Degree Requirements

E-mail: gchung@mizar.usc.edu

Master of Science in Systems Architecture 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 process by which complex systems are conceived, planned, designed, built, tested and certified. The architecting experience can be applied to defense, space, aircraft, communications, navigation, radar, computer software and computer hardware systems.

A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be earned on all course work applied toward the master's degree in systems architecture 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 School of Engineering, the Master of Science in Systems Architecture 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 course for graduate credit requires prior written advisor approval recorded each semester 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 School of Engineering; except students choosing the human factors technical specialization area, who must take at least 21 units in the 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 six units of Special Topics courses (499 or 599) may be counted for this degree;

(7) students interested in completing a research project for this degree will normally be advised to take AE 549b rather than directed research (590) or thesis (594abz). 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
AE 549aSystems Architecting3
ISE 561Advanced Engineering Economy3

And one of the following design experience courses:Units
AE 503Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design3
AE 556Systems Architecture Design Experience3
CSCI 577aSoftware Engineering4

ElectivesUnits
Advisor-approved electives in Technical Management Area6
Advisor-approved electives in General Technical Area3
Advisor-approved electives in Technical Specialization Area12

Courses Pertinent to the Program

Technical Management Area: nine units required including one required course and two elective courses.

RequiredUnits
ISE 561Advanced Engineering Economy3

ElectivesUnits
CE 556Planning, Scheduling and Cost Control3
IOM 525*Quality Improvement Methods3
IOM 527*Managerial Decision Analysis3
IOM 532*Business Modeling and Simulation3
IOM 537*Information Systems Management for Global Operations3
IOM 580*Project Management3
ISE 515Introduction to Systems in Industrial Engineering3
ISE 544Engineering Team Design3
ISE 550The Political Process in Systems Architecture Design3
ISE 562Value and Decision Theory3
ME 586Management for Engineers3
MOR 561*Managing Technology and Innovation3

*Graduate School of Business Administration course.

General Technical Area: nine units required including two required courses and one elective.

RequiredUnits
AE 549aSystems Architecting3

And one of the following design experience courses:Units
AE 503Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design3
AE 556Systems Architecture Design Experience3
CSCI 577aSoftware Engineering4

ElectivesUnits
AE 549bSystems Architecting3
CSCI 510Management of Computing: Theory and Practice3
CSCI 577abSoftware Engineering4-4
IOM 535*Database Management3
ISE 550The Political Process in Systems Architecture Design3
ISE 580Statistics of Simulation3
*Graduate School of Business Administration 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 School of Engineering. Flexibility is emphasized in this choice; the student's advisor 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

Computer and Information Systems: CS 485, 551, 575a, 585, 598; EE 552, 554, 561, 562a, 574, 658.

Automation and Control Systems: EE 543a, 544, 547, 587, 588, 593, 684.

Aerospace and Mechanical Systems: AE 501, 515a, 516a, 583, 585; ME 503, 504, 521, 544, 548, 560, 583.

Communication and Signal Processing Systems: EE 551, 562a, 564, 567, 580, 582, 599, 682. Construction: CE 501, 519, 525ab, 556, 583.

Human Factors: choose up to nine units from HUFA 517, 522, 527, 532, 533, 539, 540, 577 or SSM 531 plus one additional course from another technical specialization area.

Manufacturing Systems: ISE 511, 514, 517, 544; ME 583; EE 561.

Engineering Management Systems: ISE 530, 535, 541, 562, 580.

 

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