Admissions Criteria and Deadlines - The Robert H. Buckman College of Engineering Online Education Program - Purdue University

Applicants for the Systems Engineering major can be admitted to one of two degree objectives:

• The Master of Science (MS) degree is available to applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree that is not in Engineering, but in a related area.
• The Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree is available to applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree in Engineering.

Either degree objective (MS or MSE) may be completed concurrently with the following Daniels School of Business programs: 

• Online Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Online Master of Business Technology (MBT)

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area (Engineering, Science, Mathematics, or Technology) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or equivalent (A=4.0).

Applicants must have successfully completed the following mathematics or statistics-related courses:

• Calculus I
• Calculus II
• Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Probability, or Statistics

Applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree in Engineering that is ABET accredited by the EAC are exempted from submitting proof of mathematics prerequisite completion. Accreditation information by institution and program can be found at the ABET website.

Applicants whose undergraduate degree is not in Engineering must submit a completed math prerequisites checklist (click to download) as part of a complete application. Prerequisite math courses must be for credit and from an institution accredited by a nationally recognized higher education accrediting body or the international equivalent.

Apply at the Application Management page using the campus and program information below. You can return to finish an incomplete application or check the status of a submitted application using the same page.

• Campus: Purdue West Lafayette
• Major: Systems Engineering
• Degree Objective: Master of Science (MS) or MS in Engineering (MSE)
  • Review the degree objectives section above for more information.
• Course Delivery: Distance (online or off-campus location)

Required Application Materials

2 Statements of Purpose

• Academic Statement of Purpose
• Personal History Statement

3 Recommenders

• Your references should be persons who can assess your academic potential such as faculty members, academic staff, supervisors, industry leaders, employers, or advisors.
• Contact information for each recommender should be submitted within the online application. Recommenders will be contacted with instructions on how to upload their recommendation materials to the application portal.
• Review the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars' Letters of Recommendation page for more information.

Official Transcripts

• Official transcripts are required from all institutions attended, including transfer credits. An official transcript must be sent directly from your previous institution to Purdue using one of the submission methods below.
  • Those with international transcripts should supply transcripts in both their original language and an English translation, if applicable.
  • During the application process, you may upload unofficial transcripts (also referred to as personal copies of your official transcripts). You are still required to request additional official transcripts directly from your previous institution(s) by the end of your second semester to avoid registration holds. Academic progress reports and unofficial transcripts from student accounts are not acceptable for upload.
  • Review the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars' Transcripts page for more information.

To submit official transcripts:

• Submit eTranscripts directly from your previous institution to [email protected],
  or
• Mail official, unopened transcripts directly from your previous institution to:

Purdue University
Office of Graduate Admissions
155 South Grant Street
Young Hall, Room 170
West Lafayette, IN 47907

Resume

• 1 – 2 pages in length
• Separate your work and non-work experiences into different sections.

Math Prerequisite Checklist

• Required for MS degree objective applicants only.

Application Fee

• Nonrefundable $60 fee for domestic applicants and $75 fee for international applicants
• Review the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars' Application Fee page for more information

For additional details about application materials, please visit the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars' How to Apply page.

• Prospective Students: Please email [email protected].
• Current Students: Please reach out to your Academic Advisor.