Systems Engineering and Operations Research
Web: www.seor.gmu.edu FacultyProfessors: Adelman, Donohue, Hoffman, Nash, Polyak, Sage, Schum, Sofer (chair) Associate professors: Brouse, Chang, Chen, Laskey, Loerch,White Assistant professors: Shortle Affiliated faculty members: Gulledge, Houck, VanTrees Research and term professors: Gross, Wagenhals, Wagner, Wolman Adjunct professors: Adams, Alexander, Barry, Carley, Fischer, Healy, Killam, Masi, McDevitt, Nguyen, Patel, Patterson, Wells, Wieland, Yost, Youngren IntroductionThe Systems Engineering and Operations Research Department offers a bachelor's degree in systems engineering, a certificate for undergraduates (the equivalent of a minor) in operations research and engineering, and master's degrees in systems engineering and in operations research. In addition, the department offers four certificate programs at the master's level: Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I), military operations research; computational modeling; and systems engineering for computer, information, and software-intensive systems. Students interested in pursuing doctoral education in operations research or systems engineering are encouraged to examine the description of the interdisciplinary PhD in Information Technology program, and the section "PhD Study in Systems Engineering and Operations Research." What is systems engineering? Systems engineers determine the most effective ways for an organization to use all of a given system's components: people, machines, materials, information, and energy. They plan, design, implement, and manage integrated systems, working to ensure performance, safety, reliability, and maintainability. They also work to ensure that systems are delivered on time at reasonable cost. Examples of systems are a computer network, an automobile, an intelligent robot, a stereo, the Metro, and George Mason University. Whereas other engineering disciplines concentrate on individual aspects of a system (electronics, ergonomics, software, etc.), systems engineers focus on the system as a whole. Systems engineering, perhaps more than any other engineering discipline, is involved with the human and organizational aspects of developing the desired system. Systems engineering is the "people-oriented" engineering profession. What is operations research? Operations research is the professional field that deals with the use of scientific methods in engineering and management decision making, often focusing on problems of how best to allocate limited resources. Operations researchers do for organizations what physicists do for the physical world: they try to find order in apparent chaos by identifying the structure in complex situations and understanding how the components of organizations interact. The goal is to explain and predict the effects of actions taken on these systems. Much of this work is done by developing and manipulating mathematical and computer models of organizational systems composed of people, machines, information, and procedures. The overall purpose is to provide a rational basis for decision making. The operations research faculty at George Mason University is principally involved in the theoretical and empirical study of managerial and operational processes and the use of mathematical and computer models to optimize these systems. Models are needed for a variety of decision-making purposes in business, industry, scientific research, and government to describe different environments and to relate alternative courses of action to performance. Thus, the courses in operations research focus on quantitative modeling and the analysis of complex systems. Courses stress the use of contemporary computer hardware and software in modeling and analysis. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the field of operations research will be one of the fastest growing professions of the next decade. Why one department? On the basis of the above descriptions of the fields of systems engineering and operations research, one can see that there is much overlap between these two disciplines. The department encourages students of either discipline to elect courses in the other. For a more detailed description of the programs, faculty, and department, please visit the department web page, www.gmu.edu/departments/seor. Course WorkThe department offers all courses designated SYST and OR in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog. Undergraduate ProgramThe mission of the undergraduate program in systems engineering is to equip students with the ability to participate productively in the many professional activities associated with the engineering of a trustworthy system that satisfies client needs. The term system is interpreted broadly, examples being information systems, telecommunication systems, defense systems, health delivery systems, transportation systems, manufacturing systems, and corporate processes. Specifically, the objectives of the program are to provide an academic environment that facilitates and motivates learning the knowledge, principles, practices, and perspectives that will enable graduates to do the following:
Systems Engineering, BSThe program leading to the BS in Systems Engineering prepares students for a professional career in systems engineering. Our educational program reflects the systems engineer's unique perspective, which considers all aspects of a system throughout its lifetime. The systems engineering program at George Mason is interdisciplinary, drawing from engineering, computer science, operations research, psychology, and economics. The core systems engineering courses tie these diverse threads to provide a global understanding of how individual engineering disciplines fit into the development of complex, large-scale systems. Students gain depth in a technical area by selecting a sequence of technical electives that constitute an emphasis (software-intensive systems, network and communications systems, econonic systems design, environmental and infrastructure systems, and system modeling and performance). Students construct their own emphases with the help of their advisor. A year-long