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What is Systems Engineering?

Get a Master's in Systems Engineering

The Systems Engineering M.S.

Elevate your engineering career with cutting-edge skills you can apply immediately in your work.

The Master of Science in Systems Engineering equips students to tackle real-world engineering challenges, solving problems and making strategic decisions with confidence.

Through coursework and hands-on projects, you’ll learn industry-leading methods to define requirements, design solutions, model systems, analyze risks and manage integration. You’ll also gain expertise in optimizing performance, ensuring reliability and overseeing lifecycle processes, further enhancing your effectiveness.

This systems engineering master's program provides a strong foundation in digital engineering, including Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), preparing you to address complex engineering problems and meet organizational needs across industries.

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Why Choose Florida Tech for Systems Engineering?

Florida Tech is a top choice for high-tech employers seeking skilled systems engineering graduates. Located in a hub of aerospace, defense and technology innovation, we offer a flexible master's program designed for the real world—combining advanced coursework with hands-on experience. Whether tackling complex projects or solving industry-wide challenges, our graduates are in demand across public and private sectors.

At Florida Tech, our faculty bring extensive industry experience into the classroom, ensuring you gain a real-world understanding of systems engineering principles, processes and the complex, interdisciplinary projects you’ll encounter in your career.

With a low student-to-faculty ratio, you’ll benefit from personalized mentorship and deeper engagement in systems thinking, modeling and problem-solving. You’ll collaborate with peers from diverse engineering disciplines and backgrounds, mirroring the cross-functional teams found in industry.

This dynamic, hands-on learning environment strengthens your ability to apply systems engineering methodologies while also honing your skills in navigating complex technical and organizational challenges.

Digital engineering is at the heart of modern systems engineering and a core focus of the M.S. program.

In this program, you’ll master advanced digital technologies to support every phase of the systems engineering lifecycle. With Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), you’ll leverage digital system models to inform design, analysis and decision-making. Using Systems Modeling Language (SysML), you’ll create detailed diagrams that map out complex system architectures with precision.

Industries such as aerospace, defense, healthcare, transportation and manufacturing depend on digital models, simulations and data-driven decision-making to develop and maintain complex systems.

As a graduate of this program, you’ll be equipped with cutting-edge digital engineering skills, prepared to promote innovation and lead in today’s digital-first world.

The M.S. in Systems Engineering is designed with flexibility in mind to accommodate working professionals.

Offered in 8-week terms, the program streamlines scheduling, making it easier to stay focused and manage commitments.

Instead of traditional 16-week semesters, you’ll complete two 8-week terms, allowing you to earn the same number of credits in the same amount of time but with fewer courses to manage at once.

Classes are conveniently structured with in-person sessions once a week, complemented by online activities that support your learning. This format ensures you can balance your education with your professional and personal responsibilities.

Florida Tech’s prime location on the Space Coast places you at the heart of a thriving high-tech corridor, surrounded by industry leaders like NASA, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General Electric, Leonardo DRS and L3Harris Technologies, all shaping innovation in aerospace and beyond.

Whether you’re already working with an area employer, entering the field or new to the area, you’re joining a vibrant community when you earn your degree here. Florida Tech is a key player in the Space Coast engineering ecosystem, and the M.S. in Systems Engineering  is tailored to align with industry needs and your professional ambitions.

It’s an ideal environment for hands-on learning, exploring diverse career paths and building meaningful connections that lead to real-world impact. Here, a systems engineering degree is more than just a résumé booster—it’s a launchpad for your professional journey.

As a systems engineering master's student, you’ll complete a thesis or capstone design project.

Students who choose the thesis option conduct individual research under faculty direction in a selected systems engineering topic.

For nonthesis students, the systems engineering capstone design project is an opportunity to demonstrate engineering and research skills in a real-life project setting.

At Florida Tech, you take an active role in your learning. You’ll have opportunities to immerse yourself in hands-on, collaborative work alongside peers, professors and industry leaders to design, analyze and refine complex, interdisciplinary systems.

Whether through in-class projects, capstone design project, master’s thesis or specialized independent-study topics, student research spans a range of systems engineering applications, such as:

  • Hospital emergency room simulation
  • Micro-UAV systems and applications
  • Enterprise architectural frameworks
  • Satellite system design

By engaging in research opportunities, you’ll gain the practical experience and interdisciplinary knowledge needed to address complex systems engineering challenges shaping industries today.

