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Program Details

Graduate Program: Systems Engineering (MS)

General Information

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Program/Degree
Systems Engineering (MS)  
Program Description

The MS in Systems Engineering program is focused on providing design, modeling, and analytical methods for sociotechnical systems in various application domains such as aerospace, communication, defense, health care, transportation, and manufacturing. This department was the first Systems Engineering department in the country. It was founded on the premise that if complex systems are to do what is intended, without unwanted side effects, they must be designed not only with imagination and technical skill, but with rigorous attention to the design process itself and to the interactions among the system components and with other systems and society.  Consequently, the curriculum provides students with design viewpoints, methods, and tools for modeling and analysis that are especially appropriate for large complex systems.  This program is also available online. 

Online Master of Science in Systems Engineering

 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

Systems & Industrial Engineering

The Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering (SIE) at the University of Arizona was established in 1961 as the nation's first department of systems engineering.  Since then, the SIE Department has achieved international prestige for its contributions to the inter-disciplinary design of large-scale complex systems involving people, technology, and information.  With the introduction of a modern industrial engineering curriculum in 1972 and a reliability and quality engineering degree in 1987, the department offers a truly diverse and successful graduate program.  Career opportunities for graduates of the Systems and Industrial Engineering programs are outstanding.  Over the years, graduates from these programs have found employment in the nation's leading corporations, research institutes, and universities.

 
College

College of Engineering

 
Campuses where offered

Distance Campus - Yuma

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

Arizona Online - Online

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Cindy T Nguyen
520-626-4644
Graduate Program Coordinator
Cindy T Nguyen
520-626-4644
Director of Graduate Studies
Vignesh Subbian
520-621-6559
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Megan Jia Mcnulty-Luoma
520-626-9962
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

The SIE Graduate Admissions Committee performs a comprehensive review of all application materials. The below are considered competitive for admissions consideration. 

A Bachelor’s degree from an institution recognized by the University of Arizona. Students who do not have a degree equivalent to the University of Arizona Bachelor of Science degree in Systems & Industrial Engineering may be admitted into the graduate program, but may be required to complete some undergraduate deficiency courses prior to enrolling in graduate courses.

Please include the following materials with your application.

  1. For the initial application. unofficial college transcripts are required. If recommended for admissions, official transcripts will be required by the Office of Graduate admissions for final document review
  2. Letter of intent, describing your professional experiences, interest in SIE research area(s), and your career goals
  3. Minimum of three letters of recommendation
  4. A detailed resume or curriculum vitae
  5. Grade Point Average and academic background:
    • Minimum grade point average of 3.0 on the last 60 units of undergraduate coursework
    • An undergraduate degree in Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field
    • Other factors that will be considered are a match between faculty and student research interests and any prior research experience
  6. GRE test scores are not required for MS students, unless a student is requesting funding from the department or the College of Engineering
    • GRE Institution Code for the University of Arizona – 4832
    • Recommended minimum GRE scores: 153 verbal, 155 quantitative, and 4.0 analytical
  7. For international students whose first language is not English:  Proof of English proficiency per the Graduate College's guidelines 
 
Standardized Tests

GRE:

The GRE test scores are not required for MS students, unless a student is requesting funding from the department or the College of Engineering. Review for MS funding is handled on a case-by-case basis.

If students choose to provide GRE, below subject tests below are considered competitive: 

  • Minimum GRE Verbal: 153
  • Minimum GRE Quantitative: 155
  • Minimum GRE Analytical: 4.0

International Applicants:

Proof of English Proficiency is required per the Graduate College’s Guidelines whose first language is not English. 

Acceptable English Proficiency Credentials: 

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language(link is external) (TOEFL) - minimum score of 79 iBT (or 60 on the revised PBT with no section score lower than 15).  Individual MyBest scores must also be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid
  • International English Language Testing System(link is external) (IELTS) - minimum composite score of 7, with no subject area below a 6
  • Pearson PTE Academic(link is external) - minimum score of 60
  • Graduate English Language Endorsement(link is external) from the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL)
  • CEPT Full Academic test (link is external)- offered by our Center for English as a Second Language (CESL), minimum Total score of 110.

The Graduate College does not accept Duolingo scores for demonstration of English Proficiency.

 

 
Funding Opportunities

The Department of Systems & Industrial Engineering offers Graduate Assistantships (Teaching & Research) to eligible students on a competitive basis.  If applying for funding, GRE Scores must be submitted for consideration. 

 
Admissions Deadlines

Domestic Applicants:

  • Fall: July 1
  • Spring: December 1

International Applicants:

  • Fall: January 15
  • Spring: June 1
 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants may be considered for conditional admission to this program at the department's discretion.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: 4832

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

30 

Core Coursework Requirements

The Master of Science in Systems Engineering requires 30 or 33 units credit hours, depending on program route. 

