Systems Engineering Degrees

What is Systems Engineering?
The field of systems engineering deals with the design and management of various sorts of engineering projects. It also involves improving and upgrading existing facilities and systems. From manufacturing simple components to implementing engineering solutions for the completion of mega project, systems engineering is applied in a number of industries. System engineers must also maintain strict quality control while assuring compliance with the customer’s requirements and environmental concerns. They play a critical role in the development, technical management and maintenance of complex mechanical and technological systems. In essence, systems engineering are expert professionals manage almost every aspect of the project including research, planning, coordination, supervision, and implementation.

What should I consider before enrolling in systems engineering?
The field of systems engineering was started in 1940 in order to train professionals who could install, manage, maintain and build upon complex mechanical and industrial systems. As the field of engineering continued to expand, various specialties were added into systems engineering to provide highly educated and well trained engineering professionals who could work across various disciplines. The field of systems engineering was also the first that combined management and business administration principles with engineering. If you are a natural problem solver with strong technical skills and leadership abilities, the field of systems engineering could be the one for you. As with other engineering disciplines, aspiring systems engineers should have a strong interest in mathematics and in another field of science such as chemistry, physics or computers. Students are required to study mathematics and one of these subjects at a high school level and must hold a general equivalence diploma (GED).

What degrees are offered?
The basic degree offered in the field of systems engineering is the four year long bachelor’s degree. A number of universities around the country offer this degree which includes basic courses in engineering and various management courses. Students follow a multi-disciplinary course with subjects such as engineering design, technological science, engineering ethics, project management, automation, robotics, power systems, instrumentation, mechanical systems and quality management techniques. During their final year, students are required to complete a group project from a wide range of engineering disciplines. In many cases students choose not to enroll in a systems engineering program and instead enroll in a bachelor’s degree in a field such electrical engineering, mechatronics, aerospace engineering or industrial engineering. This can be followed up by a two year long Master of Science in Systems Engineering. This program is more specialized than a bachelor’s degree and focuses more on field work and research. Students are required to complete projects simulating the working process of a piece of machinery in a particular industry such as electronics or automobile manufacturing or robotics.


Future demand
As more and more production systems around the world become automated - and more complicated -and manufacturing corporations change their traditional methods of work and focus more on leadership skills and efficient management techniques to maximize profitability. According to studies carried out in different countries, the field of engineering is the only one that has maintained a sustained rate of growth since the 1950s, remaining unaffected by the recent economic downturn. Moreover due to the fact that systems engineering is a multi-disciplinary field, graduates holding a degree in this filed are guaranteed to find high paying jobs.