Should Systems Engineering Degrees Only Be Offered at

the Graduate Level?

Systems Engineering: Systems Engineering: Designing Designing Integrated Solutions to Complex ProblemsIntegrated Solutions to Complex Problems

COL Tim Trainor, Ph.D.Professor and Head

7 April 2010

No!

Undergraduate Systems Engineering Program at West Point

Yes We Should Teach SE to Yes We Should Teach SE to UndergraduatesUndergraduates

• Systems Engineering curriculum:– provides students with a multi-disciplinary and systems perspective on

engineering and decision-making;– engages students in solving real problems for real people;– prepares students well for the uncertain and complex world in which they

will live.

• Among many other attributes Systems Engineering develops this desired set of knowledge, skills and abilities:– a fundamental understanding of basic engineering principles; – a more holistic view of problem solving and decision making in an

environment of uncertainty and ambiguity; – Leadership in a multidisciplinary team environment;– Comfort with technology

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Undergraduate Systems Engineering Program at West Point

We Follow the INCOSE We Follow the INCOSE Definition of SEDefinition of SE

3

• Systems Engineering is an interdisciplinary approach and means to enable the realization of successful systems. It focuses on defining customer needs and required functionality early in the development cycle, documenting requirements, then proceeding with design synthesis and system validation while considering the complete problem.

Available at: http://www.incose.org/practice/whatissy-stemseng.aspx

Undergraduate Systems Engineering Program at West Point

The Systems Decision Process (SDP)The Systems Decision Process (SDP)Our Engineering Thought & Design ProcessOur Engineering Thought & Design Process

4Parnell, G. S., Driscoll, P. J., and Henderson D. L., Editors, Decision Making for Systems Engineering and Management, Wiley Series in Systems Engineering, Andrew P. Sage, Editor, Wiley & Sons Inc., 2008.

Revised SDP to appear in 2nd Edition.

Undergraduate Systems Engineering Program at West Point

1. Produce graduates for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the United States Army.

2. Produce graduates who effectively lead interdisciplinary teams in Joint, Combined, inter-agency, and multicultural environments.

3. Produce graduates who solve complex systems engineering problems in uncertain future environments.

4. Produce graduates who communicate engineering solutions convincingly both orally and in writing to technical and non-technical audiences.

5. Produce graduates who seek out and succeed in continued intellectual

professional development in systems engineering and related fields.

SE Program Educational Objectives

Undergraduate Systems Engineering Program at West Point 6

08-2 09-1 09-2 10-1 10-2

1 SE301 SE375 SE370 SE402 SE403

2 MA206 SE387 SE388 EM411 EM420

3 LX2XXSub-Discipline

ElectiveSimulation

ElectiveSub-Discipline

ElectiveSub-Discipline

Elective

4 PH202 CE300 ME311 EE301 LW403

5EV203/ PY201

SS307 SE385 HI301 HI302

6 SS20X EN302 PL300 SE400

SE Program CurriculumABET Accredited – 43.3 Courses

SE301: Foundations in Eng Design and Sys MgmtSE370: Computer Aided Systems Engineering SE375: Statistics for EngineersSE385: Decision AnalysisSE387: Deterministic ModelsSE388: Stochastic ModelsEM411: Project ManagementEM420: Production Operations ManagementSE402/3: Systems Design I / II (Capstone)SE400: Systems Engineering Seminar

Sub-DisciplinesHuman Factors SystemsInformation SystemsMathematical SystemsSimulation Systems

Simulation ElectivesSE481: Systems SimulationSE485: Combat SimulationEM484: Dynamic Systems Analysis

Engineering FundamentalsCE300: Fund of Eng Mechanics and DesignME311: Thermal-Fluid Systems IEE301: Fund of Electrical Engineering

Undergraduate Systems Engineering Program at West Point

Primary Peer Group Comparison Primary Peer Group Comparison USMA SE Program (AY 2010) USMA SE Program (AY 2010)

Sub-Disciplines (3 courses)Biomedical SystemsCommunication SystemsComputer and Information SystemsControl SystemsEconomic SystemsEnergy and Environmental SystemsFinancial SystemsHuman FactorsTransportation SystemsManagement SystemsMathematical SystemsStudent-Designed

Sub-Disciplines (4 courses)Software SystemsEngineering ManagementDecision and ControlInformation Technology

Sub-Disciplines (3 courses)Software

TelecommunicationsEnvironmental and Infrastructure

Systems Modeling and Performance

Engineering RigorFundamentals of Engr MechanicsIntro to Electrical EngineeringThermal-Fluid Systems I

Engineering RigorFreshman Engr (2 cr)

Engineering RigorFreshman Engr (4 cr)

Engineering RigorFreshman Engr (3 cr)Elements of Electrical Engineering

Total Cr Hrs: 141Prog Cr Hrs: 54

Total Cr Hrs: 128Prog Cr Hrs: 56

Total Cr Hrs: 120Prog Cr Hrs: 61

Total Cr Hrs: 128Prog Cr Hrs: 62

Math Rigor5+ courses (Diff Eqs)

Math Rigor7 courses (Lin Alg, Diff Eqs)

Math Rigor6 courses (Lin Alg)

Math Rigor5 courses

Sub-Disciplines (3 courses)Human Factors Systems

Information SystemsMathematical Systems

Simulation Systems

Common to AllIntro CourseSimulationComputer Aided SEStatisticsProject ManagementDeterministic ModelingStochastic ModelingSenior SeminarTwo Semester Capstone

Common to non-USMAHuman Factors (All)UML (UVA, UA)MATLAB (UA, GMU)Control Systems (UA, GMU)

Undergraduate Systems Engineering Program at West Point

Yes We Should Teach SE to Yes We Should Teach SE to UndergraduatesUndergraduates

• Systems Engineering curriculum:– provides students with a multi-disciplinary and systems perspective on

engineering and decision-making;– engages students in solving real problems for real people;– prepares students well for the uncertain and complex world in which they

will live.

• Among many other attributes Systems Engineering develops this desired set of knowledge, skills and abilities:– a fundamental understanding of basic engineering principles; – a more holistic view of problem solving and decision making in an

environment of uncertainty and ambiguity; – Leadership in a multidisciplinary team environment;– Comfort with technology

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