How to Get a PhD in Systems Engineering

Earning your doctoral degree in systems engineering means much more than just a degree. It means adding new research to the field, and making a unique contribution to the industry you've studied exclusively for years. Completing a PhD or D.Sc. requires dedication, in-depth study, and the willingness to commit to intense study. The reward is the knowledge that you stand at the forefront of your field.

Graduates of PhD programs in systems engineering go on to find employment as professors or researchers in academia, or as researchers or consultants at the highest level of governmental and public companies. Systems engineers are valued for their broad knowledge of manufacturing, engineering, and management, and doctorate degree holders exemplify the highest level of that knowledge.

Systems Engineering Offers an Interdisciplinary Option

Systems engineering defines customer needs and functionality to create successful systems. The field offers an interdisciplinary approach, drawing in a range of engineering and manufacturing elements and management concepts. Studying systems engineering means integrating the following disciplines:

  • Operations
  • Cost & Schedule
  • Performance
  • Training & Support
  • Testing
  • Disposal
  • Manufacturing

Systems engineers take both the business and the technical needs of the operation into consideration and are valued for their broad scope of knowledge and expertise. At the doctoral level, that broad level of knowledge is distilled into a focused dissertation project that offers a new element to the field.

Alternative Systems Engineering Doctoral Degrees

While most systems engineering schools in the U.S. offer a PhD to their doctoral graduates, some schools also offer the Doctor of Science degree (DSc or ScD), which is academically equivalent to the PhD. Here are just a few alternate degrees closely related to the study of systems engineering:

  • PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering
  • PhD in Space Systems Engineering
  • PhD in Marine Systems Engineering
  • PhD in Biosystems Engineering
  • PhD in Computer Systems Engineering
  • PhD in Manufacturing Systems Engineering
  • Doctor of Science in Systems Engineering

While any doctoral degree requires a focused level of study on one aspect of systems engineering, the doctoral degrees listed have an added benefit of a full faculty dedicated to your specific interests. Consider an alternate degree in systems engineering and benefit from a program tailored to match your interests in the discipline.

Another graduate-level alternative to a PhD is the graduate certificate in systems engineering. Programs offering graduate certification generally require fewer course hours than a master's degree, and can often be completed in a weekend or online format. Graduate certificates can generally be applied to master's degree study.

Systems Engineering Doctorate Applications

Applying for each systems engineering doctoral program can be an involved process that includes exam scores, undergraduate transcripts, and more. A typical admission application for a PhD program in systems engineering typically requires:

  • Admission application/fees
  • Supplemental forms
  • Recommendation letters
  • Official transcripts

Depending on the competitiveness of the program, you may not be required to submit recommendation letters or a high number of supplemental forms. In addition to the requirements above, international applicants may have special requirements, such as:

  • TOEFL test scores
  • Foreign transcript evaluations
  • Proof of residency or visa status

Because each application process is different, and every application may require unique paperwork and an application fee, researching systems engineering doctoral degree programs beforehand can save you time and money in the application process.

Helpful & Free PhD Resources from WorldWideLearn.com

Whether you're returning to school after years in the field or continuing your education with a doctoral degree, you can benefit from the range of resources offered for free by WorldWideLearn.com. Here are just a few tools that make your return to school as smooth as possible:

  • Financial Aid: This section offers advice and information on securing financial aid for a doctoral program. Through the Financial Aid page, get the facts on how to apply for government grants, earn scholarships related to systems engineering, and learn how to secure and repay federal and personal student loans.
  • Guide to College Majors: This section contains a broad base of information on all college majors and minors, including other majors and minors within engineering. This helpful guide surveys over 150 different college majors and minors, giving you a larger perspective on your education.
  • Education Resources: This section offers information on college accreditation, test preparation tips, and more facts on campus-based and online PhD degrees. You can also learn more about WorldWideLearn.com's commitment to quality.

These helpful pages are designed to help you return to school with confidence. Use them at every step of your education, from initially choosing a major and researching potential degrees to consolidating school loans.

Begin Your Research for a PhD in Systems Engineering

When it comes to a PhD program, your research shouldn't be limited to your dissertation. Researching potential doctoral degree programs is a valuable step that can help you become more informed on the degree in general and give you a better sense of doctoral engineering degree programs worldwide. Here are just a few resources you can use to begin your research:

  • U.S. News and World Report ranks their choices for top engineering graduate schools across the country. Picks include master's degrees and doctoral programs, and can be narrowed by specialty to include only civil engineering programs, aerospace engineering, or similar.
  • The International Council on Systems Engineering offers a worldwide directory of programs in systems engineering. Programs include bachelor's, master's, doctoral degrees, and graduate certificate programs, and provides individual school websites for further study.
  • WorldWideLearn.com provides a listing of systems engineering doctoral programs on their PhD portal page. Use WorldWideLearn.com to easily contact potential academic programs and research systems engineering doctoral degrees and graduate certifications.

