USC
University of Southern California
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Systems Architecting and Engineering

Ethel Percy Andrus
Gerontology Center 240
(213) 740-4893
FAX: (213) 740-1120
Email: isedept@usc.edu

Program Director: Azad M. Madni, Ph.D.
Email: azad.madni@usc.edu

Program Co-director: F. Stan Settles, Ph.D.
Email: settles@usc.edu

Associate Director: George Friedman, Ph.D.
Email: georgejfriedman@yahoo.com

Associate Director: James Hines
Email: jhines@usc.edu

Associate Director: Scott Jackson
Email: jackessone@cox.net

Faculty

IBM Chair in Engineering Management: F. Stan Settles, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering, Astronautics)

David Packard Chair in Manufacturing Engineering: Stephen C-Y Lu, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering)

Andrew and Erna Viterbi Chair in Communications: Solomon W. Golomb, Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering, Mathematics)

TRW Professor of Software Engineering: Barry Boehm, Ph.D. (Computer Science, Industrial and Systems Engineering)

Professors: Michael O. Arbib, Ph.D. (Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Neurobiology); Barry Boehm, Ph.D. (Computer Science, Industrial and Systems Engineering); John Choma, Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering, Electrophysics); Maged Dessouky, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering); Roger Ghanem, Ph.D (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering); Solomon W. Golomb, Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering, Mathematics); Michael Gruntman, Ph.D. (Astronautics and Space Technology); Randolph Hall, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering); Behrokh Khoshnevis, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering); Yan Jin, Ph.D. (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering); Joseph Kunc (Astronautics and Space Technology, Physics); Stephen C-Y Lu, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering); Azad M. Madni, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering); Sami F. Masri, Ph.D. (Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering); Gerard Medioni, Ph.D. (Computer Science); Jerry M. Mendel, Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering); Najmedin Meshkati, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering, Civil Engineering); James E. Moore, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering, Civil Engineering, Policy, Planning and Development); Sheldon M. Ross, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering); F. Stan Settles, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering, Astronautics); Firdaus Udwadia, Ph.D. (Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering); Detlof von Winterfeldt (Industrial and Systems Engineering, Policy, Planning, and Development); Charles L. Weber, Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering); L. Carter Welford, Ph.D. (Civil Engineering); Alan Willner, Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering)

Associate Professor: Mansour Rahimi, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering)

Adjunct Professor: Michael Mann, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering)

Adjunct Associate Professors: James Hines; Thomas McKendree, Ph.D.; Marilee Wheaton

Research Professors: Malcolm R. Currie, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering); Peter Will, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering)

Professor of the Practice of Systems Architecting and Engineeing: George Friedman, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering)

Associate Professor of the Practice of Systems Architecting and Engineering: Kurt Palmer (Industrial and Systems Engineering)

Senior Lecturer: Geza Bottlik, Engineer (Industrial and Systems Engineering)

Emeritus Professors: Elliot Axelband, Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering ); George Bekey, Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering); Ralph Keeney, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering); Gerald Nadler, Ph.D., P.E. (Industrial and Systems Engineering)

Honor Society

Omega Alpha Association
Omega Alpha Association is the systems engineering honor society. The advisor is Professor Stan Settles, (213) 740-0263.

Degree Requirements

Master of Science in Systems Architecting and Engineering

This program is recommended to graduate engineers and engineering managers responsible for the conception and implementation of complex systems. Emphasis is on the creative processes and methods by which complex systems are conceived, planned, designed, built, tested and certified. The architecture experience can be applied to defense, space, aircraft, communications, navigation, sensors, computer software, computer hardware, and other aerospace and commercial systems and activities.

A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be earned on all course work applied toward the master’s degree in systems architecting and engineering. This average must also be achieved on all 400-level and above course work attempted at USC beyond the bachelor’s degree. Transfer units count as credit (CR) toward the master’s degree and are not computed in the grade point average.

In addition to the general requirements of the Viterbi School of Engineering, the Master of Science in systems architecting and engineering is also subject to the following requirements:

(1) a total of at least 30 units is required, consisting of at least nine units in the technical management area, nine units in the general technical area, and 12 units in the technical specialization area;

(2) every plan of study requires prior written approval by the director of the systems architecting and engineering program recorded on the study plan in the student’s file;

(3) no more than nine units at the 400 level may be counted toward the degree — the remaining units must be taken at the 500 or 600 level;

(4) at least 24 of the 30 units must be taken in the Viterbi School of Engineering;

(5) units to be transferred (maximum of four with advisor approval) must have been taken prior to taking classes at USC; interruption of residency is not allowed;

(6) no more than 6 units of Special Topics courses (499 or 599) may be counted for this degree;

(7) thesis and directed research registrations may be allowed to individual students only by special permission of the supervising faculty member and the program director;

(8) a bachelor’s degree in an engineering field and a minimum of three years systems experience are recommended prior to taking Systems Architecting and Design Experience courses. This program is not recommended for recent bachelor’s degree graduates.

