Program Format

The Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Off-Campus Programs Office offers innovative graduate certificate programs. The graduate certificate programs enable students to redirect their careers or deepen their knowledge and abilities in one of these emerging, specialized fields. Students earn graduate-level credit for each three credit-hour course and upon successful completion of the program are awarded a graduate certificate in the area of specialty.

To earn a certificate, six courses must be completed. These six courses completed successfully (with grades of B or better) may be applied, for qualified candidates, toward a Master of Science degree in the field of Engineering Management or Systems Engineering.

The programs are designed so that you may complete all requirements in less than one year by taking two courses per semester. Students who wish to proceed at a slower pace, taking one course per semester, may complete the program in less than two years. Courses meet once per week, on evenings or Saturdays, for 12 weeks.

Graduate Certificate Program in Systems Engineering

This graduate certificate provides broad knowledge of the ìsystems approachî for designing and managing large-scale engineering systems through the life cycle. Topics include elements of systems engineering, methods and standards, architecting, computer tools that support systems and software engineering, trends and directions, and the integrative nature of systems engineering. Case studies and methodologies from NASA, DoD and U.S. corporations are explored.

To earn this certificate, the six courses listed below must be completed. These six courses completed successfully (overall average grade of B or better) can be applied, for qualified candidates, toward a Master of Science degree in the field of Systems Engineering with a focus in Systems Engineering.

Course Requirements (18 Credit Hours)

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EMSE 212 The Management of Technical Organizations
EMSE 270 Knowledge Management I
EMSE 231 Program and Project Management
EMSE 269 Elements of Problem Solving and Decision Making for Managers
EMSE 283 Systems Engineering I
EMSE 284 Systems Engineering II

Degree Requirements

Students applying the graduate certificate programs must meet the entrance requirements of the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). A bachelors degree with a minimum grade average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) in the last two years of undergraduate study from a recognized institution is generally required.

Grades of C or better in two college calculus courses are prerequisite to all graduate programs in the EMSE Department. Applicants who do not meet this requirement must take the 3-credit hour course, EMSE 292, Special Topics: Quantitative Methods in Engineering Management, during the first semester of graduate study at GW.

Students may register for up to two courses in non-degree status. Formal admission to the graduate certificate program is required prior to taking a third course. The School of Engineering and Applied Science admits students in every semester.

Certificate Completion Requirements

Students must complete the six courses (18 credit hours) with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to earn the certificate. A student who receives a grade of F or two grades below B- may be barred from further enrollment in graduate courses. Candidates are expected to enroll in at least one course each semester or apply for a leave of absence. Students who fail to remain continuously enrolled (in coursework or on leave of absence) are required to apply for readmission to the program.

Master's Degree Program

Students who wish to continue for the master's degree must apply to the School of Engineering and Applied Science and meet the admission requirements then in force. Acceptance to and completion of the certificate program does not imply acceptance into the master's degree program. Students who are accepted as degree candidates may have the 18 credit hours earned in the graduate certificate program applied to the degree, if a grade of B or better is achieved in each course. For application and admissions information about off-campus EMSE master's degree programs, please visit http://www.gwu.edu/nearyou/em