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Systems Engineering

Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed over the life cycle of the project. Issues such as logistics, the coordination of different teams, and automatic control of machinery become more difficult when dealing with large, complex projects. Systems engineering deals with work-processes and tools to manage risks on such projects, and it overlaps with both technical and human-centered disciplines such as control engineering, industrial engineering, organizational studies, and project management.

Education in systems engineering is often seen as an extension to the regular engineering courses,] reflecting the industry attitude that engineering students need a foundational background in one of the traditional engineering disciplines (e.g. automotive engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering) plus practical, real-world experience in order to be effective as systems engineers. Undergraduate university programs in systems engineering are rare. Typically, systems engineering is offered at the graduate level in combination with interdisciplinary study.

INCOSE maintains a continuously updated Directory of Systems Engineering Academic Programs worldwide. As of 2009, there are about 80 institutions in United States that offer 165 undergraduate and graduate programs in systems engineering. Education in systems engineering can be taken as Systems-centric or Domain-centric.

Systems-centric programs treat systems engineering as a separate discipline and most of the courses are taught focusing on systems engineering principles and practice.
Domain-centric programs offer systems engineering as an option that can be exercised with another major field in engineering.

Both of these patterns strive to educate the systems engineer who is able to oversee interdisciplinary projects with the depth required of a core-engineer.

As of 2006, there are about 75 institutions in United States that offer 130 undergraduate and graduate programs in Systems engineering.

