To ensure that every student has the skills to be successful in their chosen field, to ensure consistency in skillset standards, and to provide a common experience among students, there are several course requirement categories detailed below.

Students may opt to take an independent project course (SYS 801) to fulfill some of their graduate coursework requirements with approval from their doctoral advisor. This course is typically conducted as a one-on-one investigation of a topic of particular interest between a faculty member and a student. The course is often used to explore topical areas that can serve as a dissertation. A student may take up to two special problems courses in a doctoral degree program, typically before the qualifying exam. A technical report is required as the final product for this course.

Course credits used for a degree requirement cannot be used to meet the requirements of another degree. Students who took the required courses and used them for their master’s degree requirements at Stevens must substitute these courses with other relevant courses with the approval of their advisor and the SE Ph.D. Program Committee chair.