Required coursesUnits
ISE 460Engineering Economy, or
ISE 561Economic Analysis of Engineering Projects, or
ISE 563Financial Engineering, or
SAE 560Economic Considerations for Systems Engineering3
SAE 541Systems Engineering Theory and Practice3
SAE 549Systems Architecting3

One design-related course approved by the director3

ElectivesUnits
Advisor-approved electives in technical management area3
Advisor-approved electives in general technical area3
Advisor-approved electives in technical specialization area12

Technical Management Area: Take one course (3 units) from the following:
CE 556abProject Cost Estimating, Control, Planning and Scheduling3-3
IOM 525*Quality Improvement Methods3
IOM 527*Managerial Decision Analysis3
IOM 537*Global Businesses and Markets: Strategies Enabled by Technology3
IOM 580*Project Management3
ISE 515Engineering Product Management3
ISE 517Modern Enterprise Systems3
ISE 544Management of Engineering Teams3
ISE 562Value and Decision Theory3
ISE 585Strategic Management of Technology3
MOR 561*Strategies in High-Tech Businesses3
SAE 550Systems Architecting and the Political Process3

*USC Marshall School of Business course.

General Technical Area: Take one course (3 units) from the following:
CSCI 510Software Management and Economics3
CSCI 577abSoftware Engineering4-4
IOM 535*Database Management3
ISE 580Advanced Concepts in Computer Simulation3
SAE 542Advanced Topics in Systems Engineering 3
SAE 543Case Studies in Systems Engineering and Management3
SAE 550Systems Architecting and the Political Process3
SAE 551Lean Operations3

*USC Marshall School of Business course.

Technical Specialization Area: Twelve units are required, usually in the student’s present or intended technical specialty. Courses are intended to complement the student’s prior education and experience toward becoming a well-rounded systems architect-engineer or architect-manager. With a few exceptions, the courses should come from the recommended list, and usually all from a single specialization.

The student may choose from a large variety of technical specializations spanning all departments in the Viterbi School of Engineering. Flexibility is emphasized in this choice; the program director is expected to work closely with the student in choosing the best set of courses to meet the student’s need.

Several sample specializations are listed below but are not intended to be complete.

Recommended Courses
Aerospace and Mechanical Systems: AME 503, AME 504, AME 521, AME 532a, AME 544, AME 548, AME 560, AME 588

Artificial Intelligence/Neural Networks: CSCI 460, CSCI 545, CSCI 561, CSCI 564, CSCI 566, CSCI 567, CSCI 574; EE 547

Automation and Control Systems: EE 543a, EE 547, EE 585, EE 587, EE 588, EE 593

Communication and Signal Processing Systems: EE 551, EE 562a, EE 563, EE 564, EE 567, EE 580, EE 582, EE 583

Computer and Information Systems: CSCI 485, CSCI 551, CSCI 585, EE 552, EE 554, EE 561, EE 562a, EE 574, EE 658

Construction: CE 501, CE 519, CE 525ab, CE 533, CE 536, CE 556ab, CE 583

Engineering Management Systems: ISE 515, ISE 530, ISE 535, ISE 544, ISE 562, ISE 580, ISE 585; SAE 541, SAE 550

Integrated Media Systems: EE 450, EE 469, EE 522, EE 555, EE 569, EE 596; CSCI 480, CSCI 551, CSCI 574, CSCI 576, CSCI 585, CSCI 588

Manufacturing Systems: AME 588; EE 561ab; ISE 511, ISE 514, ISE 516, ISE 517, ISE 544, ISE 570

Network-centric: CSCI 402, CSCI 530, CSCI 551, CSCI 555, CSCI 558L, CSCI 577ab, EE 550, SAE 574

Software Process Architecture: CSCI 510, CSCI 577b, CSCI 665; EE 554, EE 557; ISE 544, ISE 562, ISE 564

Systems: EE 598; ISE 515, ISE 520, ISE 525, ISE 527, ISE 528, ISE 532, ISE 535, ISE 536, ISE 538, ISE 544, ISE 562, ISE 580, ISE 585; SAE 541, SAE 542

Graduate Certificate in Systems Architecting and Engineering

The graduate certificate in systems architecting and engineering is designed for practicing engineers engaged in the creation and design of complex innovative systems, in aerospace and commercial fields. Entering students are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field from an accredited institution. Three years of industry experience are recommended. Students are required to earn a cumulative B average or higher in courses taken for the certificate. The courses taken for the certificate may be applied later to the Master of Science in Systems Architecting and Engineering.

required courses – choose four units
ISE 460 Engineering Economy, or
ISE 561Economic Analysis of Engineering Projects, or
SAE 560Economic Considerations for Systems Engineering3
ISE 515Engineering Project Management3
ISE 544Management of Engineering Teams3
SAE 541Systems Engineering Theory and Practice3
SAE 542Advanced Topics in Systems Engineering3
SAE 549Systems Architecting3

In addition, one 3- or 4-unit elective course shall be taken from the list of those approved for the Master of Science in Systems Architecting and Engineering.

All programs of study will be approved by the director of the Systems Architecting and Engineering program.

Graduate Certificate in Network Centric Systems

This 15-unit graduate certificate is jointly sponsored by the Epstein Industrial and Systems Engineering, Hsieh Electrical Engineering and Computer Science departments, and administered by the Epstein ISE Department. This certificate is designed for practicing engineers engaged in the creation and design of complex innovative network centric systems in aerospace and commercial fields. Entering students are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field from an accredited institution. Three years of industry experience are recommended. Students are required to earn a cumulative B average or higher in courses taken for the certificate. The courses taken for the certificate may be applied later to the Master of Science in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or Systems Architecting Engineering with departmental approval.

Required CoursesUnits
SAE 574Net-centric Systems Architecting and Engineering3

Choose 4 courses from one area of emphasis:12

Computer Science Emphasis
Required CSCI course
CSCI 551 Computer Communications3

CSCI Electives (choose three courses, 9 units)
CSCI 530Security Systems4
CSCI 531Applied Cryptography 3
CSCI 546Intelligent Embedded Systems3
CSCI 555Advanced Operating Systems3
CSCI 556Introduction to Cryptography3
CSCI 558LInternetworking and Distributed Systems Laboratory3
CSCI 561Foundations of Artificial Intelligence3
CSCI 573Advanced Artificial Intelligence3
CSCI 576Multimedia Systems Design3
CSCI 585Database Systems3

Electrical Engineering Emphasis
Required EE course
EE 535Mobile Communications3

EE Electives (choose three courses, 9 units)
EE 538 Spread Spectrum Systems3
EE 541 Radio Frequency Filter Design3
EE 544 Radio Frequency Systems and Hardware3
EE 550Design and Analysis of Computer Communication Networks3
EE 555Broadband Network Architectures3
EE 562abRandom Processes in Engineering3-3
EE 564 Communication Theory3
EE 567Communication Systems3
EE 579Wireless and Mobile Networks Design and Laboratory3
EE 663Satellite Communications3
EE 666Data Communication3
15

Courses of Instruction

Systems Architecting and Engineering (SAE)

The terms indicated are expected but are not guaranteed. For the courses offered during any given term, consult the Schedule of Classes.

SAE 496 Systems Engineering Through Motorsports (3, FaSp) Applied systems architecting, engineering and management to motorsports from design to validation and verification; venues include drag racing, grand prix Formula SAE racing, DARPA Challenges.

SAE 499 Special Topics (2-4, max 8) Course content to be selected each semester from recent developments in Systems Architecting and Engineering and related fields.

SAE 541 Systems Engineering Theory and Practice (3, FaSpSm) Integration of engineering problem solving methodologies based on systems concepts. Application to complex, large scale technical systems and problems faced by engineering managers. Case studies. (Duplicates credit in former ISE 541).

SAE 542 Advanced Topics in Systems Engineering (3, FaSp) Advanced topics in integration software management and systems engineering, probabilistic foundations of decision-based theory, quantitative risk management, decision-based design, and safety aspects of systems engineering. (Duplicates credit in former ISE 542). Prerequisite: SAE 541.

SAE 543 Case Studies in Systems Engineering and Management (3, FaSp) Real-world case studies in DoD, NASA, and commercial arenas, employing new methodologies to cover the fundamental positive and negative development learning principles of systems engineering. Prerequisite: SAE 541, SAE 549.

SAE 549 Systems Architecting (3, FaSp) Introduction to systems architecture in aerospace, electrical, computer, and manufacturing systems emphasizing the conceptual and acceptance phases and using heuristics. Prerequisite: B.S. degree in a related field of engineering.

SAE 550 Systems Architecting and the Political Process (3) Analysis of risks inherent in managing high-tech/high-cost government-funded engineering programs; tools and techniques for coping with the impacts of politically-driven budgets on the engineering design process. (Duplicates credit in former ISE 550). Recommended preparation: two years of work experience.

SAE 551 Lean Operations (3, Sp) Study of lean principles and practices as applied to automotive, aerospace and other industries.

SAE 560 Economic Considerations for ­Systems Engineering (3) Impact of economic factors for systems architects and engineers, tools for understanding these factors, fundamental quantitative analysis of cash flow, life-cost estimating for systems and software engineering.

SAE 574 Net-Centric Systems Architecting and Engineering (3, FaSp) In-depth examination of the technical design approaches, tools, and processes to enable the benefits of net-centric operations in a networked systems-of-systems.

SAE 590 Directed Research (1-12, FaSpSm) Research leading to the master’s degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

SAE 594abz Master’s Thesis (2-2-0, FaSpSm) Credit on acceptance of thesis. Graded IP/CR/NC.

SAE 599 Special Topics (2-4, max 9, FaSpSm) Course content will be selected each semester to reflect current trends and developments in the field of systems architecting and engineering.