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, computer hardware systems, and other 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 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 courses		Units
AE 549a	Systems Architecting	3
ISE 561	Advanced Engineering Economy	3
one of the following design experience courses:		Units
AE 503	Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design	3
AE 556	Systems Architecture Design Experience	3
CSCI 577a	Software Engineering	4
Electives		Units
Advisor-approved electives in Technical Management Area		6
Advisor-approved electives in General Technical Area		3
Advisor-approved electives in Technical Specialization Area		12

Courses Pertinent to the Program

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

Required		Units
ISE 561	Advanced Engineering Economy	3
Electives		Units
CE 556	Planning, Scheduling and Cost Control	3
IOM 525*	Quality Improvement Methods	3
IOM 527*	Managerial Decision Analysis	3
IOM 532*	Business Modeling and Simulation	3
IOM 537*	Information Systems Management for Global Operations	3
IOM 580*	Project Management	3
ISE 515	Introduction to Systems in Industrial Engineering	3
ISE 544	Engineering Team Design	3
ISE 550	The Political Process in Systems Architecture Design	3
ISE 562	Value and Decision Theory	3
ME 586	Management for Engineers	3
MOR 561*	Managing Technology and Innovation	3

*Marshall School of Business course.

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

Required		Units
AE 549a	Systems Architecting	3
one of the following design experience courses:		Units
AE 503	Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design	3
AE 556	Systems Architecture Design Experience	3
CSCI 577a	Software Engineering	4
Electives		Units
AE 549b	Systems Architecting	3
CSCI 510	Management of Computing: Theory and Practice	3
CSCI 577ab	Software Engineering	4-4
IOM 535*	Database Management	3
ISE 550	The Political Process in Systems Architecture Design	3
ISE 580	Statistics of Simulation	3

*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 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: CSCI 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.

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

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

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