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Systems Engineering Doctoral Program

Program Details

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Available

On Campus & Online

Contact

Graduate Admissions1-888.783.8367[email protected]
Apply Now

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Systems Engineering prepares students to become systems thinkers who, through exploring the synergism of engineering, systems and management, learn to proactively assess challenges from all angles, see the big picture, and ultimately create elegant solutions to enterprise-wide problems.

USNWR 2025 Best Grad Schools Systems and Enterprises Badge.Doctoral students can expect to receive focused training in applying systems approaches to navigate and manage complex systems and enterprises from one of the first schools in the nation dedicated to systems engineering and science.

A Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology positions students to address systems integration, life cycle issues, systems of systems, and enterprise levels in their post-graduate careers in diverse domains such as aerospace and defense, energy, healthcare, financial services, and infrastructure systems.


The Stevens Advantage: Widen Your Career Options

Qianwen Zhao, using her robot-assisted haptic joystick therapeutic device in the Wearable Robotic Systems Laboratory.Thanks to its location in the heart of the New York metropolitan area, Stevens provides its students open doors to a broad network in one of the world’s most dynamic urban environments. Students benefit from the university’s partnerships with municipalities in both New York and New Jersey, as well as their proximity to major organizations and corporations headquartered in Manhattan.

Learn more about what makes graduate education from Stevens a unique experience:

  • Graduate Cooperative Education Program: Available with two tracks, your co-op experience can serve as a starting point for a research project or augment your on-campus research with complimentary experience.

  • International Student Experience: Tap into our expanding worldwide network of research, academic and alumni partners and mentor with our expert faculty in a number of federally-designated STEM degree programs. Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is available to gain work experience in your major/field of study.

  • State-of-the-Art Research Labs and Facilities: Build, tinker and test your designs in Stevens' MakerCenter, Prototype and Object Fabrication Lab, or numerous other research facilities.

  • Research Opportunities: Renowned faculty, labs and research centers – as well as industry partnerships and funding from leading national agencies – support strategic and interdisciplinary research in engineering and science.

  • Assistantships and Fellowships: Stevens offers funding to select graduate students in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships and fellowships. Limited in number, these highly competitive opportunities are awarded to exceptional candidates based on merit.

  • Expanded Learning Options: The Schaefer School offers new opportunities for doctoral students to do coursework at universities in the New York City area – and around the world – through our growing list of academic partnerships with other prestigious universities. Learn more about our latest partnerships.


Program Admission Requirements

Requirements
  • Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended

  • Two letters of recommendation (academic or professional only; Select Ph.D. programs require a third letter of recommendation)

  • Statement of Purpose

  • $60 non-refundable Application Fee

  • Proof of English language proficiency

  • A competitive GRE or GMAT score (optional)

  • Resume/CV

  • Writing sample(s). All applicants are encouraged to submit a lab report (preferable) or paper that they wrote, individually, for an engineering course. Applicants who have published a journal article are also encouraged to submit a copy of their article.

For more complete details, visit our General Admissions Requirements page.

Apply Online >

Curriculum Overview

View objectives, outcomes, and other Ph.D. curriculum details in the most recent academic catalog.

View Academic Catalog >


Each Ph.D. curriculum must also adhere to the institution wide standards listed in the doctoral handbook.

View Doctoral Handbook >


If you have existing graduate credits or experience in this area of study, contact [email protected] to discuss opportunities to include it in the curriculum.


Fellowships & Assistantships

Information about assistantships and fellowships can be found here.

STEM Designated Degree Programs

The four fields comprising STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – offer a wide variety of professions that are classified as some of the highest-growing and highest-paying jobs right now and in the future.

And for international students, the demand for STEM-related professionals in the United States can open the door for an extended stay.

An ever-growing list of eligible programs across all levels is available here.


Graduate Programs That Advance Your Career

A recruiter and a Stevens student shake hands at a career event.The Department of Systems Engineering doctoral programs develop in-demand knowledge and skills that put you on track for career success in a variety of roles. Our graduates have been hired at companies like:

  • Accenture

  • AT&T

  • CISCO

  • IBM

  • Lockheed Martin

  • Verizon

  • UPS


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The Software Engineering program allows students to build a strong foundation in software creation.