Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Online

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering
  • Batten College of Engineering & Technology
  • Department of Engineering Management & Systems Engineering

Program Delivery Method

  • 100% online, with live online classes
  • Live online class attendance is required
  • Classes are usually held in the evening (Eastern U.S. Time Zone)

ODU's engineering management and systems engineering PhD program allows you to work with expert faculty to develop innovative solutions and conduct ground-breaking research.

You'll meet in live online classes. Your courses will blend highly theoretical knowledge with applied and pragmatic research. Then, you'll learn rigorous evaluation techniques to solidify your findings.

When you graduate, you will be prepared to teach and research at academic institutions, work at national research labs, or be a technology leader in public and private organizations that focus on innovation and technological leadership.

Admission to this program is competitive. As part of the application process, you will be matched with a faculty advisor with similar research interests. If a matching faculty advisor already has a full advising schedule, your admission may be delayed.

When you graduate, you will earn a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering – Engineering Management and Systems Engineering.

Indicates a required field












  • American Society for Engineering Management Founder's Award for Excellence in Engineering Management Education and Practice

  • Most Affordable Online Doctoral Degrees, 2023 - OnlineU.com

    • 48 credit hours minimum

    You will take:

    • Three core courses in engineering research and multivariate statistics.
    • Two elective courses from a range of topics such as engineering design, big data, systems analysis, reliability and maintainability, and risk analysis.
    • At least three subject area courses based on your research focus.
    • At least 24 credit hours of research.
  • Participate in live, regularly scheduled online class meetings and access course materials online from any location. All courses follow ODU's regular academic calendar.

    • University Professor
    • IT Manager
    • Lead Engineer
    • Program Manager
    • Lead Technology Officer
  • In-state Virginia Residents
    $620 per credit hour*
    Out-of-state Students
    $642 per credit hour

    Rates are effective Fall 2024 and subject to change.
    * In-state rate assumes residency requirements are met.

  • This program is not intended to lead to a specific state-level license.

    If you plan to pursue a professional license or credential, we encourage you to explore requirements through the appropriate credentialing agency or professional organization in your state. 

    Learn More About State Licensure Disclosures

You'll have a dedicated academic advisor for this program.

Contact us if you have questions about admission requirements, transferring credits, or application deadlines.

  • Admission to this program is competitive. In addition to general ODU admission requirements, you must have:

    • A master of science in engineering or a closely related technical field with a minimum 3.50 GPA from an accredited institution of higher education.
    • A bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA from an ABET-accredited program in engineering or engineering technology, or from an accredited program in applied science.

    You will also submit a research concept paper to aid in pairing you with a faculty advisor. The number of students admitted depends partly on the advising load of faculty with matching research interests. See full application details in the Graduate Catalog.