Systems and Control Engineering Courses

The online Master of Science (MS) in Systems and Control Engineering at Case Western Reserve University is 100 percent online and is taught by the same renowned faculty who teach our on-campus courses. The program blends research with practical applications, empowering students to take a holistic view of challenging issues and solve real-world problems.

The curriculum for the online MS in Systems and Control Engineering program is structured so that students can customize their educational journey. Students in this program take five core courses and five technical electives, which they select from a pool of 10 potential classes. Students may tailor their courses in the program to prepare for a career in the following research areas:

  • Computer science
  • Bioinformatics, computational genomics and computational biology
  • Data mining and visualization
  • Pervasive networks and distributed systems
  • Electrical, computer and systems engineering
  • Biological robotics
  • Electronics and instrumentation
  • Embedded systems
  • Micro- and nanosystems
  • Systems biology
  • Advanced control systems
  • Wind turbine systems and control
  • Energy systems and control

Learn more about each course below. Please note: Course list and sequence are subject to change.

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Five Core Courses

EPOM 400 Leadership and Interpersonal Skills

The principal goal of this course is to help students learn and develop practical and applicable skills in order to enhance their leadership and interpersonal skills. This course leverages the knowledge that one’s effectiveness and success, especially professionally, are tied directly to one’s capability to work well with others and to communicate ideas in ways that others can easily understand and support. Main course topics include resonant leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, and team development. Even though this is an asynchronous, online course, it includes experiential activities. In addition to coursework, students will engage in Learning Team activities, including peer coaching, to enhance their self-awareness while supporting their development of course concepts.

ECSE 401 Digital Signal Processing (Core)

3 Units. Characterization of discrete-time signals and systems. Fourier analysis: the Discrete-time Fourier Transform, the Discrete-time Fourier series, the Discrete Fourier Transform and the Fast Fourier Transform. Continuous-time signal sampling and signal reconstruction. Digital filter design: infinite impulse response filters, finite impulse response filters, filter realization and quantization effects. Random signals: discrete correlation sequences and power density spectra, response of linear systems. Recommended preparation: Undergraduate Signals and Systems course or EEC 313.

ECSE 407 Engineering Economics & Financial Analysis

Crosslisted as EPOM 407 (Core) 3 Units. Engineering economics provides a set of tools to aid in deciding which course of economic action is most desirable to take in an engineering project. In this course, money and profit are the critical measures of performance in engineering design. Topics: Introduction to capital allocation problems; The time value of money; Application of economic equivalence to engineering design problems; Economic criteria for comparing projects; Depreciation and taxation; Retirement and replacement; Effects of inflation and escalation on economic evaluations; Use of optimization methods to evaluate many alternatives; Decision Analysis: the effect of risk and attitudes; and Accounting fundamentals: income and balance sheets.

ECSE 408 Introduction to Linear Systems (Core)

3 Units. Analysis and design of linear feedback systems using state-space techniques. Review of matrix theory, linearization, transition maps and variations of constants formula, structural properties of state-space models, controllability and observability, realization theory, pole assignment and stabilization, linear quadratic regulator problems, observers, and the separation theorem. Recommended preparation: Undergraduate Control course or EECS 304.

ECSE 416 Convex Optimization for Engineering (Core)

3 Units. This course will focus on the development of a working knowledge and skills to recognize, formulate and solve convex optimization problems that are so prevalent in engineering. Applications in control systems; parameter and state estimation; signal processing; communications and networks; circuit design; data modeling and analysis; data mining including clustering and classification; and combinatorial and global optimization will be highlighted. New reliable and efficient methods, particularly those based on interior-point methods and other special methods to solve convex optimization problems will be emphasized. Implementation issues will also be underscored. Recommended preparation: Discrete math (MATH 201 or equivalent).

Eight Technical Electives (Choose Five)

ECSE 404 Digital Control Systems

3 Units. Data Acquisition (theory and practice), digital control of sampled data systems, stability tests, system simulation digital filter structure, finite word length effects, limit cycles, state-variable feedback and state estimation. Design. Recommended preparation: Undergraduate Control course.

ECSE 411 Applied Engineering Statistics Crosslisted as EPOM 405

3 Units. Statistics deals with the collection, classification, analysis, and interpretation of numerical data and allows decision makers, analysts, managers, engineers, scientists, and researchers to understand phenomena subject to variation and to predict or control them effectively. Lectures, demonstration, case studies and numerous individual and group problems provide an intensive introduction to the fundamental concepts, applications, and practice of contemporary statistics. Topics: Treatment of Data, Basic Probability, Probability Distributions and Densities, Sampling Distributions, Statistical Inferences (means, variances, and proportions), Nonparametric Tests, Analysis of Variance, Design of Experiments

EMAE 450 Advanced Engineering Analysis

3 Units. This course aims to equip students with tools for solving mathematical problems commonly encountered in mechanical engineering. The goals are to enable the student to properly categorize the problem in a variety of ways, to identify appropriate approaches to solving the problem and to choose effective numerical solution methods. The course covers analytical and computational approaches to linear and nonlinear problems in both discrete and continuous systems. Computational approaches include direct methods such as finite difference methods and approximation methods based on a variational approach, such as finite elements. The course is built around specific examples from solid mechanics, dynamics, vibrations, heat transfer and fluid mechanics, represented by initial value problems, eigenvalue problems and boundary value problems.

EMAE 481 Advanced Dynamics I

3 Units. Particle and rigid-body kinematics and dynamics. Inertia tensor, coordinate transformations and rotating reference frames. Application to rotors and gyroscopes. Theory of orbital motion with application to earth satellites. Impact dynamics. Lagrange equations with applications to multi-degree of freedom systems. Theory of small vibrations. Prerequisite: EMAE 181 or equivalent

EMAE 487 Vibration Problems in Engineering

3 Units. Free and forced-vibration problems in single and multi-degree of freedom damped and undamped linear systems. Vibration isolation and absorbers. Modal analysis and approximate solutions. Introduction to vibration of continuous media. Noise problems. Laboratory projects to illustrate theoretical concepts and applications. Prerequisite: MATH224 and EMAE 181

EMAE 494 Energy Systems

3 Units. This course is a cutting edge, interdisciplinary, graduate level course focused at the nexus of advanced energy and innovation. The energy market is dynamic, complex and is a system of sub-systems with multiple paths to market. Key technology developments are influencing progress towards a drastically different energy future. The high cost of capital associated with bringing a new technology to market increases perceived risks. To successfully embed advanced energy technology you have to be able to effectively navigate the market and reduce the risks associated with adopting a new technology. This course helps close the gap between energy research and industry by providing students a process for managing innovation, an understanding of the complex and dynamic energy market and "hands on" experience building a business through the creation of E-teams who ultimately pitch their business ideas to investors.

EBME 410 Medical Imaging Fundamentals (imaging)

3 Units. Physical principles of medical imaging. Imaging devices for x-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, etc. Image quality descriptions. Patient risk.

Learn More About Systems and Control Engineering at CWRU

To learn more about the curriculum for the Master of Science in Systems and Control Engineering program, get in touch with an admissions outreach advisor at 855-500-3840 today.

Admissions Deadlines

Nov
20
Priority Deadline
November 20
Spring 2025 Term
Dec
16
Final Deadline
December 16
Spring 2025 Term
Jan
13
Start Date
January 13
Spring 2025 Term

Case Western Reserve University has engaged Everspring, a leading provider of education and technology services, to support select aspects of program delivery.