The Ph.D. in Systems Engineering

Systems engineers work in many different fields including information technology and software management to defense, aerospace, healthcare, and transportation. The design, development, and management of computer and network systems are the most critical systems in a company. As a result, the demand for knowledgeable systems engineers remains strong, as organizational information processes become more technical and sophisticated. Individuals with a PhD in systems engineering complete a rigorous curriculum that advances their current career and prepares them for leadership roles.

Experienced Faculty

Florida Tech makes faculty mentorship and hands-on real-world research projects part of every academic experience. As professional engineers themselves, the professors bring years of industry experience to the classroom, providing unique insight and case studies of workplace challenges that students in the PhD in systems engineering program may face on the job. Team assignments and collaborative programs foster a close-knit academic atmosphere.

Fostering Innovation

Working professionals in the PhD in systems engineering program find an advanced program of study they can apply to their workplace. From microscopic nanochips to the colossal Hadron collider, complex systems are everywhere. Even basic industrial products and processes have comprehensive life cycles that require engineering experts to ensure a smooth transition from concept to reality. Students design and refine systems to tackle technical, cost, and scheduling requirements while minimizing potential defects and risks.

An Emphasis on Research

As a national research university, graduates with a PhD in systems engineering are seasoned researchers who have worked side-by-side with peers, professors, and industry leaders to create, observe, and analyze complex challenges and scenarios in their chosen field. These collaborations with interdisciplinary experts are an essential part of the program, and through the Capstone Design Project, students explore problem-solving techniques and create solutions that can be put into practice. A doctoral dissertation on special independent study topics completes the doctoral program.

High-Tech Research Facilities

Supporting the high level of research projects are Florida Tech's facilities. Advanced research centers, institutes, and laboratories are home to essential systems engineering equipment and software in nanotechnology, energy, information characterization, and more.

Advanced Career Preparation

Many Florida Tech alumni are CEOs or top management of large international corporations and high-tech firms - and one is even an astronaut. The university's location on Florida's Space Coast also puts students in proximity to the region's high-tech corridor, with an opportunity to reach some of the most respected names in technology, such as NASA, Northrop Grumman, General Electric, Boeing, Leonardo DRS, and Harris Corp. Systems engineers are some of the highest paid executives in the United States, according to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, particularly if they have a PhD in systems engineering. System engineers are in demand in the defense, aerospace, transportation, pharmaceutical, medical device, software industries and many other industries that develop complex engineered products - which is why over 90% of Florida Tech's systems engineering graduates get a job within three months after graduation.