MS in Systems Engineering at Boston University

The Master of Science in Systems Engineering is designed to provide advanced training for students focusing on a research oriented career in academia or industry. The program requires students to establish the necessary foundation of systems engineering in addition to advanced systems engineering coursework. The program requires the students either to do research with a faculty member and write a thesis, or complete a project one-on-one with a professor or in an approved class setting. The MS program is designed to be completed by full-time students in one calendar year; part-time study is also permitted. Students choosing to complete a thesis should expect to complete the program in two years. Students who excel in the MS in SE program are encouraged to continue in the SE post-MS PhD program.

Master of Science (MS) in Systems Engineering students must take 32 credits, all of which must be at the 500 level or higher. Courses used to satisfy the core requirements cannot also be used to satisfy the concentration requirement. The coursework requirements for the MS degree are as follows:

• Core (three courses)
• Concentration (two courses)
• Electives (4–8 credits)
• Thesis/Practicum (4–8 credits)
  • Thesis: 4–8 credits, SE 900 Research (PhD students only) or SE 954 Thesis (master’s students only); students will complete the practicum requirement through their thesis requirement
  • Non-thesis: 4 credits of practicum (project-based) graduate coursework from an approved list
• Advanced technical course requirement (at least two 700-level or higher core or concentration courses or courses approved in advance by the Systems Engineering Graduate Committee)
• Elective and practicum courses are flexible and can be chosen, with advisor approval, to meet an individual student’s academic needs.
• MS non-thesis-track students may include no more than one engineering management course.

MS students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 to remain in good academic standing and to graduate. All graduate courses are counted in the GPA. Grades of C– or lower are not acceptable for the MS degrees.