Students are required to select one of the following degree options to earn their degree: The Master's Report Option (30 units), the Master’s Thesis Option (30 units) or the Coursework option (33 units)

  • Master's Report Option: 27 units of SIE Graduate Coursework & 3-6 units of SIE 909 Master's Report 
  • Master’s Thesis Option: 24 units of SIE Graduate Coursework and 6 units of SIE 910 Master’s Thesis
  • Coursework only Option: 33 units of SIE Graduate Coursework

The following 12.00 units are required in the major:

  • SIE 554A Systems Engineering Process (3.00 credits) (Fall, Spring)
  • SIE 558 Model-based Systems Engineering (3.00 credits) (Spring Only)
  • Select either SIE 550 Theory of Linear Systems (3.00 credits) (Spring Only) OR SIE 531 Simulation Modeling and Analysis (3.00 credits) (Fall, Spring, Summer)
  • Select either SIE 520 Stochastic Modeling I (3.00 credits) (Spring Only) OR SIE 530 Engineering Statistics (3.00 credits) (Fall Only)

 

 
Elective Coursework

The remaining SIE graduate elective credits will be selected with the approval of an SIE Faculty Advisor.

A list of approved SIE graduate electives can be found below and on the SIE website.

  • SIE 506: Quality Engineering (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 508: Reliability Engineering (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 511: Human-Machine Interaction (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 512: Human Factors Engineering Research Methods (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 513: Ergonomics for Inclusive Design (3.00 credits) 
  • SIE 514: Law for Engineers and Scientists (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 515: Technical Sales and Marketing (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 520: Stochastic Modeling I (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 530 Engineering Statistics (3.00)
  • SIE 522: Engineering Decision Making under Uncertainty (3.00 redits)
  • SIE 525: Queuing Theory (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 530: Engineering Statistics (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 531: Simulation Modeling and Analysis (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 532: Sports Analytics (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 533: Fundamentals of Data Science for Engineers (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 536: Experiment Design and Regression (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 540: Survey of Optimization Methods (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 544: Linear Programming (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 545: Fundamentals of Optimization (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 546: Algorithms, Graphs, and Networks (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 552: Space Systems Engineering (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 554A: Systems Engineering Process (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 555: Sensor Systems Engineering (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 557: Project Management (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 556: Fundamental of Guidance for Aerospace Systems (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 558: Model-Based Systems Engineering (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 561: Traffic Modeling and Simulation (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 562: Advanced Production Control (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 563: Integrated Logistics and Distribution Systems (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 564: Cost Estimation (3.00 credits) 
  • SIE 565: Supply Chain Management (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 566: Life Cycle Analysis for Sustainable Design (3.00 credits) 
  • SIE 567: Financial Modeling for Innovation (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 570: Intelligent Control Systems & Applications (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 571: Systems Cyber Security (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 572: Information Security and Research (INSuRE) (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 573: Engineering of Trustworthy Systems (3.00 credits) 
  • SIE 577: Introduction to Biomedical Informatics (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 578: Artificial Intelligence for Health and Medicine (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 581: Design for Additive Manufacturing (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 583: Computer Integrated Manufacturing Systems (CIM) (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 596: Special Topics in SIE (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 606: Advanced Quality Engineering (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 608: Advanced Reliability Engineering (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 631: Distributed Multi-Paradigm Simulation Systems (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 640: Integer and Combinatorial Optimization (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 645: Nonlinear Optimization (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 649: Stochastic Optimization (3.00 credits) 
  • SIE 654: Advanced Concepts in Systems Engineering (3.00 credits)
  • SIE 678: Transportation Systems (3.00 credits)
 
Additional Requirements

Students pursuing the Master's Report Option or the Master’s Thesis Option are required to work with their Master's Report/Thesis Committee to develop a Master's Report/Thesis and defend their report subject by degree completion.

The Master's Report /Thesis Committee must abide by the Graduate College's committee requirements. A minimum of two SIE eligible faculty members must serve on the committee. The third member may be a Special Member. 

Master’s Thesis Option Students are also required to submit their Master’s Thesis to ETD ProQuest as a part of their degree requirements per the Graduate College’s requirements.

Students may transfer up to 6.00 units of graduate coursework (non University of Arizona courses) to be applied to their Master's Plan of Study subject to approval by department. 

Students may take up to 6.00 untis of non-SIE University of Arizona Graduate Coursework to be applied to their Master's Plan of Study subject to approval by department. 

 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Program StatisticsInformation about these numbers

Program-level Information
Application Acceptance Rate 74.42%
Avg. Time-to-degree (years) 2.28
 
Department-level Information
Enrollment Percent Male 75.51%
Enrollment Percent Female 24.49%
Enrollment Percent International 39.8%
Enrollment Percent URM 20.41%

Back to statistics
  • All application, admit, and enrollment data are from Fall 2022.
  • Average Time to Degree calculates how long graduates in the last 5 years (2018-2022) took to complete their degrees, counting back to the first semester entering their program.
  • Underrepresented Minorities (URM) includes domestic students of ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education: African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/SYEMS
Last revised 30 Dec 2022
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