A recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) points out that engineers need to continue their education to keep up with advancements and technologies in their fields. In an effort to help engineers achieve this without interrupting their careers, Penn State's World Campus, a unit of Penn State Outreach, is accepting applications for a new online masters degree in systems engin...
A recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) points out that engineers need to continue their education to keep up with advancements and technologies in their fields. In an effort to help engineers achieve this without interrupting their careers, Penn State’s World Campus, a unit of Penn State Outreach, is accepting applications for a new online masters degree in systems engineering.
Systems engineering is a holistic approach to managing complex engineering projects; developed first in the aerospace industry and the military, it has been adopted by other engineering disciplines. Systems engineering applies to a variety of systems, including large systems, such as power plants; small systems, such as circuit components; or computer hardware and software systems.
Dr. James Nemes, lead faculty for the new program, said, “To advance into management positions, engineers need to broaden their knowledge and skills. While an undergraduate degree offers a solid foundation in science and mathematics for engineers, employers are looking for more. Students in the systems engineering program develop skills that go beyond that core foundation, such as project management, system management and communications skills.”
BLS also reports that job opportunities for engineers are expected to be “good” since the number of engineering graduates is roughly equal to the number of positions expected to open up. It forecasts a strong demand in the near future for engineering firms to replace retiring engineers.