These resources provide a free and simple way to begin the research process into a doctoral degree in systems engineering. Use these helpful tools to develop an initial list and make first contact with potential programs. Begin your research from an informed position and you can save time throughout the process.

Narrow Your Doctoral Degree Scope

Focusing your systems engineering options from hundreds of potential schools may seem like a overwhelming task. Fortunately, there are a few simple criteria you can use to easily narrow your options. Use these categories to help focus your doctoral search:

  • Accreditation: The first step to determining a systems engineering school's quality is to research its accreditation. Third-party accrediting boards provide a seal of approval, ensuring your education stands up to a measure of quality achieved by all schools. Without this essential accreditation, your education may not be recognized by employers, professional associations, or other academic institutions and you may be inelgible for federal financial aid.The U.S. Department of Education Web site has a list of approved accreditation agencies.
  • Location: Whether you're considering a campus-based or a partially online PhD in systems engineering, location matters. If you're considering schools internationally, you need to take extra steps in your application. Within the U.S., tuition and cost-of-living expenses can vary drastically depending on the school's location.

  • Faculty: Search for faculty members that share your systems engineering research interests and could serve as mentors or dissertation committee members. While not every faculty member needs to share your interests, it can help to have a few experts in your corner.

  • Program History: Established engineering schools may come with high tuition costs in exchange for a tradition of excellence. Conversely, newer systems engineering programs with lower tuition rates may not yet rank as high. Consider a program's history when you're narrowing your options.

  • Alumni: The proof of a strong systems engineering doctoral program lies in the success of its graduates. Query departmental officials for tenure track placement rates, publication information, and other indications that suggest alumni success. While not every good school features successful alumni, it's a good sign that faculty support measures are in place.
  • Requirements: Prerequisites, coursework, minors, and other details of your degree can vary from program to program. Find out how many years it takes the average doctoral student to complete their systems engineering research and dissertation, and get a feel for the average time commitment you may be required to make.

  • Community: Do you need a close-knit community of fellow students, or would you prefer a little more distance? The student life of a doctoral program could make a big difference in your success. Feel free to ask departmental advisors for a sense of the student community at your perspective doctoral programs.

Once you've sifted through these criteria, you should have a shorter list of PhD programs in systems engineering. Research these programs more fully in order to determine just a few top choices for your doctoral degree. Although it is a time-consuming process, researching doctorate programs helps you determine what you need in a systems engineering school.

Essential Individuals in the Research Process

Use your shorter list of systems engineering schools as a base for more intensive research. Contact departments at each university to answer your questions and offer advice. Call on the following individuals for assistance as you learn more about your best systems engineering school options:

  • Admissions Department: Learn more from admissions representatives about admissions statistics, entrance requirements, school history, alumni news, and more. The admissions department can also offer deadline information, which can vary by school.
  • Financial Aid Department: Obtain facts on school-wide scholarships and grants, assistantship percentages, important aid deadlines, and other financial aid questions.
  • Systems Engineering Department: Contact department chairs and their assistants directly for more information on unique research materials and opportunities, department-wide funding for students, and other questions related to the systems engineering department and the engineering school in general.

These resources should be happy to help you with your queries, and their advice should help you complete the research process and pick a short list of schools. From there, you can apply to schools on your list, confident that you've chosen programs that best suit your budget, location, research ideas, and career goals.

Join the Systems Engineering Community

As you prepare to enroll in a PhD program in systems engineering and begin to pursue your doctoral degree, you should become more familiar with the community you have joined. Take a look at a few of the professional organizations, popular conferences, and publications maintained by the systems engineering discipline:

  • Professional Organizations: International Council on Systems Engineering, National Society of Professional Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, amd the Association of Science and Engineering Technology (ASET).
  • Conferences: European Systems Engineering Conference, Asia-Pacific Conference on Systems Engineering, World Congress on Engineering and Computer Science, International Conference on Future Computer and Communication Engineering, International Conference on Information and Multimedia Technology, and the IEEE International Conference on Future Networks.
  • Publications: Journal of Systems Engineering, INSIGHT, Engineering Management Journal, and Systems Research Forum.

Publishing in journals, becoming a member of professional organizations, and attending conferences are all ways to deepen your ties to the system engineering community. Whether you intend to find a tenured faculty position or work as a government researcher, you are expected to make connections using these types of resources.

 

Sources

  • INSIGHT
  • International Council on Systems Engineering
  • National Society of Professional Engineers
  • U.S. News and World Report