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GENERAL INFORMATION
The Space Systems Engineering Certificate Program is primarily designed for students
in the College of Engineering who wish to be recognized for completing a core set of courses in space
systems engineering-related topics and for participating in a space-systems project. The project work
is to be documented through a report. This certificate program, under the direction of, and jointly
administered by the electrical engineering department's Communications and Space Sciences Laboratory
(CSSL) and the aerospace engineering department, is designed to help prepare students for a career
in the space industry. It is also relevant to students with an interest in systems engineering and
who wish to bolster their credentials.
The program is directed primarily at junior- and senior-level undergraduate
students in engineering. However, applications from interested graduate students as well as students
outside engineering will be considered, provided they have completed the appropriate prerequisite
courses or their equivalent. Applicants will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will need
approval from both the student's department and the Space Systems Engineering Certificate director.
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OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this space systems engineering certificate a student will:
- Be better prepared (in terms of breadth and depth of knowledge) to enter
the space industry
- Have experienced a hands-on project involving the application of
learned principles
- Have a better understanding of (a) systems approach to engineering;
(b) several technical subjects related to space systems; and (c) processes and procedures for
development of space hardware;
- Have experienced working in multifunctional and multidisciplinary teams
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REQUIREMENTS
Students wishing to participate in the certificate program must complete and submit
an application indicating how they plan
to meet the certificate requirements. Students are highly encouraged to submit the application to the
director of the program as soon as possible once they have made the decision to complete the certificate.
The application must be received, however, before the project work is completed to ensure an appropriate
level of rigor in project work and proper systems focus.
The minimum number of credits required is 12, with no fewer than nine credits at the
400- (or 500-) level (which may include the project work). Certificate requirements are summarized in
the table below. All students must complete significant hands-on, project-based work on a space systems
project and submit a report of their work to the certificate director. Students also will be required
to take E E 497E—Space Systems Engineering Seminar (1), offered annually in the fall semester.
A minimum of two space systems-related courses must be selected from a list of appropriate courses.
The remainder of the requirements may be met by taking any of a number of recommended supporting
courses approved by the certificate director.
| Requirement |
Description/Options |
Credits |
| Seminar |
E E 497E† Space Systems Engineering Seminar |
1 |
| Project |
Report submitted adhering to SPSYS Certificate formatting and systems content
guidelines (Note: <3 credits of project work may only be selected by co-op students) |
0-3 |
| 6 credits of space systems-focused courses at 400 level (or above*) |
Courses from list maintained by certificate director |
6 |
| Remainder of credits |
May include up to 3 credits of internship/co-op credits when work is in
space systems area (Note: 9 total credits must be at the 400 level (or above*) |
2-5 |
| Total |
12 |
| † This course will be converted to a permanent number
(E E/AERSP 475). |
| *Schreyer Honors students and seniors with at least 92 credits
and a 3.5 cumulative GPA may schedule a graduate course with approval of the course instructor.
Other undergraduate students wishing to schedule a graduate course need the approval of
his/her adviser and the course instructor. |
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PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
The hands-on project component is the core requirement for the
Space Systems Engineering Certificate. This project work may be completed as part of a 296/496 independent
study, 494(H) thesis research, a projects-based course (e.g., AERSP 497K—Aerospace Engineering
Projects), or another pre-arranged method (e.g., as part of a work experience or internship). Many
projects are available through the Student Space Programs Lab. The report should adhere to graduate school thesis
formatting guidelines (see PsuThesi) with the SPSYS title page. A significant portion of the report must be
a systems engineering analysis of the project. The properly formatted, signed report is due no later
than the Monday of the last week of classes in the semester the student plans to graduate.
Co-op experience with a space systems company may be used to meet the certificate's
credit requirements. This must be approved by the certificate director, and co-op reports must be
forwarded to the certificate director as well as the Co-op Program. If project work at the space
systems company is to be used to meet the project requirement, it is incumbent on the candidate
to get approvals from the company that their report may be released to the public and does not
contain proprietary information.
Click here for the
application form (PDF format).
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CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information contact:
Dr. Sven G. Bilén
Director, Space Systems Engineering Certificate
Associate Professor of Engineering Design, Electrical Engineering, and
Aerospace Engineering
213N Hammond Building
University Park, PA 16802
Tel: 814-863-1526
Email: sbilen@psu.edu
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