Graduate Certificate in Systems Engineering Overview

The online Graduate Certificate in Systems Engineering program from the University of Arizona Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering (SIE) presents an accelerated path to refined skills in systems development and analysis. Our flexible curriculum provides a valuable opportunity for working engineers and software developers to update their expertise or pursue a new professional focus — all in a convenient online format. You can benefit from the decades of innovative thinking in large-scale design at a pioneering systems engineering department.

Enhance your career and build on your practical experience by learning industry-standard tools and current best practices for making the most of human, technological, and informational assets. Our faculty designed the online systems engineering certificate program to help any engineer responsible for the oversight, creation, or operation of a complex system. The graduate certificate program is ideal for professionals pursuing careers as systems engineers, but also for those working in design, life-cycle management, and project management.

You’ll complete coursework that explores the latest advances in the field and the specialized, fundamental techniques required to bring a higher level of expertise to your work. The curriculum delves into critical areas including:

  • Modeling and design of complex systems
  • Performance measures
  • Statistics
  • Linear programming
  • Simulation development and analysis
  • Optimization methods

An array of electives in high-demand fields makes it possible to build an academic plan that suits your professional aspirations.

Every course is led by an expert faculty member, providing online students with direct access to leading educators and researchers who have real-world experience in building large-scale systems for industries such as space and aeronautics, defense, transportation, manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure.

As a student in the online systems engineering graduate certificate program, you can prepare to reach your goals in these industries by taking advantage of a host of valuable resources, including the same career services and technical support as our on-campus students. This program offers an accelerated, yet comprehensive, exploration of the technology and concepts that empower complex systems.

The online Graduate Certificate in Systems Engineering program provides an intensive examination of the skills required to lead in this exciting industry in a convenient, flexible virtual format. The program consists of 12 units of required credit, enabling you to finish the program at a faster pace than a full master’s program and earn a valuable professional credential while continuing to work full-time. For engineers looking to develop their skills and enhance their careers, the program can provide the training needed to reach new heights.

To complete the online Graduate Certificate in Systems Engineering, 3 courses of study are required, plus one elective course.

Course No. Course Name Units
SIE 554A Systems Engineering Process 3
SIE 531 Simulation Modeling & Analysis 3
SIE 558 OR SIE 654 Model-Based Systems Engineering or Advanced Concepts in Systems Engineering 3
Elective Course Choose one elective course (see "Course List" tab) 3

Required Courses (9 units - 3 courses)

Elective Courses (3 units - choose 1 course)

Course substitutions or changes in electives are allowed with the approval of the program advisor.