Systems Engineering and Design
The systems engineering and design program provides a solid foundation in math, science, and engineering fundamentals. If you like multiple engineering disciplines, our program may be for you. System engineers must be able to lead others and make decisions. The ability to take risks and deal with the business landscape is also essential. Your curriculum will integrate principles of business, new technology, and entrepreneurship. You will focus your studies on either pre-approved or customized secondary field options. Examples of pre-approved secondary field options include automotive engineering, control systems, and robotics. Examples of customized secondary field options include pre-med, applied math, and solar energy.
Career options include: administration; automotive, control systems, and manufacturing; business systems integration and consulting; communication and computer systems; construction; marketing and product testing; operations and quality control; and robotics.
Highlights
- Systems Engineering and Design at Illinois is a unique interdisciplinary program, with broad flexibility and student-guided focus.
- Our industrial engineering program is ranked #10 by U.S. News & World Report.
- 91% of students reported having an internship or co-op during their degree program.
- 89% of students reported securing their first choice destination upon graduation.
- The average starting salary for a systems engineering and design graduate is $84,135 with a median signing bonus of $7,083.
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What You'll Study
Systems Engineering and Design (formerly General Engineering) is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary program that brings together basic sciences, engineering sciences, and engineering design. Systems Engineering and Design also combines engineering sciences, business, and communication. As a student, you will be trained in all aspects of project management, working in multiple disciplines, and getting results in a real-world team environment.
Research problems in faculty laboratories, summer internships, and the Senior Engineering Project complement the classroom curriculum with hands-on experience working for industry. Systems Engineering and Design students focus their studies through the secondary field option, integrating our multidisciplinary curriculum with a specialized activity.
Minor in Computer Science
The CS Minor is offered for students seeking significant knowledge of digital computing without the more complete treatment of a major in computer science. This minor may be taken by any student except majors in the Computer Science degree programs and in Computer Engineering.
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Post-Graduation Success
The systems engineering and design program prepares you to do well in all aspects of industry, including health care, communications, environmental stewardship, government, and business. Students who do not become employed upon graduation typically continue their education, though most graduates within this major pursue employment upon graduation.
About thirty-one percent of our systems engineering and design graduates continue their education in graduate school, and about sixty-six percent take positions in industry. Employed graduates typically pursue careers in administration, automotive, control systems, and manufacturing, business systems integration and consulting, communication and computer systems, construction, marketing and product testing, operations and quality control, robotics. The average salary for Systems Engineering and Design grads in 2021-2022 reported as $84,135 with a median signing bonus of $7,083.
89%
employed or continuing education*
74%
employed after graduation
15%
attending graduate school
$84,135
average starting annual income*
Sample employer destinations: Epic Systems, Keyence Corporation, General Mills View All
Sample grad school destinations: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Stanford University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University View All
*Post-graduate data was collected through the Illini Success initiative, which primarily relies on self-reported survey data sources. Statistics reported are from 2021-2022. Please note that total compensation may be greater than annual salary as other forms of compensation (e.g., signing bonus, commission, benefits) are not included. For more information on Illini Success data and methods, please visit the Illini Success website.
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