Online Systems Engineering Graduate Certificate Overview
Sharpen your skills in systems engineering with a certificate from UCCS. The online Systems Engineering Graduate Certificate is an opportunity for you to take graduate-level courses and build on your professional foundation for current employment or future opportunities. With this short and flexible program, you will gain a foundational understanding of systems engineer roles and process implementation while you continue your full-time job.
Coursework in certificate program can be applied toward the Master of Engineering – Systems Engineering degree should you choose to continue your education.
- Fully online with no on-campus requirements
- Unlock opportunities to advance your engineering career
- Complete the program in just one year
- Learn in small classes with a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio
Online learning offers the benefit of flexibility with the option of taking a course load that meets your needs. This program can be completed in one year, or you also have the option of taking fewer credits and completing the program over more time. During the fall semester, students can take a maximum of two courses. One course maximum can be taken during the spring and summer semesters.
Systems Engineering Graduate Certificate
College of Engineering and Applied Science
100% Online
Delivery Method
$868*
Cost Per Credit
*Approximate In-state
$1017*
Cost Per Credit
*Approximate Out-of-state
Priority Application Deadline
Rolling Admissions
Application Deadline
12
Credit Hours
1.5 Years
Average Completion Time
Systems Engineering Certificate Courses
The Systems Engineering Graduate Certificate is offered fully online in an asynchronous format, meaning there are no set login times, and you can complete your coursework at the time and place most convenient for you. Course lengths vary, with both eight-week and 16-week courses offered, and you can choose the pace of the program that works best for you.
Students will learn through prerecorded lectures, group projects, individual papers, portfolios based on weekly case studies, and more. Live office hours via Zoom and Teams are also available to students in the program.
In order to complete the certificate, a grade of B or better in each course must be achieved. Certificate courses must be completed within two (2) years from start of courses.
Required Courses
Develops the systems engineering viewpoint and makes the central objective the system as a whole along with the satisfaction of a stated need. Offers the language and principles of each constituency in order to understand their requirements and negotiate balanced solutions.
Presents the fundamentals of project selection, analysis, evaluation, scheduling, and control. Includes engineering economic analysis, project screening and selection, methods of evaluation, project structure, configuration management and control, and project scheduling, budgeting, and control.
An in-depth examination of the System Engineering process through exposure to the structured approach necessary for the design of complex systems. The formulation of systems problems and the solution approach will be emphasized. Includes a model-based approach to key systems engineering design activities, process modeling, requirements analysis and functional allocation, trade-off analysis, and management of cost, schedule, and risk.
Provides the foundations for developing and evaluating architectures for modern complex systems. Multiple domains are introduced in order to understand the architecture paradigms. The core architecting process of modeling and representation is introduced, fully developed and applied to a diverse array of systems.
Meet the College of Engineering and Applied Science Faculty
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Dr. Julie Albertson, Senior Instructor (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering), has more than 25 years of experience teaching engineering courses, both on campus and online. She has developed courses in Biomass Energy Analysis, Sustainable Energy Systems, and Engineering Ethics.
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Clare Bar, Lecturer (Space Operations), is an accomplished space studies instructor, both in the academic setting as well as through her career in the U.S. Air Force. Bar has abundant work experience resolving space system issues and leading a team in a dynamic environment.
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Prof. Edward Brown, Lecturer (Space Operations), has over 20 years of experience in the space industry as a GPS mission planner and Space Shuttle flight controller and navigation analyst. He developed and taught technical training courses to U.S. Air Force satellite operations teams. Brown has taught courses within the Space Operations program since 2011.
Take the First Step
Complete the form on this page to be contacted by an Enrollment Advisor.
Tuition and Fees
At UCCS Online, we strive to keep our tuition costs affordable so that you can get a world-class education that fits your budget. We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education.
We’re here to answer your questions about tuition, help you take care of the logistics, and make sure you’re able to focus on reaching your goals. Please note: This graduate certificate program is considered a “Course of Study Certificate” and not a Gainful Employment (GE) program, which means it is not eligible for aid.
Application fees can vary based on the program, but there is typically a small fee that will be required upon submission of your application. Please reach out to an Enrollment Navigator for more information about any costs associated with your application.
In State Cost Per Credit:
$868
Approximate tuition per credit hour based on the number of credits taken
Out of State Cost Per Credit:
$1017
Approximate tuition per credit hour based on the number of credits taken
We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education. Our Enrollment Navigators can answer any of your questions about tuition and financial aid, help you take care of the paperwork, and make sure you’re able to focus on reaching your goals. From financial aid and scholarships to transfer credits and corporate tuition assistance programs, we’ll work with you to find the best way to finance your UCCS Online degree. Complete the formComplete the form on this page to be contacted by an Enrollment Advisor.