senior design project provides hands-on experience in applying various systems engineering methods and tools. The bachelor's program in systems engineering at George Mason University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD, 21202-4012; telephone 410-347-7700. The requirements for the degree may be satisfied on a part-time or co-op basis. Cooperative education provides students with the opportunity to integrate paid, career-related work experience with classroom learning. Writing-Intensive RequirementThe university's writing-intensive requirement for systems engineering majors is satisfied by the successful completion of SYST 489. Synthesis RequirementThe university's synthesis requirement for systems engineering majors is satisfied by the successful completion of SYST 495. Degree RequirementsIn addition to the general and university general education requirements for the BS degree, students must meet specific requirements for this degree as described below. In the first two years, students obtain a basic foundation in mathematics, the natural sciences, computing, writing, the humanities, and the social sciences. The systems engineering program builds on this foundation, teaching students theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and the ability to apply systems thinking to problems. Teamwork, collaborative learning, analytical skills, practical problem solving, and oral and written communication are strongly stressed in the systems engineering degree program. Course requirements for the systems engineering major are as follows:
Sample ScheduleThe following sample schedule shows the required and elective courses in the undergraduate systems engineering program. Students are strongly encouraged to follow this sample schedule to ensure that prerequisites are satisfied. For students who don't place into MATH 113 by taking the math placement exam, an alternate schedule is available.
All systems engineering students are assigned faculty advisors. With the help and approval of the advisor, each student is required to complete a plan of study. This plan of study, contained in the detailed pamphlet available from the systems engineering office, constitutes a learning plan for the degree program. The advisor must approve changes to the plan of study. All students in systems engineering are required to see their advisors at least once each semester to plan for the following semester's registration. The systems engineering program requires 15 credits of technical electives. Sequences of electives that constitute an emphasis may be selected from courses in systems engineering, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, information systems, operations research, and applied statistics. Technical electives are normally chosen from 300- and 400-level IT&E courses; 100- and 200-level courses may only be included for special reasons (e.g., if they are prerequisites for the other 300- and 400-level technical electives or they are needed for the FE/EIT exam). Students may also take some graduate courses at the 500 level, but this requires that the student satisfy a GPA requirement of 3.000 and obtain permission from his or her advisor. Students taking a 500-level course must satisfy the same requirements and are graded in the same way as other graduate students. Examples of elective sequences are systems engineering of software-intensive systems, systems engineering of network and communications systems, economic systems design, systems engineering of environmental and infrastructure systems, and systems modeling and performance. These are described as follows. The student's advisor must approve all elective sequences. Systems Engineering of Software-Intensive SystemsStudents must take CS 310 Computer Science III and 12 credits from the following courses:
* Math 125 qualifies as an elective only if a course that requires it as a prerequisite is taken. Systems Engineering of Network and Communications SystemsStudents are required to take 15 credits from the following courses:
For students meeting requirements to enroll in graduate courses:
Economic Systems DesignStudents must take the following three courses:
And take two of the following courses:
Systems Engineering of Environmental and Infrastructure SystemsStudents must take CEIE 301 Engineering and Economic Models in Civil Engineering and 12 credits from the following:
Systems Modeling and PerformanceStudents must take CEIE 301 Engineering and Economic Models in Civil Engineering, and 12 credits from the following:
Transportation SystemsStudents must take SYST460 Fundamentals of Air Traffic Control, and CEIE 360 Introduction to Transportation Engineering and any three courses from the following:
In addition to receiving a BS degree, a student may wish to select a sequence that contributes toward a minor or certificate program as described below. Certificate in Operations Research and EngineeringThe operations research program offers a certificate program to students enrolled in the computer science, decision sciences, mathematics, and systems engineering undergraduate degree programs. The certificate augments the standard curricula with material on the computational aspects of operations research. Because the demand for people trained in this area is great, this program expands the career options available to students. Students must take STAT 344 Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I; STAT 362 Introduction to Computer Statistical Packages; OR 335 Discrete Systems Simulation Modeling; OR 441 Deterministic Operations Research; OR 442 Stochastic Operations Research; and MATH 313 Introduction to Applied Mathematics. They must also choose two courses from the following: OR 481 Numerical Methods in Engineering; OR 498 Independent Study in Operations Research; OR 499 Special Topics in Operations Research; STAT 354 Statistical Methods for Engineers and Scientists; and any 400-level STAT class. Students electing the certificate in operations research must apply to the Systems Engineering and Operations Research Department. Interdisciplinary Minor ProgramsBy taking appropriate sequences of technical electives