We welcome applicants with a bachelor’s degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program, as well as those holding degrees in physical sciences, computer science or mathematics. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Students should have adequate undergraduate preparation in linear and matrix algebra, calculus, probability theory and/or statistics. If your academic record is strong but you are missing a few courses, the department may stipulate one or more prerequisite courses to ensure you are fully prepared for success in the program.

For more admission information, please see our graduate admission requirements, or start your application now!

Careers in Systems Engineering

Systems engineers are in demand, and our graduates are ready to lead.

Florida Tech is in the heart of the Space Coast, surrounded by innovation—and an impressive array of high-tech employers, such as L3Harris Technologies, Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, Leonardo DRS, Collins Aerospace and Blue Origin.

Systems engineering jobs include:

  • Systems engineer
  • Chief engineering officer
  • Chief technology officer
  • Director of engineering
  • Lead engineer
  • Principal engineer
  • Logistics engineer
  • Quality engineer
  • Materials engineer
  • Engineering manager
  • Electromechanical engineer
  • Computer hardware engineer
  • Network and computer systems engineer
  • Technical supervisor

Systems engineers work in key industries, such as:

  • Aerospace and defense
  • Information technology
  • Automotive and transportation
  • Telecommunications
  • Energy and utilities
  • Health care and medical devices
  • Manufacturing
  • Finance and insurance
  • Government and research
  • Consulting and engineering services

Florida Tech’s Career Services assists students, alumni and employers in their search for careers and employee candidates. We help students develop career plans and job-search skills. Explore our Career Toolbox to learn more about our services and access additional resources.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides information about specific jobs, including median annual pay, working conditions and job outlook, among other things. Check the handbook for information on the outlook for engineering careers.

Advanced Degree Options

The Ph.D. program in systems engineering offers advanced education and research opportunities for master's graduates. It prepares students for independent research, teaching in academia or advanced roles in government, industry or the private sector.

Systems Engineering, Ph.D.

Explore the Systems Engineering, M.S., Curriculum

The Systems Engineering, M.S., Curriculum

The Master of Science in Systems Engineering program delivers a dynamic, interdisciplinary curriculum designed for real-world impact. You'll gain hands-on experience with the latest tools and techniques and be ready to apply them immediately in your work.

Tailored to both industry demands and your professional aspirations, this 30-credit program allows you to focus on your specific area of interest within systems engineering. Through team-based assignments and applied projects, you'll go beyond theory—tackling real engineering challenges and developing practical solutions that directly translate to your career.

Courses include:

  • Systems Engineering Principles
  • Model-Based Systems Engineering
  • Decisions and Risk Analysis

Check the catalog for a description of all courses.

Download the Systems Engineering, M.S. Curriculum now!

Leading the Way: Specialized Systems Engineering Expertise

graduating student

Florida Tech is located in the heart of the Space Coast—a global hub for high-tech innovation and cutting-edge engineering.

Here, we don’t just keep up with advancements in systems engineering; we lead the way.

As a student in the systems engineering master's degree program, you’ll benefit from Florida Tech’s long-standing reputation for excellence in engineering education and research.

This means unparalleled opportunities for interdisciplinary study and collaboration across diverse fields, from aerospace to health care.

 

The program offers a comprehensive curriculum grounded in core systems engineering principles and tools, including a strong foundation in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).

You’ll also have the flexibility to customize your studies to match your career goals, focusing on specialized areas such as:

  • Digital systems engineering
  • Health care systems engineering
  • Spacecraft systems engineering
  • Transportation systems engineering

Learn more about Systems Engineering at Florida Tech on the website.

Shaping the Future of Systems Engineering

Florida Tech offers a dynamic research environment, leading innovations in AI, machine learning, IoT (Internet of Things), MBSE, robotics, autonomous vehicles, space systems and more.

The Center for Advanced Data Analytics and Systems (CADAS) integrates AI into systems, specializing in cloud data engineering, edge applications such as IoT-powered machine learning and algorithm design for computer vision and time-series analysis.

The Transportation Systems Engineering Research Lab (TSER) develops practical solutions for transportation challenges. L3Harris Institute for Assured Information (L3HIAI) leads in cybersecurity and information assurance, while the IoT Security and Privacy Lab enhances transparency and control in IoT ecosystems.

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