South Dakota Mines Launches New Systems Engineering Graduate Program Designed for Working Professionals
As the modern world of engineering changes, South Dakota Mines is evolving with it.
The university is launching a new graduate program that enables students to continue full-time employment while integrating workplace challenges into their coursework and learning from experienced industry leaders.
Beginning in January 2027, Mines will offer a Master of Engineering with a Systems Engineering Specialization, an online 30-credit graduate program designed specifically for working professionals. The program combines flexible online coursework with a work-based learning model that allows students to earn graduate credit by applying systems engineering principles to real projects and challenges in their own workplace.
Unlike traditional graduate programs, the systems engineering specialization will be taught by experienced industry professionals who bring decades of practical expertise into academia. Students can complete the degree in as little as two years while remaining employed full-time.
“The engineering profession is evolving rapidly, and engineers need opportunities to expand their expertise without stepping away from their careers,” said Darcy Briggs, Ph.D., associate vice president for academic affairs at Mines. “We intentionally designed this program for adult learners who want to broaden their technical knowledge while immediately applying what they learn to meaningful projects in their organization.”
The executive graduate program is more than a year in the making, drawing on data and research from the EAB, formerly the Education Advisory Board, along with feedback from recent Mines alumni. The result is a program that meets growing industry demand for engineers who want to think beyond individual disciplines and to understand and design increasingly sophisticated systems.
The program centers on work-based learning (WBL), an educational model that places students’ workplace experiences and challenges at the heart of the curriculum.
“Academia is meeting industry in a very intentional way through this program,” Briggs said. “Students are solving real engineering problems in the workplace while earning graduate credit.”
The systems engineering specialization prepares engineers to understand, design, and improve complex engineered systems across disciplines and industries, including aerospace and military.
The new specialization is part of the Master of Engineering degree, which is offered entirely online with multiple start dates throughout the year. The program reflects the university's commitment to preparing engineers for the changing needs of the industry by blending academic excellence with practical, career-focused learning.
To learn more or apply for the program, visit sdsmt.edu/MENG