and in some cases a few courses in addition to the 120 credit hours required for graduation, students in the systems engineering program can obtain a minor in one of a variety of interdisciplinary minor programs. Available minors include data analysis and computer science. Students should see their advisors and the departments offering the minors for specific requirements. BS/Accelerated MS in Systems EngineeringQualified undergraduate students may apply for a five-year BS/Accelerated MS program leading to a bachelor of science in an engineering discipline and an MS degree in systems engineering. The BS/Accelerated MS program can be completed in 144 credits. Applicants to the BS/Accelerated MS program must be George Mason undergraduate students with majors in IT&E. Students may apply for the BS/Accelerated MS program after they have completed at least 90 credits. Students must have an overall GPA of at least 3.000 to apply for the program and must have completed all their MATH and PHYS requirements. Criteria for admission into the BS/Accelerated MS program are identical to criteria for admission into the MS program, with the exception that students do not need to have completed an undergraduate degree before admission into the program. Students must complete all requirements for the BS in their chosen majors. Students in the BS/Accelerated MS program may apply to have the BS degree from the appropriate IT&E program conferred during the semester during which they expect to complete their BS requirements. The MS degree is granted upon completion of the remaining courses. Up to two courses (6 credits) of master's-level courses taken as part of the undergraduate degree may be applied to the graduate degree. These two courses may be chosen from the list of graduate courses in the following table. For BS candidates, these graduate courses replace the corresponding undergraduate courses listed in the table. The undergraduate version of these courses may not be applied toward the MS degree.
Any other 500-level SYST course may be applied to both the undergraduate and graduate degrees with the approval of the advisor and the department chair. BS/Accelerated MS Program in Operations ResearchQualified undergraduate students may apply for a five-year BS/Accelerated MS program leading to a bachelor of science in an engineering discipline and an MS degree in operations research. The BS/Accelerated MS program can be completed in 144 credits. Applicants to the BS/Accelerated MS program must be George Mason undergraduate students with majors in IT&E. Students may apply for the BS/Accelerated MS program after they have completed at least 90 credits. Students must have an overall GPA of at least 3.000 to apply for the program, and must have completed all their MATH and PHYS requirements. Criteria for admission into the BS/Accelerated MS program are identical to criteria for admission into the MS program, with the exception that students do not need to have completed an undergraduate degree before admission into the program. Students must complete all requirements for the BS in their chosen majors. Students in the BS/Accelerated MS program may apply to have the BS degree from the appropriate IT&E program conferred during the semester during which they expect to complete their BS requirements. The MS degree is granted upon completion of the remaining courses. Up to two courses (6 credits) of master's-level courses taken as part of the undergraduate degree may be applied to the graduate degree. For BS candidates, these graduate courses replace the corresponding undergraduate courses. The undergraduate version of these courses may not be applied toward the MS degree. Systems engineering majors in the BS/Accelerated MS program in Operations Research are required to take OR 541 and 542 in place of OR 441 and 442. Graduate ProgramsOperations Research, MSThe graduate program leading to an MS in Operations Research prepares students for research and professional practice associated with the formulation and analysis of mathematical models for decision making, and their computer implementation. Major components of the program include optimization, queuing and network modeling, computer simulation and modeling, applied and computational probability, and application of these components to realistic and relevant operational analysis problems. Students are expected to become proficient in these areas, as well as in supporting areas of information technology necessary to implement operations research methods. To achieve this objective, the program includes core courses and electives selected by the student with the aid of a faculty advisor. To obtain the master of science degree, students complete an approved plan of study that contains a minimum of 30 graduate credits. Students may take courses through the Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program. Appropriate courses may be transferred, with advisor approval, into this George Mason degree program. Admission RequirementsTo be admitted to the program, a candidate must meet the following requirements:
The department offers SYST 500 as an intensive review of undergraduate engineering mathematics, including matrix algebra, transforms, differential equations, probability, and statistics. Upon acceptance, each student will be required to take a foundation qualification test a week or two before school starts unless waived by the department chair or graduate coordinator. Students who fail the test will be required to take SYST 500. A sample test is available from the department. Students with deficiencies in preparation may be accepted conditionally pending removal of the deficiencies. Courses taken to remove admission deficiencies (including SYST 500) extend the minimum requirements for the degree. Students whose undergraduate training was in the quantitative social sciences or quantitatively oriented business administration may be allowed to complete a portion of the mathematics prerequisite by taking SYST 500. Degree RequirementsThe program consists of 30 credits, divided as shown below. Each student must complete four core courses and the project (15 credits).
