Master of Science in
Systems Engineering

SYSE 500  Fundamentals of Systems Engineering  3 Credits (3,0)

An introduction to the fundamental principles, processes, and practices associated with the application of Systems Engineering across the system life cycle. Translate needs and priorities into system requirements; derive requirements. Methods and standards; concept definition; interface definition; requirements development and management; system baseline definition and management; system architecture development; integrated schedule management and analysis; risk assessment; systems integration, verification, and validation. Mathematical and graphical tools for system analysis and control, testing and evaluation of system and technology alternatives. Reliability and maintainability, design trade-offs and trade off models.

SYSE 505  System Safety and Certification  3 Credits (3,0)

Concepts, principles, methods and process applied for development of safety-critical and mission-critical software-intensive systems. The issues of system safety, requiring additional analysis and design techniques, are discussed from the perspective of computer hardware and software. The course discusses the safety requirements, hazard and risk analysis, failure modes and effect analysis, fault tolerance, basics of hardware and software reliability, levels of integrity, nature of faults and redundancy, and issues of verification, validation and certification. Safety standards across application domains, including SAE, ARP4754 & ARP4761 and RTCA DO-178C & DO-254 for safety considerations in development of aircraft systems are analyzed. The related certification roles, process, objectives, and activities are discussed. Selected software tools supporting safety and reliability assessment of hardware laboratory experiments with tools, and producing appropriate reports.

SYSE 515  Mathematical Applications in Systems Engineering  3 Credits (3,0)

Applied and context-driven approach to understanding key topics from the calculus, economics and probability and statistics series for engineers. An introduction to fundamental topics in economics, probability and statistics and calculus in the context of systems engineering; analytical skills for system planning, design, and analysis.

SYSE 530  System Requirements Analysis and Modeling  3 Credits (3,0)

The development, definition, and management of requirements for system or product. The system requirements process; requirements elicitation techniques; alternative requirements analysis techniques; requirements specification; requirements verification and validation; requirements management, and requirements standards and tools. Stakeholder identification, risk analysis, trade off analysis as it relates to the requirements.

SYSE 560  Introduction to Systems Engineering Management  3 Credits (3,0)

Fundamental principles of engineering management in the context of systems engineering. Effective technical planning, scheduling, and assessment of technical progress. Techniques for life cycle costing; performance measurement; modern methods of effective engineering management; quality tools; quality management; configuration management; concurrent engineering; risk management; functional analysis; conceptual and detail design assessment; test evaluation. Systems engineering planning and organization; communication and SE management tools and techniques. Development of a Systems Engineering Management Plan, Integrated Master Schedule and/or Integrated Master Plan.

SYSE 610  System Architecture Design and Modeling  3 Credits (3,0)

Concepts and techniques for architecting systems and the process of developing and evaluating architectures. Generating functional, physical, and operational architecture. Modeling and analysis approaches; generation of analyzable architecture models; interface design; architecture frameworks; enterprise engineering; design for reliability, maintainability, usability, supportability, producibility, disposability, and life cycle costs; validation and verification of systems architecture; the analysis of complexity; methods of decomposition and re-integration; trade-offs between optimality and reusability; the effective application of COTS; and practical heuristics for developing good architectures.

SYSE 625  System Quality Assurance  3 Credits (3,0)

Principles and techniques of planning, organizing, controlling, and improving the quality, safety, reliability, and supportability of a system throughout the system life cycle. Establishing a baseline control; cognitive systems engineering and the human-systems integration in complex systems environments. Methods of developing fitness for use; quality costs; quality planning; statistical analysis and control; experimental design for quality improvement; System Reliability, Maintainability, and Availability; applied quality programs such as ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14001, CMMI.

SYSE 660  Organizational Systems Management  3 Credits (3,0)

Concepts of organizational management and leadership from a systems and complex systems perspective. Strategic management; organizational transformation; organizational environments. Modeling of marketing, finance, organizational behavior, and strategic and operational management.

SYSE 697  Systems Engineering Project  3 Credits (3,0)

A project in systems engineering as a conclusion of the academic coursework for the MSYSE program. Culminate in a written document that will demonstrate the student's proficiency in the chosen project topic and must be of a quality suitable for publication. Pre-Requisite: Students must be admitted to MYSE and must have completed all other program course requirements including the approved elective set.