Systems Engineering brings an integrated interdisciplinary approach to the development of complex engineered systems.

Systems Engineering

UPON APPLYING, PLEASE SELECT “ENGINEERING – ONLINE” AS THE MAJOR.  THEREAFTER, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SELECT SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AS A SPECIALIZATION.

Degree: Master of Science in Engineering With Certificate of Specialization in Systems Engineering

Area Director: Professor Jenn-Ming Yang – jyang@seas.ucla.edu

Program Description:
Systems Engineering brings an integrated interdisciplinary approach to the development of complex engineered systems. The UCLA Systems Engineering program sets itself apart from others by combining the core elements of systems engineering (project management, fundamentals of systems, safety and reliability, systems architecture, and model based systems) with disciplinary graduate level engineering courses.  This enables graduates to work as a systems engineer while drawing from a depth of knowledge at the disciplinary level. View Introduction to Systems Engineering Program

*Program Statistics

*Data accounts for students in the following programs: Data Science Engineering, Engineering Management, Mechanics of Structures, Sustainable Water Engineering, and Systems Engineering

Degree Requirements:
Nine courses (36 units) are required: 5 core courses in Systems Engineering + 3-4 courses in a technical domain, and meet Comprehensive Exam Requirement.

Systems Engineering Core Courses – Select (5) courses from the list below:

  1. ENGR 201 – Systems Engineering (Fall)
  2. ENGR 200 – Project Management Principles for Engineers and Professionals (Winter)
  3. ENGR 202 – Reliability, Maintainability and Supportability (Spring)
  4. ENGR 203 – System Architecture (Summer)
  5. ENGR 204 – Trusted Systems Engineering (Winter)
  6. ENGR 205 – Model-Based Systems Engineering (Fall)
  7. ENGR 206 – Engineering for Systems Assurance (Summer)
For the remaining (4) courses, you may choose one of the following options:
  1. Take (4) courses toward a technical domain (TD). You may choose a domain based on our suggested specializations below or create a custom technical domain (select your own courses with a specific concentration). TD courses can be a combination of courses from the following departments: C&EE, COM SCI, EC ENGR, MAT SCI, MECH&AE. NOTE: A custom technical domain requires the Area Director’s review/approval of courses. Engineering Management courses cannot be applied toward a TD. 
  2. Take (3) courses toward a technical domain + ENGR 299 Capstone project.
  3. Take (3) courses towards a technical domain + (1) elective course (any course offered by MSOL)

Please visit the Registrar’s webpage for Course Descriptions.

Technical Domain (TD)

  1. Advanced Composite Technology
    Courses: MAT SCI 298: Nondestructive Evaluation (Winter), MECH&AE M297C – Composites Manufacturing (Spring), MAT SCI 250B – Advanced Composite Materials (Summer)
  2. Computer Networking
    Courses: COM SCI 118 – Computer Networking Fundamentals, COM SCI 211 – Network Protocol and Systems Design for Wireless and Mobile Networks, COM SCI 217A – Internet Architecture and Protocols
  3. Thin Film Technology
    Courses: MAT SCI 223 – Materials Science of Thin Films (Winter), MAT SCI 224 – Deposition Technologies and their Applications (Winter)
  4. Structural Analysis
    Courses: C&EE 235A – Advanced Structural Analysis (Fall), C&EE 235B – Finite Element Analysis of Structures (Winter), C&EE 233 – Mechanics of Composite Material Structures (Spring)
  5. Communication Systems
    Courses: EC ENGR 132B – Data Communications and Telecommunications Networks (Fall), EC ENGR 231A – Information Theory: Channel and Source Coding, EC ENGR 230B – Digital Communications Systems (Spring), EC ENGR 232B –  Telecommunication Switching and Queueing System (Winter, even years)
  6. Information Based Systems
    Courses: COM SCI 118 – Computer Network Fundamentals, COM SCI 217A – Internet Architecture and Protocols (Winter), EC ENGR 230B – Digital Communications Systems (Spring)
  7. Radar Systems
    EC ENGR 131A – Probability (Fall), EC ENGR 113 – Digital Signal Processing (Fall), EC ENGR 230A – Estimation and Detection in Communication and Radar Engineering (Winter), EC ENGR 215A – Analog Integrated Circuit Design (Fall, even years)
  8. Control Engineering
    Courses: MECH&AE 270A – Linear Dynamic Systems (Fall), MECH&AE 270B – Linear Optimal Control (Winter)
  9. Manufacturing
    Courses: MECH&AE C297A – Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (Fall), MAT SCI 298 (SEM 82) – Materials Science in Additive Manufacturing (Winter), MECH&AE – M297C Composites Manufacturing (Spring)
  10. Power Systems
    Courses: EC ENGR 112 – Introduction to Power Systems (Fall), ENGR 188 – Dynamics and Controls of Power Systems (Winter), MECHA&AE C237 – Design and Analysis of Smart Grids (Spring)
  11. Additive Manufacturing
    Courses: MECH&AE C297A – Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (Fall), MAT SCI 298 (SEM 82) – Materials Science in Additive Manufacturing (Winter), MECH&AE M297C – Composites Manufacturing (Spring)
  12. Cyber Security
    Incoming Fall 2023 students and beyond: COM SCI 236 – Computer Security (Spring), ENGR 206 – Engineering for Systems Assurance (Summer) + ECE 209AS (Secure and Trustworthy Edge Computing Systems). ENGR 204 will no longer be part of this domain.
  13. Custom Domain – Choose 3-4 courses with a specific focus. Must include (1) 200 level course. Courses must be pre-approved by the area director.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAM REQUIREMENT

Students can meet the Comprehensive Exam Requirement by choosing ONE option below:

Option 1:
Take and Pass ENGR 299 Capstone Project course.

Option 2:
Take and pass three written exams for three different graduate level courses within the student’s area of specialization. The written exams are held concurrently with the final exam of the graduate level courses. Students may select which exams they would like to count towards the Comprehensive Exam requirement.

Thesis Plan:
NONE

Time-to-Degree:
Students are expected to complete the degree within two academic years and one quarter, including two summer sessions. The maximum time allowed in this program is three academic years (nine quarters), excluding summer sessions.