(Students who have performed well in their undergraduate calculus-based probability class may instead take OR 645 Stochastic Processes.)
Also, at least three 600-level or higher OR courses must be taken. These include at least one deterministic methods and one stochastic methods course. Deterministic methods courses include:
Stochastic methods courses include:
Up to two additional elective courses may be chosen with the written concurrence of the student's advisor. These courses should be taken in an area appropriate to the student's interests, such as operations research statistics, computer science, information systems, systems engineering, electrical and computer engineering, economics, and mathematics. At least one of these electives must be taken from SEOR's course offerings. With the permission of his or her advisor, a qualified student may elect to write a thesis in place of 3 credits of course work from the methodological or applications area. Students enrolled in the MS in Operations Research may construct concentration areas by choosing electives from among special groupings. The four concentrations currently available are: optimization, stochastic modeling, decision analysis, and military operations research. Students whose primary interest is in optimization may complete a concentration by choosing three courses from OR 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 682, and 741. The remaining two courses are chosen with the written concurrence of the advisor, should be tailored to the student's interest, and must include at least one stochastic methods course. The other course may be chosen from the department's offerings, from appropriate offerings in other departments within IT&E, and from appropriate courses in other university departments. A sample of possible courses outside the Systems Engineering and Operations Research Department is available from the department office. Students concentrating in stochastic modeling must complete one 600-level statistics course (numbered 634 or above), and two courses from OR 645, 647, 648, and 677. The remaining two courses are chosen with the written concurrence of the student's advisor and must include at least one deterministic methods course. Students concentrating in decision analysis must complete OR 671 and 681 and SYST/STAT 664. The remaining two electives are chosen with the written concurrence of the student's advisor and must include one deterministic methods course and one stochastic methods course. Finally, students concentrating in military operations research must complete OR 651 and 652 and SYST 683. The remaining two courses are chosen with the written concurrence of the student's advisor and must include one deterministic methods course and one stochastic methods course. Particularly important to students planning a PhD program in information technology are the core courses that satisfy the breadth requirement. Systems Engineering, MSThe graduate program leading to the MS in Systems Engineering prepares students for a professional career in systems design, development, and management, associated with problem formulation, issue analysis, and evaluation of alternative courses of action. The program emphasizes both analytical and practical aspects of engineering complex systems. Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in several quantitative modeling disciplines. Students are also expected to master issues relevant to practical aspects of systems design, engineering, and management. The program prepares students for careers in research and development and for pursuing advanced graduate study leading to the PhD in Information Technology. Each student is assigned a faculty advisor with whom he or she must work to complete an approved plan of study. This plan of study must include three core courses, two methods courses, three to four electives in a concentration, and a thesis or systems engineering project. The plan of study must include 30 graduate credits. Either a thesis (6 credits) or research project (3 credits) is required for the degree. Matriculation requirements for candidates needing additional work in mathematics or engineering also may be included in the plan of study. Foundation and Admission RequirementsEach applicant for the MS program should meet the following entrance requirements:
Students who enter the program must have a working background in engineering mathematics and computer systems. A student lacking these foundations may apply for admission to the program, but will be required to take one or more foundation courses. The department offers SYST 500 as an intensive review of undergraduate engineering mathematics, including matrix algebra, transforms, differential equations, probability, and statistics. Students who have not completed a basic engineering undergraduate mathematics sequence will be required to complete courses in engineering calculus and matrix algebra prior to taking SYST 500. Upon acceptance, each student will be required to take a foundation qualification test a week or two before school starts unless waived by the department chair or graduate coordinator. Students who fail the test will be required to take SYST 500 or other foundation courses. A sample test is available from the department. A familiarity with analytical modeling software such as spreadsheets or math packages is also expected. Students should acquaint themselves with these software packages before beginning classes. Project or ThesisEach student must complete a project (3 credits) or thesis (6 credits) under the direction of a systems engineering faculty member. Under the project option, the student completes 3 credits of SYST 798 or OR 680. For SYST 798, a project objective