation Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website