Catalogue 2004-05

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 plan of study requires prior written approval by the director of the Systems Architecture 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 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 (AE 590) or thesis (AE 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 Architecture and Design Experience courses. This program is not recommended for recent bachelor's degree graduates.

Required courses		Units
AME 549a	Systems Architecture	3
ISE 541	Systems Engineering Theory and Practice	3
ISE 460	Engineering Economy, or
ISE 561	Economic Analysis of Engineering Projects	3

one of the following design experience courses or the Equivalent Approved by the Director:		Units
AME 527	Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design	3
AME 556	Systems Architecture Design Experience	3
CSCI 577a	Software Engineering	4

Electives		Units
Advisor-approved electives in Technical Management Area		3
Advisor-approved electives in General Technical Area		3
Advisor-approved electives in Technical Specialization Area		12

Courses Pertinent to the Program

Required		Units
ISE 541	Systems Engineering Theory and Practice	3
ISE 460	Engineering Economy, or
ISE 561	Economic Analysis of Engineering Projects	3
Elective		3

Electives		Units
AME 589x	Management for Engineers	3
CE 556ab	Project Cost Estimating, Control, Planning and Scheduling	3-3
IOM 525*	Quality Improvement Methods	3
IOM 527*	Managerial Decision Analysis	3
IOM 537*	Information Systems Management for Global Operations	3
IOM 580*	Project Management	3
ISE 515	Engineering Product Management	3
ISE 544	Management of Engineering Teams	3
ISE 550	Engineering Management of Government-Funded Programs	3
ISE 585	Strategic Management of Technology	3
ISE 562	Value and Decision Theory	3
MOR 561*	Strategies in High-Tech Businesses	3

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

Required		Units
AME 527	Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design, or
AME 556	Systems Architecture Design Experience, or
AME 549a	Systems Architecture	3
CSCI 577a	Software Engineering	3
Elective		3

Electives (take one)		Units
AME 549b	Systems Architecture	3
CSCI 510	Software Management and Economics	3
CSCI 577ab	Software Engineering	4-4
IOM 535*	Database Management	3
ISE 542	Advanced Topics in Systems Engineering	3
ISE 550	Engineering Management of Government-Funded Programs	3
ISE 580	Advanced Concepts in Computer Simulation	3

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 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

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, EE 599

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 541, ISE 544, ISE 550, ISE 562, ISE 580, ISE 585, ISE 599

Integrated Media Systems: EE 469, EE 522, EE 555, EE 569, EE 596, EE 599 -- Immersive Audio Signal Processing, EE 669; CSCI 450, CSCI 480, CSCI 551, CSCI 574, CSCI 576, CSCI 585, CSCI 588

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

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

Systems: AME 549b; ISE 515, ISE 520, ISE 525, ISE 527, ISE 528, ISE 532, ISE 535, ISE 536, ISE 538, ISE 541, ISE 542, ISE 544, ISE 562, ISE 580, ISE 585; EE 598

Graduate Certificate in Systems Architecture and Engineering

required courses -- choose four		units
AE 549a	Systems Architecture	3
ISE 460	Engineering Economy, or
ISE 561	Economic Analusis of Engineering Projects	3
ISE 515	Engineering Project Management	3
ISE 541	Systems Engineering Theory and Practice	3
ISE 542	Advanced Topics in Systems Engineering	3
ISE 544	Management of Engineering Teams	3

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 Architecture and Engineering.

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

Courses of Instruction

Systems Architecture 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.

499 Special Topics (2-4, max 8) Course content to be selected each semester from recent developments in systems architecture and engineering and related fields.

574 Net-Centric Systems Architecting and Engineering (3, Fa) 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.

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.

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

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 architecture and engineering.