Going back to school does not necessarily mean stepping away from your career.
Cal Poly Pomona’s Master of Science in Systems Engineering is structured with working professionals in mind, including evening courses and a hybrid format.
Classes meet in the evening
MSSE classes are scheduled from 6 to 8:50 p.m., Monday through Friday, with each course meeting one evening per week.
The program uses a hybrid format that combines in-person sessions with online classes.
Most students complete the degree within two years, although CPP allows students to progress at a pace that fits their personal and professional commitments.
Ten courses to complete the degree
The 30-unit program consists of 10 courses.
Students complete seven required core courses, two electives, and one culminating experience through a master's project or thesis.
That structure gives students a defined academic pathway while providing room to balance graduate study with other responsibilities.
One graduate did exactly that
Cambria Jimenez earned her Master of Science in Systems Engineering from CPP in 2023 while continuing to work full-time.
She credits the program with helping her advance professionally while giving her the opportunity to continue working and attend night classes.
Today, she is a senior supervisor and factory lead at Raytheon.
Her experience answers a question many working engineers may have before considering graduate school.
Can graduate education fit alongside a full-time engineering career?
At CPP, the program structure was designed to make that possibility more practical.The decision still requires time and commitment. But earning a graduate engineering degree does not automatically require putting a career on hold.