Discover how to develop systems strategies that can be applied to any industry. Colorado State University's Systems Engineering degrees prepare you with immediately applicable skills that can help solve current challenges your company may be facing. General Degree Requirements : Minimum of 30 credits of graduate work in approved program of study. Minimum of 24 credits must be earned at Colorado State University, 21 of which credits at the 500-level must be earned after formal admission to the University. No more than two courses at the 400 level taken at Colorado State University are permitted. No more than two 500-level or higher graduate courses may be transferred from another accredited university. Electives and course substitutions must be approved by the Program Advisor. Curriculum : The M.S. program starts with a core systems engineering foundation and concludes with a thesis or independent study. You are encouraged to start with ENGR 501, but can take the remaining courses in any order. At least four courses applicable to the degree will be offered each fall and spring semester. Students typically enroll in no more than two classes per semester. Course delivery options allow you to study when and where it works best for you, whether that is attending in-person, streaming the lecture from your computer while it's happening live on campus, or watching a recorded version at a time more convenient for you.

Systems engineers are expected to understand, develop, and operate entire systems with sophisticated interdependencies that are not only complex but rapidly changing. Historically, the SE discipline has its origins of the industrial workplace. As technologies have progressed, the need for experienced technical management with skills in inter-related technologies, processes, tools, and techniques has resulted in requirements for systems thinking in all industrial arenas. The national shortage of systems engineers is a broad concern for large industries as well as the government agencies. Practicing systems engineers, who hold the majority of knowledge for many of the complex systems still in use and many under development, are reaching the retirement phase of their working tenure. This has created a critical shortage of trained systems engineers at every level of expertise.