Online Doctor of Engineering in Systems Engineering

We are now accepting applications for the cohort beginning in January 2025.

The application deadline is December 1st, 2024.

Program Description

The D.Eng. (SE) addresses the widespread need for practitioners who can apply knowledge from the program of study in a business or technical environment. Unlike a Doctor of Philosophy degree student, whose fundamental research leads to foundational work that is published in archival professional journals and contributes to the basic understanding of the field, the D.Eng. student engages a practical problem and takes a new approach to its resolution, applying advanced systems engineering theories and practices to research and recommend a useful solution. The D.Eng. empowers the student – who is likely already a practicing engineer –to create advanced, hands-on treatments of complex systems engineering problems.

Curriculum

The curriculum comprises 48 credit hours divided into a classroom phase of 8 graduate-level, 3 credit hour courses, and a research phase during which the student writes and defends a praxis paper. The research phase requires a minimum of 24 credit hours.

Learn More About the Courses

EMSE 6760 Discrete Systems Simulation: Simulation of discrete stochastic models. Simulation languages. Random-number/ randomvariate generation. Statistical design and analysis of experiments, terminating/nonterminating simulations; and comparison of system designs. Input distributions, variance reduction, validation of models. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 6767 Applied Data Analytics: Applied and practical data analytics. High-level theory, with primary focus on practical application of a broad set of statistical techniques needed to support an empirical foundation for systems engineering and engineering management. A variety of practical visualization and statistical analysis techniques. Leveraging Minitab and Excel to examine raw data to arrive at insightful conclusions. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 6807 Advanced Systems Engineering: Analysis of advanced systems engineering topics; system lifecycle models, INCOSE Vision 2025, requirements types and processes, architectural design processes and frameworks, DoDAF artifacts, enterprise architecture and enterprise systems engineering, complex adaptive systems (CAS), modeling languages and SysML, and Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). Applications of systems engineering tools and techniques. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 6817 Model-Based Systems Engineering: Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and its derivative, evidence-based systems engineering (EBSE), are techniques with strong potential for improving the technical integrity of complex systems. The foundation of these model- and research-based techniques for system definition and analysis as applied to life-cycle SE. Practical applications. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 6848 Systems of Systems: Complex systems engineering in terms of systems of systems (SoS); theoretical and practical instances of SoS; application of life cycle systems engineering processes; various types of SoS and the challenges to be faced to ensure their acquisition and technical integrity. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 6850 Quantitative Models in Systems Engineering: Quantitative modeling techniques and their application to decision making in systems engineering. Linear, integer, and nonlinear optimization models. Stochastic models: inventory control, queuing systems, and regression analysis. Elements of Monte Carlo and discrete event system simulation. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 8100 Research Formulation in Systems Engineering: Doctoral seminar designed to give students their first exposure to the process of formulating and executing empirical research. Class format includes discussion, field experiments, data analysis, and theorizing. Study of core concepts in building theory from empirical data and classic works in technically oriented management theory. Participants design and execute a research project. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 8030 Risk Management: Risk management process; individual and collaborative responsibilities of program and engineering managers; practical applications of risk-based planning and risk management tools essential to success of any program; communicating the process and its value in avoiding catastrophic outcomes. Case studies. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 8199 Praxis Research: Independent applied research in engineering management culminating in the final praxis report and final examination for the degree of Doctor of Engineering. May be repeated for credit. Restricted to students in the D.Eng. in the fields of engineering management or systems engineering. (24 credit hours) 

Classroom Phase Schedule

Classroom courses last 10 weeks each and meet on Saturday mornings from 9:00 AM—12:10 PM and afternoons from 1:00—4:10 PM (all times Eastern). All classes meet live online through synchronous distance learning technologies (Zoom). All classes are recorded and available for viewing within two hours of the lecture. This program is taught in a cohort format in which students take all courses in lockstep. Courses cannot be taken out of sequence, attendance at all class meetings is expected, and students must remain continuously enrolled. Leaves of absence are permitted only in the case of a medical or family emergency, or deployment to active military duty.

Please see below for the dates of our upcoming cohort.

Semester	Session	Credit Hours	Session Dates
Spring 2025	1	6	January 4 — March 8, 2025
Spring 2025	2	6	March 22 — May 31, 2025
Summer 2025	-	6	June 14 — August 23, 2025
Fall 2025	1	6	September 6 — November 8, 2025

No classes on Memorial Day, and Fourth of July weekends.

Research Phase Schedule

To proceed to the research phase, students must earn a grade point average of at least 3.2 in the eight classroom courses, and no grade below B-. Students are then registered for a minimum of 24 credit hours (ch) of EMSE 8199 Praxis Research: 3 ch in Fall 2025 (Session 2), 9 ch in Spring 2026, 3 ch in Summer 2026, and 9 ch in Fall 2026. Throughout the research phase, students develop the praxis under the guidance of a designated faculty advisor. Throughout the research phase, students develop the praxis under the guidance of a designated faculty advisor. Faculty research advisors are assigned by the program office and meet individually with students every two weeks.

Sample research areas are listed below:

• Systems of Systems Architectures using System Modeling Language
• Advanced Decision Support Systems for Complex Healthcare Management
• Cyber-Physical Systems Optimization for Smart Grid Technologies
• Resilient Supply Chain Networks Design under Uncertainty
• Human-Centered Design for Autonomous Systems
• Design and Integration of Sustainable Energy Systems

Tuition

Tuition is billed at $1650 per credit hour for the 2024-2025 year. A non-refundable tuition deposit of $995, which is applied to tuition in the first semester, is required when the student accepts admission.

Admissions Process

Review the Admissions Requirements

• Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, applied science, business, computer science, information technology, or a related field from accredited institutions.
• Applicants with other majors are encouraged to apply. However, they may have to take EMSE 4197 as a prerequisite course if they have not completed two college-level calculus courses.
• A minimum graduate-level GPA of 3.2.
• Capacity for original scholarship.
• TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE scores are required of all applicants who are not citizens of countries where English is the official language.  Check our International Students page to learn about the SEAS English language requirements and exemption policy. Test scores may not be more than two years old.

Note: GRE and GMAT scores are not required.

Please note that our doctoral programs are highly selective; meeting minimum admissions requirements does not guarantee admission.  

Apply for Admission and Submit Supporting Documents

Apply for Admission

• Attach up-to-date Resume
• Attach Statement of Purpose – In an essay of 250 words or less, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study at The George Washington University. Describe your academic objectives, research interests, and career plans. Discuss your qualifications, including collegiate, professional, and community activities, and any other substantial accomplishments not mentioned.
• Send Official Transcripts – Official transcripts are required from all institutions where a degree was earned. Transcripts should be sent electronically to [email protected] or via mail to:
  • Online Engineering Programs 
    The George Washington University
    170 Newport Center Drive
    Suite 260
    Newport Beach, CA 92660

Normally, all transcripts must be received before an admission decision is rendered for the Doctor of Engineering program. 

Remain Engaged in the Admissions Process

You will receive emails from us updating you as your application goes through the admissions process.