University College Department Degrees Offered
Air Force Institute of Technology Graduate School of Engineering and Management Systems and Engineering Management Systems Engineering, MS and PhD
Auburn University Engineering Industrial and Systems Engineering Industrial and Systems Engineering, BS, MISE, MS, and PhD
Arizona State University Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering Department Computer Systems Engineering
Binghamton University Watson School of Engineering & Applied Science Systems Science & Industrial Engineering Industrial & Systems Engineering, BS, MS, MEng, and PhD; Systems Engineering, MS
Boston University Boston University College of Engineering Department Computer Systems Engineering, MS, MEng, & Ph
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Space Systems Engineering
Cal State Fullerton College of Engineering and Computer Science Electrical Engineering MS in Systems Engineering
Case Western Reserve University Case School of Engineering Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Systems and Control Engineering, BS, MS, PhD
Colorado State University College of Engineering ME in Systems Engineering
Cornell University Cornell University College of Engineering Systems Engineering Program Systems Engineering, MEng
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University College of Engineering Electrical, Computer, Software and Systems Engineering Systems Engineering, MS
Florida International University Florida International University College of Engineering and Computing Engineering and Computing Industrial and Systems Engineering Department
Florida Institute of Technology College of Engineering Engineering Systems Systems Engineering, MS and Industrial and Systems Engineering, BS, MS, and PhD
University of New Haven Talaglieta College of Engineering Engineering Systems Systems Engineering, MS and Industrial and Systems Engineering, BS, MS,
George Mason University Information Technology and Engineering Systems Engineering and Operations Research Systems Engineering, BS and MS
Information Technology with concentration in Systems Engineering, Ph.D
George Washington University Engineering and Applied Science Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department Systems Engineering, BS and MS
System Engineering, Doctor of Science
Iowa State University College of Engineering Systems Engineering Program Systems Engineering, MEng
Johns Hopkins University Engineering Graduate degree programs Systems Engineering, MS
Loyola Marymount University College of Science and Engineering Graduate Degree Programs Systems Engineering and Leadership, MS
Maine Maritime Academy Marine Systems Engineering,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Engineering MIT Engineering Systems Division System Design and Management, MS in Engineering and Management
Michigan State University MSU College of Engineering Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Biosystems Engineering
Missouri University of Science and Technology Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Systems Engineering, MS and PhD
National University School of Engineering and Technology Applied Engineering Engineering Management with Specialization in Systems Engineering, MS
Naval Postgraduate School Engineering and Applied Sciences Graduate School (GSEAS) Systems Engineering Department Systems Engineering, MS and PhD
North Carolina State University Engineering Department Industrial and Systems Engineering
Northwestern Polytechnic University School Department Computer Systems Engineering
Oakland University Engineering and Science Industrial and Systems Engineering Department Industrial and Systems Engineering, MS, Systems Engineering, MS and PhD
Old Dominion University Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Systems Engineering MS and PhD
Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology School of Industrial Engineering and Management Industrial Engineering and Management MS and PhD, Master of Industrial Engineering and Management
Oregon Institute of Technology School Department Computer Systems Engineering
Portland State University Engineering and Computer Science Systems Engineering Systems Engineering, MS
Portland State University Systems Science Graduate Program Systems Science Systems Science, MS and PhD
Purdue University Engineering Chemical Engineering Systems Engineering, PhD
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School Department Computer Systems Engineering
Rochester Institute of Technology Engineering Department Industrial and Systems Engineering
Southern Methodist University Engineering Engineering Management, Information, and Systems Department Systems Engineering, MS and PhD, and Executive MS
Southern Polytechnic State University School of Engineering Technology and Management Systems Engineering, BS and MS
Stevens Institute of Technology School of Systems and Enterprises School of Systems and Enterprises Systems Engineering, MEngr and PhD
Tennessee State University Information Systems Engineering,
Texas A&M University Engineering Industrial and Systems Engineering Department (with Mays School of Management) Industrial and Systems Engineering, BS and Systems Engineering, ME and MS
Texas A&M Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Biological & Agricultural Engineering Biological Systems Engineering,
Texas Tech University Texas Tech University College of Engineering Department of Industrial Engineering Systems and Engineering Management, MS and PhD
The Pennsylvania State University Graduate Professional Studies Engineering Division Systems Engineering, Master of Engineering
UC Berkeley UC Berkeley College of Engineering Power Systems Engineering,
UIUC College of Engineering Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering Systems and Entrepreneurial Engineering MS, PhD
UNC Charlotte The William States Lee College of Engineering Systems Engineering and Engineering Management Systems Engineering BS, Engineering Management MS, Infrastructure and Environmental Systems PhD
United States Air Force Academy Engineering Division Systems Engineering program Systems Engineering, BS
United States Military Academy Systems Engineering BS - Systems Engineering, Engineering Management, Systems Management
United States Naval Academy Engineering and Weapons Division Weapons and Systems Engineering Systems Engineering, Electronic Systems Engineering
University at Buffalo School of Engineering & Applied Sciences Industrial & Systems Engineering
University of Alabama in Huntsville School Department Systems engineering, PhD
University of Arizona College of Engineering Department of Systems & Industrial Engineering Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Management
University of Arkansas at Little Rock Engineering and Information Technology Systems Engineering Systems Engineering, BS
University of Florida College of Engineering Industrial and Systems Engineering Industrial and Systems Engineering, MS
University of Maryland, College Park A. James Clark School of Engineering Institute for Systems Research Systems Engineering. MS
University of Maryland, Baltimore County Continuing & Professional Studies UMBC Professional Studies Systems Engineering. MS and Graduate Certificate
University of Massachusetts Amherst School Department Computer Systems Engineering
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Interdisciplinary The Center for the Study of Complex Systems (CSCS) College of Literature, Science and the Arts (LSA)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln School Department Biological systems engineering
University of Pennsylvania Engineering and Applied Science (supplemented by Wharton and Arts & Sciences) Electrical and Systems Engineering Systems Engineering, MS and Systems Science and Engineering, BSE
University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering/MBA, M.S. in Systems Architecting and Engineering, M.S. in Health Systems Management Engineering, M.S. in Engineering Management
University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) Manufacturing Systems Engineering
University of Texas at Arlington College of Engineering Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering Systems Engineering, MS
University of Texas at Dallas School of Management & Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science Systems Engineering & Management, MS
University of Virginia Engineering and Applied Science Systems & Information Engineering Systems Engineering, BS, MS, and PhD
University of Wisconsin-Madison School Department Biological systems engineering
Vanderbilt University Engineering Engineering Management Program Systems Engineering
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University College of Engineering Industrial and Systems Engineering Industrial and Systems Engineering (BS, MS, PhD)
Washington State University School Department Biological systems engineering
Washington University in St. Louis School of Engineering and Applied Science Dept. of Electrical and Systems Engineering Systems Science and Engineering (BS); Systems Science and Mathematics (MS, PhD)
West Virginia University College of Engineering and Mineral Resources Dept. of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering Industrial Engineering (BS, MS, PhD)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Science and Engineering Program Corporate and Professional Education Systems Engineering (MS)
Youngstown State University School Department Industrial and Systems Engineering, MS