Admissions
Concentration in Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Intelligence, and Cyber (C4IC)
The certificate with this concentration is available to students who hold bachelor's degrees in engineering and scientific disciplines or are in graduate status in such programs.
Concentration in Communications and Networking (CONE)
The certificate with this concentration in communications and networking is open to all students who hold BS degrees in scientific and engineering disciplines from accredited universities.
Concentration in Digital Engineering and Systems Architecture (DESA)
A bachelor's degree is required for admission to a certificate program.
Concentration in Engineering Resilient Enterprise Systems (ERES)
The certificate with this concentration is available to any student who holds a bachelor's degree in an engineering or scientific discipline or has graduate status in such a program. Math requirements include MATH 113 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core), MATH 114 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II, or their equivalents, and a probability and statistics course.
Concentration in Financial Systems (FNSY)
The certificate with this concentration will be open to all students who hold a BS degree in scientific and engineering disciplines from an accredited university program, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students who are already enrolled in a master's program must submit a secondary certificate form to enroll in this certificate with concentration program; all others must apply for graduate admission to this certificate with concentration program.
Concentration in Tactical Computer Operations (TCO)
Students applying to the certificate with this concentration must hold a bachelor's degree in either computer science or computer engineering. Prospective students without these specific degrees will need to have a technical bachelor's degree and show academic competence in the areas of: C (C++, C#, Objective C), Assembler, discrete mathematics, and computer networking. An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (4.0 scale) is required.
Policies
The Systems Engineering Graduate Certificate may be pursued on a part-time basis only.
For policies governing all graduate certificates, see AP.6.8 Requirements for Graduate Certificates.
Certificate Requirements
Total credits: 12-15
This certificate may be pursued on a part-time basis only.
Concentration in Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Intelligence, and Cyber (C4IC)
Administered by the Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research
The certificate with concentration requires 12 credits (4 courses). Students must complete the following with an average grade of B or better:
Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SYST 680 | Principles of Command, Control, Communications, Computing, and Intelligence (C4I) | 3 |
| or ECE 670 | Principles of Command, Control, Communications, Computing, and Intelligence (C4I) | |
| or SYST 687 | Cyber Security Systems Engineering | |
| OR 542 | Operations Research: Stochastic Models | 3 |
| or ECE 528 | Introduction to Random Processes in Electrical and Computer Engineering | |
| Select two from the following: | 6 | |
| Computer Network Architectures and Protocols | ||
| Principles of Digital Communications | ||
| Design and Analysis of Computer Networks | ||
| Discrete System Simulation | ||
| Heterogeneous Data Fusion | ||
| Bayesian Inference and Decision Theory | ||
| Modeling, Simulation, and Gaming | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Completing the certificate with the C4I concentration within the Systems Engineering Master's Program
In addition to the four courses above, students must complete the following six courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SYST 505 | Systems Engineering Principles | 3 |
| SYST 510 | Systems Definition and Cost Modeling | 3 |
| SYST 520 | System Engineering Design | 3 |
| SYST 530 | Systems Engineering Management I | 3 |
| SYST 611 | System Methodology and Modeling | 3 |
| SYST 699 | Masters Project | 3 |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Concentration in Communications and Networking (CONE)
Administered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
The certificate with a concentration in Communications and Networking is awarded on completion of five graduate courses (15 credits) in communications and networking. A cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required and one course with a grade of C at most may be applied toward the certificate. The certificate courses comprise two required foundation courses and three electives.
Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses: | ||
| ECE 528 | Introduction to Random Processes in Electrical and Computer Engineering | 3 |
| ECE 542 | Computer Network Architectures and Protocols | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Electives
After completing the foundation courses, students choose electives by taking three courses from the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select three courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Learning From Data | ||
| Digital Signal Processing | ||
| Introduction to Optical Electronics | ||
| Optical Fiber Communications | ||
| Wireless Networks | ||
| Principles of Digital Communications | ||
| Digital Communications | ||
| Error Control Coding | ||
| Detection and Estimation Theory | ||
| Adaptive Signal Processing | ||
| Design and Analysis of Computer Networks | ||
| Network Switching and Routing | ||
| Applied Cryptography | ||
| Advanced Learning From Data | ||
| Probabilistic Machine Learning | ||
| Mobile Communication Systems | ||
| Discrete System Simulation | ||
| Network Modeling | ||
| Queuing Theory | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Concentration in Digital Engineering and Systems Architecture (DESA)
Administered by the Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research
Coursework
The following four courses must be completed with a grade of B or better:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SYST 520 | System Engineering Design | 3 |
| SYST 618 | Model-based Systems Engineering | 3 |
| SYST 621 | Systems Architecture Design | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Electives | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following list: | ||
| Introduction to Random Processes in Electrical and Computer Engineering | ||
| Analytics and Decision Analysis | ||
| Operations Research: Deterministic Models | ||
| Operations Research: Stochastic Models | ||
| Applied Predictive Analytics | ||
| Decision and Risk Analysis | ||
| Heterogeneous Data Fusion | ||
| Bayesian Inference and Decision Theory | ||
Certificate coursework within the Systems Engineering MS
In addition to the DESA concentration courses, students must take the following six courses within the Systems Engineering, MS:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SYST 505 | Systems Engineering Principles 1 | 3 |
| SYST 510 | Systems Definition and Cost Modeling | 3 |
| SYST 530 | Systems Engineering Management I | 3 |
| SYST 611 | System Methodology and Modeling | 3 |
| SYST 699 | Masters Project | 3 |
| Select one approved elective from the DESA concentration | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
| 1 | Students who have work experience in systems engineering should consult with their advisor on replacing SYST 505 with a higher-level SYST course. |
Concentration in Engineering Resilient Enterprise Systems (ERES)
Administered by the Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research.
To be eligible for a certificate with concentration in Engineering Resilient Enterprise Systems, students must complete two required courses (6 credits) plus two electives (6 credits) with an average grade of B or better.
Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SYST 523 | Engineering Resilient and Agile Enterprise Systems | 3 |
| SYST 618 | Model-based Systems Engineering | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Electives
The remaining two electives must be taken from the list below with the approval of the advisor. Courses designated as basic methods courses may also be used as an elective. Some certificate electives may require stronger math requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Electives | 6 | |
| Select at least one course from the following: | ||
| Systems Thinking | ||
| Information Systems Analysis and Design | ||
| Object-Oriented Software Specification and Construction | ||
| Decision Support Systems Engineering | ||
| Heterogeneous Data Fusion | ||
| Systems Engineering Management II | ||
| Select the second course from the courses listed above or from the following: | ||
| Computer Communications and Networking | ||
| Computer Network Architectures and Protocols | ||
| Principles and Practices of Communication Networks | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Concentration in Financial Systems (FNSY)
Administered by the Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research.
To be eligible for the certificate with concentration in Financial Systems Engineering, students must complete three required courses (9 credits) plus one elective (3 credits) with an average grade of B or better.
Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SYST/OR 538 | Analytics for Financial Engineering and Econometrics | 3 |
| SYST/OR 588 | Financial Systems Engineering I: Introduction to Options, Futures, and Derivatives | 3 |
| SYST/OR 688 | Financial Systems Engineering II: Derivative Products and Risk Management | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Elective
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Stochastic Processes | ||
| Computational Methods in Engineering and Statistics | ||
| Heterogeneous Data Fusion | ||
| Judgment and Choice Processing and Decision Making | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Concentration in Tactical Computer Operations (TCO)
Administered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Students must meet prerequisites for courses by either taking the appropriate undergraduate courses or through instructor permission.
Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS 571 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| ECE 511 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| DFOR 761 | Malware Reverse Engineering | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Penetration Testing in Digital Forensics | ||
| Anti-Forensics | ||
| Mobile Application Forensics and Analysis | ||
| Kernel Forensics and Analysis | ||
| Applied Cryptography | ||
| Security Laboratory | ||
| Network Security | ||
| Secure Software Design and Programming | ||
| Security Protocol Analysis | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |