All Ph.D. students are considered provisional until they complete a qualifying process and preliminary examination. For the qualifying process, each candidate must pass all core courses with a grade "B" or higher. The preliminary exam is not a standard written or oral exam, rather it is an opportunity for the student's Ph.D. committee to examine the student's planned research activity and determine their knowledge of fundamental principles that specifically apply to the planned research. 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 72 credits must be completed. Minimum of 32 credits at the 500-level or above must be earned at Colorado State University 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 10 credits of 500-level or higher graduate courses may be transferred from another accredited university. Electives and course substitutions must be approved by the Program Advisor.

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.