Financial aid is available for eligible students to use toward paying educational costs while enrolled in a UCCS Online program. To determine your eligibility and apply for financial aid, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When you submit your FAFSA, you will be considered for three types of aid: grants, work-study, and student loans. To be considered for federal financial aid, you will need to apply early and annually.
- Scholarships | You may be eligible for scholarships at UCCS. We offer many scholarships and grants to students who are ready to earn their degrees and achieve success. Between both UCCS-offered and external scholarships, our students earned more than $10 million in scholarship awards last year alone.
UCCS Online is military-friendly and committed to providing service members and their families with a high-quality education that fits their distinct needs. As a UCCS Online student, you will have access to the UCCS Veteran and Military Affairs, which connects veteran, active duty, reservist, National Guard, and dependent students with fundamental support, services, and resources to ensure academic and professional success. UCCS is a proud home campus to many veteran and military students.
Eligible veteran and military students may use veteran benefits, military tuition assistance, and/or financial aid to pay for their education. Military benefits with UCCS Online include:
- Waived application fee for active duty and veterans
- Military benefits approved program
Connect with our Enrollment NavigatorsConnect with our Enrollment Navigators to learn more about the benefits and financial assistance available to military and veteran students.
All students are automatically opted in to the TAAP program with the choice to opt out. The TAAP program provides all your course materials for one flat fee per credit hour. That means no more time spent searching for, ordering, and paying out of pocket for your own course materials.
Many companies offer tuition assistance benefits as part of their employee compensation program. Generally, these policies determine a set number of credit hours per year that the company will pay for on behalf of the student/employee. Some policies place a cap on eligible tuition dollars and related expenses while others reimburse employees on a per-credit-hour basis. Get in touch with your organization's human resources department to learn more about your educational benefits.
Admissions Information
Admissions requirements for the Systems Engineering Graduate Certificate are as follows:
- Application and $60 application fee.
- Resume
- Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, mathematics, physics or a closely related field from an accredited university
- Two years of experience in industrial, civil, or government engineering or a technical professional position in a related field is preferred
- Evidence of mathematical maturity equivalent to completion of the following university-level coursework
- Three semesters of Calculus
- At least one semester beyond Calculus (Advanced Calculus or Differential Equations)
- Linear Algebra
- Probability and Statistics
An applicant who lacks one or more of the above requirements may be admitted on a provisional basis subject to the recommendations of the Master of Engineering Graduate Committee and approval by the UCCS Graduate School.
UCCS accepts applications throughout the year through a rolling admissions process. However, submitting your application by the preferred deadlines is advisable.
Our stated application deadlines are as follows, but we admit students up to a week before the semester starts.
- Summer Semester: May 1
- Fall Semester: July 1
- Spring Semester: November 1
- Summer 2025 – June 9, 2025
- Fall 2025 – August 25, 2025
- Spring 2026 – January 20, 2026
Our online graduate programs provide you with the opportunity to study with faculty who are committed to their roles as instructors, scholars, and industry professionals. The online programs allow you the flexibility and convenience to continue working while earning your degree. Participation in these programs will help build your professional network and provide you with knowledge and skills to advance your career.
– Michael J. Corl, Faculty, UCCS College of Engineering and Applied Science
Expand Your Opportunities
Earn an education that creates opportunity. Start the admissions process with an enrollment advisor by filling out the form on this page today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The certificate program is an excellent first step toward the Master of Engineering – Systems Engineering program, as all courses can be applied toward the master’s degree if you choose to continue your education. The certificate also helps you gain a unique professional credential to boost your career and build upon your education and experience while you continue your full-time job.
Online learning will offer you the flexibility to study at the best place and time for you. You can choose a pace that is sustainable for your lifestyle, which can help you take into account your current career, family, and other commitments outside of school.
Additionally, at UCCS Online, our online programs are taught by the same faculty who teach on campus, which means you’re earning the same high quality degree as traditional students, and your certificate will not mention that it was earned online.
Students are advised to be able to plan for 9-12 hours per week per every three credit hours enrolled for course-related tasks, such as lectures, homework assignments, outside reading requirements, etc. We impress on them the importance of setting a course schedule for themselves to follow as online courses can give the impression of being less structured than sitting in a classroom each week.
One of the common challenges students have in the program is needing to utilize knowledge gained during their undergraduate program – knowledge they may not have used often in their professional careers, like mathematics. You may want to revisit your previously subjects during the certificate program.
The required prerequisite knowledge for this program is a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in engineering, mathematics, physics or a closely related field from an accredited university and two years of experience working in a related field.
Students must also show evidence of mathematical maturity equivalent to completion of the following university-level coursework:
- Three semesters of Calculus
- Differential Equations
- Linear Algebra
- Probability and Statistics