Download the SE Graduate Handbook here and read the Ph.D. section.
Please use the Systems Engineering Graduate Student handbook as a resource for important and detailed information regarding your degree.
Students are held responsible for the information in the handbook pertinent to their degree program.
42- vs 72-credit Program
You will work with your faculty advisor to determine if you have a master’s degree applicable to your research plans. If so, you will need to complete a GS3 Transfer Credit Evaluation Form (step 4 below) to formalize it into your degree plan.
Course of study
Using the Ph.D. degree sheet, you can work out your specific course of study with your advisor based on your research interest, relevant background and plan of focus for your dissertation.
Dissertation committee
In your first couple semesters, you will want to start to work with your advisor to determine your dissertation committee.
Your dissertation committee must consist of 4 members and the “Outside Committee Member” cannot be from the same department as your advisor or be associated with Systems Engineering.
For more information, see the SE Graduate Student handbook.
Download the PhD Curriculum Degree Sheet here. We recommend starting with noted core courses on your degree sheet. You can also view our department course list with planned offering semesters and/or the upcoming semester schedule to help determine the course(s) for which you should register.
You will register for courses through RAMweb.
You will also use RAMweb to access your, financial billing, degree progress information, grades and more.
Textbook information can be found using the CSU Bookstore’s Textbook Lookup. Book information can generally be accessed about one month before classes begin.
If you intend to apply a master’s degree toward your program (to pursue the 42-credit path), the GS3 form must be completed through RAMweb to formally evaluate and apply this credential. Master’s degree information should be entered in the lower ‘Credits from Awarded Master’s Degree’ section of the GS3 and you should not list out individual courses. Master’s degrees older than 10 years may still apply.
If you have any other graduate courses you want evaluated for transfer outside of a previously earned degree, the top section of the GS3 form (‘List Transfer Courses’) will be used for this request, and you must submit to the SE Department a syllabus for any course that will be evaluated.
It is recommended the GS3 is completed before or during your first term. Please contact sys_engr_info@engr.colostate.edu for questions relating to your GS3.
Off-Campus Life provides resources to help in your search for housing.
Public transportation is free for students with a RamCard and makes it easy to live off-campus and commute to campus.
If you are interested in living on-campus:
Housing assignments for both fall and spring are made through Housing & Dining Services. The online housing application opens mid-November and assignments are made beginning in March, in the order they are received. The sooner the online housing application and the deposit are received, the more likely you are to receive your first choice. CSU offers a broad selection of housing and dining options to ensure that students feel at home here. In addition, campus apartments are available for students who qualify.
If you are considered a CO resident for tuition purposes or are an international student, you can skip this step!
If you are a domestic student but are NOT a Colorado resident for tuition purposes, we highly encourage you to consider becoming a Colorado resident. This process takes planning and a year or more to complete, so we recommend you start the process even before your first classes begin.
For non-resident domestic students with GTA/GRA appointments, the department expects to cover non-resident tuition rates for the first year of graduate study only; in subsequent years, the department covers tuition at the resident rate. To avoid paying the difference between billed and covered tuition, non-resident domestic students who receive graduate teaching or research assistantships are encouraged to establish Colorado residency during their first year of study.
Note: If you are not currently assigned a GTA/GRA position, this will still significantly lower your tuition after residency has been established. If you obtain a GTA/GRA position after your first year in the program, but did not obtain Colorado residency, you may be responsible for the difference between resident and non-resident tuition.
Learn about the process and deadlines information.
Learn about becoming qualified for residency.
All full-fee paying resident-instruction graduate students enrolled in six credits or more are required to either enroll in the CSU student health insurance plan or to opt-out by demonstrating health insurance coverage at a comparable level.
For more information, please review the Mandatory Health Insurance page.
Information about other health requirements for enrollment is available in the New Student Checklist for Graduate Students.
Follow the directions in the checklist and make sure you have completed all the necessary requirements by the date given.
CSU requires all new students to complete the Sexual Assault Prevention Program, which educates students on issues associated with stalking, relationship violence, and sexual assault.
The deadline to complete this is the first day of classes, and a registration hold will be placed on your account for future semesters if you miss this deadline.
Students can access the program directly through their RamWeb account (click on the hamburger menu in the upper right hand corner of RamWeb and then click the Health Network tab).
The online course will be available 30 days prior to the beginning of the semester.
The program will take approximately one hour to complete.
You must be admitted and registered for the current semester to be eligible for a RamCard. Bring one of the following forms of identification to the RamCard Office in the Lory Student Center: passport, driver’s license, state ID card, or military ID.
Be prepared to have your picture taken.
For more information, visit the RamCard page on the Housing & Dining Services website.
Students are billed for tuition and fees once per semester. The Office of Financial Aid has more information about bill dates, due dates, and other financial matters.
Students who intend to utilize Military & Veterans benefits should reference steps to get set up at CSU here. Students who will have a third party paying any part of their bill should reference the Sponsor Billing Office steps and information.
Download our GTA/GRA resources sheet to ensure you have completed all steps to set up your position.
Please note that for your tuition to be covered, you must agree to terms and conditions of the sponsored student agreement through RAMweb before your bill due date. You are still responsible for student fees and other charges to your student account.
To foster a SE community, we have multiple channels of communication and ways to get involved with the department:
There are many organizations for graduate students to get connected with while they are on-campus:
The Graduate School offers orientation materials for incoming on-campus students as well as a Graduate Student Council (GSC) Picnic every fall term.
The Graduate School Orientation is a self-paced Canvas course introduces on-campus graduate students to essential resources and support systems available at CSU. The online orientation covers key topics like mentoring, academic support, health resources, requirements for graduate students, and more. By exploring this course, you’ll learn about all the resources available to you, reduce stress in the future, and feel more confident navigating graduate school.
See the Graduate School website for the most up-to-date information on when the GSC Picnic is planned!
Both the SE Graduate Handbook and the Graduate School’s Graduate and Professional Bulletin should be referenced as students progress through their program.
Additionally, the Graduate School’s Steps to your PhD Degree is another useful resource.
For doctoral students who intend to apply a master’s degree toward their program (to pursue the 42-credit path), the GS3 form must be completed to formally evaluate and apply this credential. Students who wish to have any other graduate courses evaluated for transfer will also use the GS3 form, and must submit to the SE Department a syllabus for any course that will be evaluated.
The GS3 form can be completed as early as the time of admission, and must be approved before the GS6 can be submitted.
The Program of Study Form (GS6) lists your completed and intended CSU coursework and the members of your advisory committee.
The GS6 form must be filed with the Graduate School before the time of the fourth non-summer semester registration.
Every Ph.D. student must pass all course requirements with a “B” or higher (“B-“ and below not accepted). If a student does not achieve this grade, they will be given one opportunity to repeat the course.
Coursework does not have to be completed to begin working towards research credits. The timeline for starting research credits is decided between you and your advisor.
The preliminary exam determines whether a Ph.D. student is qualified to continue toward the doctorate degree.
The exam must be completed at least two semesters prior to the Ph.D. student’s final examination/defense. The results of the exam are recorded on form GS16.
The Graduate School provides additional information about this and other required steps.
The Application for Graduation (GS25) declares your intent to graduate.
This GS25 needs to be submitted to the Systems Engineering Department generally by the third week of your intended graduation semester.
Congratulations! You made it!
A final exam is required for all Doctoral students and must be completed by the deadline date of the semester that you intend to complete your degree requirements. The result of the final exam is recorded on form GS24.
The dissertation must also be submitted by the appropriate deadlines, and submitted along with form GS30, which carries your advisory committee’s approval.
The Graduate School provides additional information about this and other required steps.
