Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering
The Master's of Engineering in Systems Engineering graduate program offers a multidisciplinary approach to engineering education by providing a blend of engineering, systems, and management subjects. Our graduates manage engineering and technology, are able to address systems integration, life cycle issues, and systems thinking at the system and enterprise levels, in a market where globalization, technology, quality, complexity, and productivity are the key business drivers. Concentrations are offered in: large-scale cyber-physical systems, embedded cyber-physical systems, space systems and software systems.
Students satisfying the requirement for the space systems concentration may alternatively receive a degree in Master of Engineering in space systems engineering. Students who, with their advisor’s approval, choose not to complete all of the courses in a single concentration will receive a Master of Engineering in systems engineering degree without a specified concentration.
The program consists of ten courses (30 credits): six (6) required core courses, three (3) electives and a project or thesis. Three of these six required core courses are selected from one of four concentration areas.
Students without professional experience beyond the bachelor’s degree who are taking a master’s in systems engineering in a non-software systems concentration must take SYS 581 Introduction to Systems Engineering, preferably in the later stages of the senior design project. SYS 581 should be taken before the Concept, Architecture & Design, Implementation and Sustainment courses, if possible. Students without professional experience taking a concentration in software systems must take SSW 540 Fundamentals of Software Engineering. In addition, they must have competency in software programming. All exceptions require approval of the advisor and systems engineering program director.
Systems Engineering Curriculum
Required Core Courses
Modeling, Simulation and Analysis
Students are required to select one of the following courses:
| SYS 611 | Systems Modeling and Simulation | 3 |
| SYS 660 | Decision and Risk Analysis | 3 |
Management
| EM 612 | Project Management of Complex Systems | 3 |
Concept
Students are required to select one of the following courses:
| SYS 625 | Fundamentals of Systems Engineering | 3 |
| SYS 671 | Conception of CPS: Deciding What to Build and Why | 3 |
Concentrations
One course must be taken from each of the three (3) areas: Architecture & Design, Implementation, and Sustainment. To receive a concentration, these courses must be taken from a single concentration area. The following are the courses for Large-Scale Systems, Cyber-Physical Systems, Space Systems, and Software Systems concentrations.
Large-Scale Cyber-Physical Systems Concentration
Required courses:
Architecture and Design:
| SYS 650 | System Architecture and Design | 3 |
Implementation:
Sustainment:
One of the following:
| SYS 640 | System Supportability and Logistics | 3 |
| SYS 645 | Design for Reliability, Maintainability, and Supportability | 3 |
Embedded Cyber-Physical Systems Concentration
Required courses:
Architecture and Design:
| SYS 672 | Design of CPS: Ensuring Systems Work and Are Robust | 3 |
Implementation:
| SYS 673 | Implementation of CPS: Bringing Solutions to Life | 3 |
Sustainment:
| SYS 674 | Sustainment of CPS: Managing Evolution | 3 |
Space Systems Concentration
Required courses:
Architecture and Design:
One of the following:
| SYS 632 | Designing Space Missions and Systems | 3 |
| SYS 635 | Human Spaceflight | 3 |
Implementation:
One of the following:
| SYS 633 | Mission and System Design Verification and Validation | 3 |
| SYS 605 | Systems Integration | 3 |
Sustainment:
| SYS 637 | Cost-Effective Space Mission Operations | 3 |
Software Systems Concentration
Architecture and Design:
| SSW 565 | Software Architecture and Component-Based Design | 3 |
Implementation:
| SSW 567 | Software Testing, Quality Assurance and Maintenance | 3 |
Sustainment:
| SSW 590 | DevOps Principles and Practices | 3 |
Electives
Three (3) advisor approved electives [nine (9) credits] can be chosen from SSE course offerings in (SYS) systems engineering, (SSW) software engineering, (EM) engineering management, (ES) socio-technical systems, (SES) systems engineering security or advisor approved courses. SYS 611, SYS 660 and SYS 645, if not already taken, are strongly recommended as electives.
Project or Thesis
At least three (3) credits and up to six (6) credits, must be applied towards a project (SYS 800 Special Problems in Systems Engineering), or a thesis (SYS 900 Thesis in Systems Engineering). If a thesis is chosen instead of a project, the completion of six (6) credits of SYS 900 is required, replacing SYS 800 and one elective course. The project or theses should be in the concentration area.