Once you’re a CSU junior or senior, RAMp UP lets you take eligible graduate-level courses that count toward your undergraduate degree now and may also apply to a future CSU graduate degree or certificate (with program approval). By double-counting approved graduate coursework, RAMp UP can help you save up to a semester of graduate school time and cost.
Contact our graduate advisor to discuss your options!
Get ahead while paying undergraduate tuition for eligible graduate-level courses.
Meet with a Systems Engineering advisor. We’ll help you choose eligible 500-level courses that fit your undergrad plan and your graduate goals.
Plan your pathway. RAMp UP includes graduate-level coursework options that can count toward graduate certificates and degrees.
Enroll in courses now. There is no application!
Apply to a Systems Engineering program – when it works for you. You can apply when you are a graduating senior, (or 9 years later!).
Course Code Course Number Course Name Prerequisites Instructor How the credits could count Summer 2026 ENGR 502 Engineering Project and Program Management Senior Standing Botyarov can be applied to SE Practice certificate* SYSE 530 Overview of Systems Engineering Processes Senior Standing & STAT 301/303/315 or equivalent Cale can be applied to SE Practice certificate OR MBSE certificate* SYSE 552 Humanitarian Engineering Senior Standing & Completion of AUCC Cat 2 (Junior Writing) Brown Fall 2026 ENGR 380A5 Principles of Nuclear Engineering (MATH 159 or MATH 160) and (PH 122 or PH 141) Paglioni cannot be applied to a graduate degree SYSE 501 Foundations of Systems Engineering Senior Standing Marzolf can be applied to SE Practice certificate* ENGR 502 Engineering Project and Program Management Senior Standing Botyarov can be applied to SE Practice certificate* ENGR 510 Engineering Optimization: Method and Application Junior Standing & MATH 229 & MATH 261 Herber SYSE 530 Overview of Systems Engineering Processes Junior Standing & STAT 301/303/315 or equivalent Daily can be applied to SE Practice certificate OR MBSE certificate* ENGR 531 Engineering Risk & Reliability Analysis Junior Standing & STAT 301/303/315 or equivalent Paglioni can be applied to SE Practice certificate* ENGR 537 Spaceflight Experimentation and Commerce Junior Standing & Completion of AUCC Cat 2 (Junior Writing) Simske SYSE 541 Engineering Data Design and Visualization Junior Standing & STAT 301/303/315 or equivalent Gallegos SYSE 580B2 Systems Modeling for Digital Twins Senior Standing & SYSE 501 Vans Spring 2027 SYSE 501 Foundations of Systems Engineering Senior Standing Marzolf can be applied to SE Practice certificate* INCOSE Certification* ENGR 502 Engineering Project and Program Management Senior Standing Botyarov can be applied to SE Practice certificate* PMP curriculum* SYSE 505 Systems Thinking for the Real World Junior Standing Shahroudi can be applied to SE Practice certificate* SYSE 530 Overview of Systems Engineering Processes Junior Standing & STAT 301/303/315 or equivalent Cale can be applied to SE Practice certificate OR MBSE certificate* ENGR 531 Engineering Risk & Reliability Analysis Junior Standing & STAT 301/303/315 or equivalent Paglioni can be applied to SE Practice certificate* SYSE 534 Human Systems Integration Junior Standing TBD can be applied to Human Systems Integration certificate* Summer 2027 (more classes will be scheduled closer to the end of 2026) ENGR 531 Engineering Risk & Reliability Analysis Junior Standing & STAT 301/303/315 or equivalent Paglioni can be applied to SE Practice certificate* ENGR 580A7 AI-Augmented Engineering Management Senior Standing & Completion of AUCC Cat 2 (Junior Writing) Botyarov
RAMp UP is the standard pathway for CSU Undergrads to enter Systems Engineering going forward. If you took a grad course as an undergrad before Spring 2026 and earned a B or better:
Please contact Systems Engineering so we can discuss your options.
Coursework only degree ideal for students who are not as interested in hands-on research.
Deep-dive into a research topic with a faculty advisor. You will finish your degree with a 50+ page academic/scholarly thesis.
This degree is ideal for students with an interest in research and who may want to continue on into academia.
Requires completion of a semester-long independent study project.
This degree is ideal for students who would like to complete a short, applied research project but are less interested in continuing on into academia.
Students must have a 3.0 by the time they apply for admission into the master's program. We recommend meeting with your SE advisor to discuss strategies if your GPA is not at this level.
Up to 9 credits of 500-level credits may apply to both your bachelor's and master's degree. Both your undergraduate advisor and the SE advisor must approve of these credits before you take them.
Unfortunately not. All credits double-counted toward the master's and bachelor's degree must be 500-level courses.
If you have taken courses that include statistics but aren't explicitly noted as statistics courses, please contact your SE advisor to discuss that course's eligibility.
Our Advisor Eligibility page has suggested steps and considerations to help you find an advisor. Finding an advisor can often take some time, so we recommend starting this process early!
Yes! If you meet minimum admission qualifications, the department will pay for your application fee. Contact your SE advisor for more information.
Yes. You can finish your bachelor's degree on-campus and move to an online program for your master's degree. This flexibility allows you to complete your master's degree no matter where your plans take you after graduation.
Our department hosts a Job Board that is updated as we hear about relevant Systems Engineering jobs. We strongly encourage students to attend the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering Career Fair each semester and to connect with the CSU Career Center for future internship and job opportunities.
Our department offers Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) and Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) on a very limited basis. GTA and GRA positions are available for on-campus students only.
Students are only qualified to be a GTA if they have successfully taken the course they would be a GTA for. Contact the department for more information.
GRA positions are offered by faculty. If you would like to pursue a GRA position, reach out to a faculty members with research areas that interest you!