is selected with the approval of the faculty project advisor. A project report is submitted at the end of the semester and must be approved by the faculty project advisor. Although a student may register for more than 3 credits of project work, only 3 credits will be applied toward the degree. Under the thesis option, the student completes 6 credits of SYST 799. The master's thesis should reflect a significant independent research effort. The work is conducted under the guidance of a faculty thesis advisor, and the final written thesis and oral defense are approved by a three-member faculty committee and submitted to IT&E. The thesis work is expected to be completed while taking 6 credits of SYST 799. Although a student may register for more than 6 credits, only 6 credits may be applied toward the degree. Core CoursesStudents must complete the following three core courses (9 credits):
Methods Courses Students must complete two basic methods courses, including SYST 611 System Methodology and Modeling. The other basic methods course might depend on the emphasis chosen by the student and must be selected from the following list:
Emphasis CoursesStudents must complete a set of elective courses that together with the basic methods courses constitute a clearly defined emphasis within systems engineering. Students pursuing the thesis option complete three electives in an emphasis; students pursuing the project option complete four electives in an emphasis. Students may create their own emphases with the approval of their advisors, or they may choose one of the following six emphases: systems engineering methods, systems management, architecture-based systems integration, C3I, systems engineering of computer-based systems, and advanced transportation systems. Approved basic methods courses and electives for the major emphases are as follows. Systems Engineering MethodsSystems engineers must address a broad range of issues relevant to the design, implementation, analysis, and management of systems. The systems engineering methods emphasis provides the student with methodological tools that can be applied to the systems engineering process. Areas of focus include decision support systems, distributed intelligent systems, knowledge-based planning systems, network systems, probabilistic reasoning systems, sensor fusion systems, and/or optimization methods. The graduate program in systems engineering recognizes the importance of balancing an education in quantitative models and engineering tools with a proper understanding of the systems perspective. Basic methods courses: Students must complete SYST 611 System Methodology and Modeling and one additional course from the list of basic methods courses. Elective courses: Courses designated as basic methods courses may also be used as elective courses once the requirement of two basic methods courses has been met. The set of elective courses must constitute a well-defined focus and must be approved by the student's advisor.
Systems ManagementThe defining reality of the 20th century is evolution into a society of organizations and the emergence of management as a discipline. The technical disciplines of systems engineering are necessary but not sufficient for the development of successful systems. The management aspect of systems engineering involves tracking and controlling system development through the major phases of the system life cycle; identifying and resolving problems to minimize impacts on cost, schedule, and performance; and iteratively improving both product and process. The emphasis in systems management focuses on the theory and practice of systems management and prepares students for careers in managing the development of complex systems. Basic methods courses: Students must complete SYST 611 System Methodology and Modeling and one additional course from the list of basic methods courses. Elective courses: The set of elective courses must constitute a well-defined focus. Basic methods courses beyond the two required methods courses may also be counted as elective courses. Approved electives include the following:
Architecture-Based Systems IntegrationThere is much interest today in the engineering of systems that comprise other component systems, where each of the component systems serves organizational and human purposes. These systems families are often categorized as systems-of-systems, federations of systems, or coalitions of systems. The design of architectures is a major ingredient in the design of systems families. Furthermore, it provides the conceptual basis for achieving system integration. This emphasis covers the formulation of the system integration problem, the definition of architecture frameworks, the use of structured analysis and object-oriented methodologies for the design of architectures, modeling and simulation for the evaluation of architectures, and approaches to integration. Both defense and industrial applications are considered. Basic methods courses: Students must complete SYST 611 System Methodology and Modeling and SYST 620 Discrete Event Systems. Elective courses: The set of elective courses must constitute a well-defined concentration area. This emphasis area consists of three required courses and one elective course from an approved list. The three required courses are:
The list of approved electives includes basic methods courses and the following:
Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I)Command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) systems are pervasive throughout the civilian and military world, allowing responsible authorities such as commanders or chief executive officers to control resources such as personnel, equipment, and money. Civilian government examples include the air traffic control systems, the drug enforcement C3I systems, law enforcement agency systems, and various emergency preparedness systems. Military systems include national-level crisis management systems, the global command and control system, the NATO command and control systems, and various tactical C3 systems of the military services. Private industry examples include the corporate management systems of large national and multinational firms. These systems include the equipment, people, and procedures necessary to accomplish the mission. The equipment may include a variety of sensors, communications systems, and information processing and decision-support systems. This area stresses the multidisciplinary approach necessary to understand the field. The specialization in C3I focuses on the theory and practice of C3I and prepares students for careers in research, design, and development of C3I systems, or in the use and management of C3I systems. The courses offered emphasize the analytical and behavioral aspects of engineering complex C3I systems. Basic Methods Courses: Students must complete SYST 611 System Methodology and Modeling and one of the following:
Elective Courses: A set of approved elective courses is given below. The set of elective courses must constitute a well-defined concentration area. Examples of concentration areas include C3 architectures, C2 software, communications, decision support, modeling and simulation, or sensing and fusion. Students in the C3I specialization area must complete the following course: SYST 680/ECE 670/OR 683 Principles of C3I, and may select their remaining elective(s) from the list of basic methods courses or the following:
Systems Engineering of Computer-Based SystemsThe computer-based systems emphasis provides specialized knowledge and experience in developing and modifying large, complex software systems. It emphasizes technical and management aspects of the software engineering process. Computer-based systems engineers are concerned with the theoretical and practical aspects of technology, cost, and social impact of computer systems that are both effective and efficient. Basic methods courses: Students must complete SYST 611 System Methodology and Modeling and one additional course from the list of basic methods courses. Students must complete one of the following: Elective courses: The set of elective courses must constitute a well-defined focus. Basic methods courses beyond the two required methods courses may also be counted as elective courses. The set includes the following:
One of CS 656 Computer Communications and Networking, ECE 542 Computer Network Architectures and Protocols, and INFS 612 Principles and Practices of Communication Networks Advanced Transportation Systems (ATS)Transportation is one of the most important and increasingly complex infrastructure networks of our modern society. This emphasis looks at transportation operations, monitoring, and control from a systems engineering perspective. It uses both analytical and complex simulations to give the student an awareness of how future transportation systems will evolve. Basic methods courses: Students must complete SYST 611 System Methodology and Modeling and one additional course from the list of basic methods courses. Elective courses: Two of the elective courses should be taken from the following list:
The remaining elective courses can be taken from the list above, the list of basic methods courses, and the following:
Certificate in Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I)A certificate program in C3I is available to students who hold bachelor's degrees in engineering and scientific disciplines, or who are currently in graduate status in such programs. To be eligible for a certificate, students must complete SYST 680; ECE 528 or OR 542; and three electives from the list of electives for the C3I emphasis of the MS in Systems Engineering Program. The following is a suggested program of study for obtaining the certificate while studying for the MS in Systems Engineering degree (certificate required courses indicated in italics): Core courses: SYST 510, 520, 530 Methods courses: SYST 611 and ECE 528 or OR 542 Elective courses: SYST 680; three C3I approved elective courses Project: SYST 798 or OR 680 Certificate in Systems Engineering for Computer, Information, and Software-Intensive SystemsA certificate in systems engineering for computer, information, and software-intensive systems is available to any student who holds a bachelor's degree in an engineering or a scientific discipline, or who has graduate status in such a program. To be eligible for a certificate, students must complete SYST 510, 512, 513, 530, and one of these elective courses: ECE 542; CS 656; INFS 612; SYST 542, 619, 620, and 621; SWE 620; and INFS 622. The following is a suggested program of study for obtaining the certificate while studying for the MS in Systems Engineering (required courses for the certificate are indicated in italics): Core courses: SYST 510, 520, 530 Methods courses: two courses approved for the master's degree emphasis Elective courses: SYST 512, 513; certificate elective course; an elective approved for the master's degree emphasis Project: SYST 798 or OR 680 Certificate in Military Operations ResearchThe certificate program in military operations research provides knowledge, tools, and techniques to those who are working, or planning to work, in the field of military operations research. It is appropriate for students who cannot complete all the requirements for a master's degree in operations research, but who want a concentrated study of military modeling. Admissions requirements to this program are identical