Program Overview

Program Overview

The online certificate in computer systems engineering is designed for students and professionals seeking knowledge and skills in state-of-the-art parallel hardware architectures, parallel software programming, algorithms, and networking technologies. Stay current on rapidly advancing technology, and learn to problem solve for future challenges.

Program Details

• The program is offered by Colorado State University's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), a leader in innovation for more than a century.
• The ECE department is known for leading research in areas including embedded systems, lasers and optics, radar systems, and biomedical systems.
• The computer engineering certificate program is taught by experts in the field who have both industry and research experience in computer systems engineering.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the computer systems engineering graduate certificate is customizable to your interests and educational goals. You must be admitted to this program for the certificate to appear on your official University transcript.

• Select three courses from the list; at least one must be an ECE course.
  • ECE 528: Embedded Systems and Machine Learning (4 cr.)
  • ECE 554: Computer Architecture (3 cr.)
  • ECE 558: Manycore System Design Using Machine Learning (3 cr.)
  • ECE 561: Hardware/Software Design of Embedded Systems (4 cr.)
  • ECE 658: Internet Engineering (4 cr.)
  • ECE 661: Advanced Topics in Embedded Systems (3 cr.)
  • CS 530: Fault-Tolerant Computing (4 cr.)
  • CS 545: Machine Learning (4 cr.)
  • CS 556: Computer Security (4 cr.)
  • CS 575: Parallel Processing (4 cr.)

What You Learn

Students will work with a variety of hardware and software tools and analyze research to understand state of the art approaches to computer system design and future challenges the industry will face. The computer systems engineering certificate curriculum includes both individual and group project work. You will:

• Learn concepts and principles on state of the art networking.
• Learn advanced computer architecture and system design.
• Gain knowledge in computer security, including encryption techniques, secure software algorithms, and hardware security issues.
• Understand concepts in computer reliability, including soft error and aging reliability, dealing with variations, and cross-layer techniques for fault resilience.
• Learn how to analyze, model, and optimize hardware and software and how they integrate into the embedded system itself.

Topics of Study

• Design and exploration of computer systems
• Computer architecture
• Fault tolerance
• Computer security
• Parallel programming
• Machine learning
• Communication networks

Career Opportunities

The Graduate Certificate in Computer Systems Engineering prepares students to succeed in job roles such as:

• Network analyst
• Network designer
• Network programmer
• Computer architect
• Computer security analyst
• Big data analyst
• Other roles requiring computer systems engineering skills and knowledge

Option to Pursue a Master's Degree

Credits completed for this certificate may be applied toward CSU's online electrical or computer engineering master's degrees after formal admission per University transfer policies. Additionally, you can earn a guaranteed admission recommendation into either master's program from the department and bypass the GRE requirement, if you complete two classes from the curriculum with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and with no less than a 2.7 in any course.

Program Statistics

• 10-12 credits to earn your certificate
• 95% of CSU Online grad students secured plans related to their career
• 93% of grad students would choose CSU Online again
• $498M in research expenditures in FY23

Admission Requirements

This graduate certificate requires applicants to have:

• A Bachelor of Science from a regionally accredited institution in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or related field.
• International students must hold degrees equivalent to U.S. bachelor's degrees. Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology (BSEET) degrees are not accepted.

Application Process

1. Review admission requirements
2. Complete online application and pay the nonrefundable application processing fee
3. Request transcripts from the institution where you earned your bachelor’s degree
4. Check your application status

Application Dates

• Fall semester: July 1
• Spring semester: December 1

Tuition and Fees

• $715 - $726 per credit
• Learn more about financial aid and scholarships
• Tuition/fees are just part of the cost to attend CSU. Learn more about the full Cost of Attendance

Certificate Awarded

• Graduate Certificate in Computer Systems Engineering

Time Frame

• Can be completed in one year

Support

• Your dedicated support coach has the answers
• Schedule time to talk or request more information

About the University

• Colorado State University is a top-tier, regionally accredited institution recognized by U.S. News and World Report.
• CSU Online collaborates closely with the departments across the University as well as government, business, and nonprofit organizations to foster a vibrant community that cares about learners, their experience, and their success.