INCOSE Approves Georgia Tech Master’s Program for Academic Equivalency
ATLANTA, Georgia (June 25, 2024) – The International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) has approved an equivalency for the Professional Master’s in Applied Systems Engineering (PMASE) Degree at Georgia Institute of Technology. This approval is based on the determination that the PMASE curriculum provides graduates of the program the academic equivalency of the INCOSE knowledge exam.
Director of the PMASE program Dimitri Mavris, Ph.D., explains. “INCOSE is the quality standard for systems engineering, and its certification is a critical step in becoming a subject matter expert in the field,” Mavris said. “The PMASE program provides an excellent framework for our students to develop the systems engineering knowledge and skills needed to achieve the INCOSE certification. This certification will provide them with recognition as qualified systems engineers and the basis on which to build their expertise throughout their careers.”
The INCOSE certification is based on the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook, the primary reference book for systems engineering (SE) practitioners. Engineers with INCOSE certification have proven their understanding of SE terminology and approaches. With the equivalency, INCOSE has recognized that PMASE graduates gain the adequate level of knowledge to be considered Systems Engineering Professionals. Since PMASE graduates are able to bypass the INCOSE knowledge exam, they are one step closer to becoming certified by INCOSE. They have 12 months after graduation to pursue the advanced certification levels: Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP) or Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP).
This recognition reflects the relevant content and rigorous instruction of the PMASE program, which is the most comprehensive systems engineering program offered at Georgia Tech. It is designed to expand and build students’ “systems thinking” expertise for working professionals. The two-year program consists of six core courses on systems engineering fundamentals, modeling, and simulation, SysML, and system design. An additional four courses provide students with specialization in complex systems. The curriculum is taught in a hybrid format that blends face-to-face instruction and 24/7 online learning. Students progress through the program in a cohort and complete each course with the same community of peers.
Gary O'Neill, capstone instructor for the PMASE program, credits the cohort model for enabling greater learning and providing an opportunity to build strong teams. “PMASE provides a high level of 'touch time' when compared to other online courses,” O’Neill said. “Our instructors are highly experienced in the details of their courses. In fact, they wrote the courses.”
About the INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional Certification
Certification is a formal process whereby a community of knowledgeable, experienced, and skilled representatives of an organization, such as INCOSE, provides confirmation of an individual's competency (demonstrated knowledge, education, and experience) in a specified profession. Certification differs from licensing in that licenses are permissions granted by a government entity for a person to practice within its regulatory boundaries. Certification also differs from a "certificate" that documents the successful completion of a training or education program.
About the Georgia Institute of Technology Professional Master’s in Applied Systems Engineering
The Georgia Institute of Technology ranks #5 for U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Engineering Schools. Its H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering program has been consistently ranked #1 at the graduate and undergraduate level for more than 20 years. The Georgia Tech Professional Master’s in Applied Systems Engineering (PMASE) is a comprehensive system engineering program designed to give practicing engineers the mathematical, scientific and engineering foundation to develop, deploy and evaluate various modeling and analysis strategies. PMASE students explore these skills by engaging in real-world projects and practical examples, while engaging with faculty who are practitioners in the field. The PMASE program is a collaborative effort led by Georgia Tech’s College of Engineering, with the Georgia Tech Research Institute and the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech. It is delivered via Georgia Tech Professional Education, the Institute’s continuing and professional education unit. Learn more at pe.gatech.edu/degrees/pmase.