to those for the master's degree in operations research. Certificate candidates must complete six courses, with an average grade of B or better, for a total of 18 graduate credits. To obtain the certificate, a student needs to complete the following: OR 541, 542, 635, 651, 652, and SYST 683. If the candidate has already had 3 credits of deterministic operations research, then he or she can receive the certificate with 15 graduate credits. If the candidate has already taken a course equivalent to OR 542, then he or she should substitute OR 681. Certificate in Computational ModelingThe certificate program in computational modeling provides knowledge, tools, and techniques to those who are working, or planning to work, in the field of computational modeling. Courses taken for this certificate program can count toward a master's in operations research or statistics, or a PhD in Computational Sciences and Informatics. One must be concurrently enrolled in the program for courses to count toward both the certificate and the other degree. For admission into the certificate program, the applicants must meet either the minimum entrance requirements for the MS in Operations Research, the MS in Statistical Science, or the entrance requirements for the PhD in Computational Sciences and Informatics. Certificate candidates must complete the following courses: CSI 700/OR 682; OR 541 and 635; and STAT 634. In addition, candidates must choose any two of the following electives: CSI 744, 773; OR 542, 680; and SYST 683. If the candidate has already taken the equivalent of any of the required courses, then he or she may (with the permission of the department chair) complete the certificate program by taking only 15 credits of course work. Certificate in Discovery, Design, and InnovationThis program responds to the growing need for professional knowledge in the area of innovation. It provides students with a balanced understanding of the entire process from the discovery of knowledge, its use in inventive problem solving and the development of inventions, and familiarity with the use of various inventive design methods and tools. The program is available to students who hold master's degrees in engineering and scientific disciplines, or who are currently in such graduate programs. Students may pursue the certificate concurrently with any of the graduate programs in the School of Information Technology and Engineering; however the certificate is not awarded until all its requirements have been completed. Certificate candidates must complete at least 15 credits with an average degree of B or better. To obtain the certificate students must take SYST 520, IT 894 and 944, and, two of the following: CEIE 601, 670, or SYST 512 (recommended courses if going on for MS in Civil and Infrastructure Engineering), or SYST 573, STAT 664/SYST664, SYST 781/STAT 781, STAT 652, 700, and 701, OR 671/SYST 672, and IT 819. PhD Study in Systems Engineering and Operations ResearchDoctoral study in both systems engineering and in operations research is available through the PhD in Information Technology program, which offers advanced courses in this discipline. The doctoral program allows the student to take a broad range of courses and research options. Students may designate a specialization in systems engineering or operations research in their doctoral degree title. In that case the degree conferred upon a graduating student would be "PhD in Information Technology with Concentration in Operations Research" or "PhD in Information Technology with Concentration in Systems Engineering." Students may also pursue such doctoral studies without designating a specialization in their degree title. RequirementsStudents seeking one of these specializations must satisfy all the requirements for the PhD in Information Technology degree. In addition, the following requirements must be met. AdmissionsStudents are normally admitted with an MS degree in systems engineering, operations research, or some related engineering or information technology area. Plan of StudyAll decisions concerning the student's course requirements and plan of study must be approved by the advisor/director, with the consent of the department's doctoral coordinator. Doctoral Supervisory CommitteeThe chair of the committee should be selected from the list of approved chairs of SEOR. The dissertation director must be a member of SEOR. The doctoral supervisory committee must include at least three members from SEOR. The composition of the doctoral supervisory committee is to be approved by the doctoral coordinator. Permission for the comprehensive examination and the dissertation defense are requested from the IT&E associate dean on the basis of a written request and plan that has been approved by the supervisory committee and the department's doctoral coordinator. Qualifying ExaminationsEach student must take a set of four exams from three different degree programs from the following:
Advanced Emphasis RequirementFor students specializing in operations research, at least 18 of the 24 credits in the advanced emphasis requirement must either be in OR courses numbered 600 or higher or in IT courses with an OR designation. For students specializing in systems engineering, at least 18 of the 24 credits must either be in SYST courses numbered 600 or higher or in IT courses with a SYST designation. All exceptions to this rule must be approved by the student's doctoral supervisory committee and the department's doctoral coordinator. The doctoral supervisory committee and the associate dean for graduate studies and research of IT&E must approve the overall plan of study. A list of IT courses with an OR or SYST designation is available from the SEOR office. |
