2011-2012 University Catalog 
  
2011-2012 University Catalog

Systems Engineering, MS


Banner Code: VS-MS-SYST

School:  Volgenau School of Engineering 

Department:  Systems Engineering and Operations Research 

Mason’s educational and research program in Systems Engineering addresses a broad range of issues relevant to the design, implementation, analysis and management of systems. Specialization areas include Architecture-Based Systems Integration; Air Transportation; Systems Engineering Analysis; Systems Management; Command, Control, Communications, Computing, and Intelligence; and Systems Engineering of Software-Intensive Systems. Research activities include both fundamental and applied research. GMU’s 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”.

The program 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 the pursuit of advanced graduate study leading to the PhD in information technology.

Each student is assigned a faculty advisor with whom to 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 an emphasis area, 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 Requirements

Applicants should have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution in engineering, mathematics, computer science, physical sciences, economics, or a related field. They also should have completed courses in calculus (MATH 113, 114, and 213), matrix algebra (MATH 203), differential equations (MATH 214), applied probability (STAT 346), and a scientific programming language (CS 112).

Other requirements are as follows:

  • Evidence of satisfactory educational achievement in at least one of the following forms: a GPA of at least 3.00 as an undergraduate or an acceptable GPA in graduate courses. International students must also achieve satisfactory scores on the GRE. Nonnative English speakers must have achieved a satisfactory score on the TOEFL exam.
  • Three letters of recommendation submitted by former professors or supervisors
  • Working background in engineering mathematics and computer systems. Students with minor deficiencies in preparation may apply for admission to the program, but they 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 acceptance. On acceptance, students 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.

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.

Degree Requirements


Emphasis Areas:


Students must complete a set of elective courses that, together with two of 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 emphasis with the approval of their advisor, or they may choose one of the following six emphases: systems engineering analysis, systems management, architecture-based systems integration, C4I, systems engineering of software-intensive systems, and advanced transportation systems.

Systems Engineering Analysis Emphasis


Systems engineers must address a broad range of issues relevant to the design, implementation, analysis, and management of systems. This emphasis provides 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 optimization methods.

With careful planning, students who complete this emphasis might be able to complete the Systems Engineering Analysis and Architecture Graduate Certificate  simultaneously with their MS.

Basic methods courses:

Emphasis-specific courses:

Students must complete the following course:

Systems Management Emphasis


The management aspect of systems engineering involves tracking and control of system development through the major phases of the system lifecycle, identifying and resolving problems to minimize their effect on cost, schedule, or performance, and iteratively improving product and process. This track emphasizes the theory and practice of systems management and prepares students for careers in managing the development of complex systems.

Basic methods courses:

Emphasis-specific courses:

Students must take the following:

Architecture-Based Systems Integration Emphasis


There 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, definition of architecture frameworks, 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.

With careful planning, students who complete this emphasis might be able to complete the Architecture-Based Systems Integration Graduate Certificate  simultaneously with their MS.

Emphasis-specific courses:

Students must complete the following courses:

Command, Control, Communications, Computing, and Intelligence (C4I) Emphasis


C4I systems are concerned with gathering, retrieving, analyzing, and disseminating time-sensitive information to achieve mission-critical objectives. These systems support military operations across the spectrum of conflict, intelligence operations, transportation monitoring, emergency response, drug interdiction, and law enforcement, among others. C4I 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.

The program focuses on the analysis, design, development, and management of C4I systems. Topics addressed include C4I architectures and software, communications, decision support, modeling and simulation, and sensor data fusion.

With careful planning, students who complete this emphasis might be able to complete the Command, Control, Communications, Computing, and Intelligence Graduate Certificate  simultaneously with their MS.

Systems Engineering of Software-Intensive Systems Emphasis


This emphasis addresses the software component of the systems engineering life cycle. It specifically covers the allocation of system requirements to software. Practitioners are concerned with the theoretical and practical aspects of technology, cost, and the social effect of computer systems that are reliable, maintainable, secure, efficient, and cost effective. The program emphasizes the integration of hardware, software, and firmware, and the management of these complex computer systems over their life cycle through systems engineering methods, tools, and processes.

With careful planning, students who complete this emphasis might be able to complete the Systems Engineering of Software-Intensive Systems Graduate Certificate  simultaneously with their MS.

Basic methods courses:

Emphasis-specific courses:

Students must take the following:

Advanced Transportation Systems Emphasis


The air transportation system is among the most complex networked systems. This specialization is designed to provide students with the skills to address the next generation of challenges of the air transportation system. Topics addressed include congestion and safety of the national air space, economic and human factors, impact of technology innovation, and public policy. The program emphasizes design, modeling, and analysis to support decision making for government and the aviation industry.

Basic methods courses:

Emphasis-specific courses:

Students must complete the following:

Project (3 credits) or Thesis (6 credits)


Students must complete a project (3 credit hours) or thesis (6 credit hours) under the direction of a Systems Engineering faculty member. 

Under the project option, the student completes three credit hours of SYST 798. Students in these courses work in teams on an approved applied project. A project report is submitted at the end of the semester, and a final project presentation is made to the entire faculty of the SEOR Department.

Under the thesis option, the student completes six credit hours 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 the library. The thesis work is expected to be completed while taking six semester hours of SYST 799. Although a student is required to maintain continuous enrollment by registering for SYST 799 each semester until the thesis is completed, only six hours will be applied to the degree.

Total: 30 credits