Socio-Technical Systems Doctoral Program

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Socio-Technical Systems is the first and currently the only such degree in the U.S. that trains those seeking to study new systems-centric paradigms for the 21st century. Through the program, the Department of Systems and Enterprises seeks to create a cadre of forward-thinking entrepreneurial scholars whose research interests and undertakings are tightly coupled with real-world needs and practices in areas such as energy, finance, healthcare, social networks and urban science.

The Ph.D. in Socio-Technical Systems is similar to the Ph.D. in Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Master of Science in Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University.

The crux of the program is understanding and developing solutions for problems involving systems and enterprises that are socio-technical in nature (e.g.,, including the human element in understanding the qualitative and quantitative processes of the evolving system/enterprise). The curriculum is built around qualitative training that addresses social and governance phenomena and the challenges specific to socio-technical systems as well as complementary quantitative training that teaches students to technically analyze the shifting and uncertain nature of enterprises. Students can expect to take an interdisciplinary blend of courses in financial engineering, enterprise science and systems engineering.

The Stevens Advantage: Widen Your Career Options

Thanks to its location in the heart of the New York metropolitan area, Stevens provides its students open doors to a broad network in one of the world’s most dynamic urban environments. Students benefit from the university’s partnerships with municipalities in both New York and New Jersey, as well as their proximity to major organizations and corporations headquartered in Manhattan.

Learn more about what makes graduate education from Stevens a unique experience:

• Graduate Cooperative Education Program: Available with two tracks, your co-op experience can serve as a starting point for a research project or augment your on-campus research with complimentary experience.

• International Student Experience: Tap into our expanding worldwide network of research, academic and alumni partners and mentor with our expert faculty in a number of federally-designated STEM degree programs. Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is available to gain work experience in your major/field of study.

• State-of-the-Art Research Labs and Facilities: Build, tinker and test your designs in Stevens' MakerCenter, Prototype and Object Fabrication Lab, or numerous other research facilities.

• Research Opportunities: Renowned faculty, labs and research centers – as well as industry partnerships and funding from leading national agencies – support strategic and interdisciplinary research in engineering and science.

• Assistantships and Fellowships: Stevens offers funding to select graduate students in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships and fellowships. Limited in number, these highly competitive opportunities are awarded to exceptional candidates based on merit.

• Expanded Learning Options: The Schaefer School offers new opportunities for doctoral students to do coursework at universities in the New York City area – and around the world – through our growing list of academic partnerships with other prestigious universities. Learn more about our latest partnerships.