Master of Science Degree and Certificate Programs in
Systems Engineering and Management (SEM)
Joint Degree Program Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science,
and, Naveen Jindal School of Management
Program
Directors
Dr. Rajiv R. Shah (Naveen Jindal School of Management), and Dr. Duncan Macfarlane (Jonsson School of Engineering
& Computer Science)
Objective
The Graduate Program in Systems Engineering
and Management provides intensive preparation for professional practice in the
design, engineering and management of complex systems involving a large number
of interconnected components.
Overview
The Master’s in Systems Engineering and
Management (MS-SEM) program is delivered through an equal partnership between the
Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and the School of
Management (SOM). The program focuses on
educating students in the disciplines of Systems Engineering, Systems
Management, Entrepreneurship & Intrapreneurship, Product Line Development
and Management, and Strategic Business Management. Industry concentrations for the program
include: aerospace, defense and space systems; transportation systems;
information and communications technology (ICT) systems; information assurance
and cyber-security systems; healthcare systems; energy, environment and
infrastructure systems; complex biological systems; and macro-economic and
financial systems. We draw our faculty for the core courses from both the
engineering and management schools; faculty from other schools on campus, and
industry leaders with expertise in specific fields will be invited to teach
courses as appropriate.
Faculty
Jonsson School of Engineering & Computer Science
Kendra Cooper, Duncan L. MacFarlane, Mark W. Spong, Lakshman Tamil, Mathukumalli Vidyasagar
School of Management
Abhi Biswas, Greg Dess, Robert Kieschnick, Rajiv Shah, David Springate, Chelliah
Sriskandarajah, Jim Szot
Facilities
UT Dallas has developed a state-of-the-art
computational facility. All systems are connected via an extensive fiber-optic,
Ethernet and, through Internet2 and the Texas Higher Education Network, have
direct access to most major national and international networks. In addition,
many personal computers are available for student use. In addition to the facilities on campus,
cooperative arrangements have been established with many local industries to
make their facilities available to UT Dallas graduate students.
Admission
Requirements
The University’s general admission
requirements are discussed here. A student lacking undergraduate
prerequisites for graduate courses must complete prerequisites or receive
approval from the graduate adviser and the course instructor. A diagnostic
examination may be required. Specific admission requirements follow.
A student entering the MS-SEM program should
meet the following guidelines:
• A minimum of a BS in
engineering, mathematics, physics, chemistry, economics or finance (in order to
ensure adequate fundamental skills in mathematics) from an accredited program.
• Must submit GRE
and/or GMAT scores, as appropriate
• Must submit three
letters of recommendation from individuals who are able to judge the
candidate’s probability of success in pursuing a program of study leading to
the master’s degree.
• Must also submit an
essay outlining the candidate’s background, education and professional goals.
Degree
Requirements
The University’s general degree requirements
are discussed here. The MS in SEM
program is designed to be flexible to accommodate different student
backgrounds, allowing students to pick up areas in which they are deficient,
while still guaranteeing core competency in systems engineering and systems
management. This program has both a thesis
and a non-thesis option. All
part-time MS in SEM students will be assigned initially to the non-thesis
option. Those wishing to elect the thesis option may do so by obtaining the
approval of a faculty thesis supervisor. To receive a Master of Science degree in
Systems Engineering and Management, a student must meet the following minimum
set of requirements:
Course
Requirements
The MS in SEM degree will require a total of
36 credit hours consisting of 12 courses in the non-thesis option or 10 courses
plus 6 hours of thesis credit for the thesis option. All students must have an academic advisor
and an approved degree plan. Courses taken without advisor approval will not
count toward the 36 semester-hour requirement. Successful completion of the
approved course of studies leads to the MS in SEM degree.
Non-thesis
Option:
Completion of a minimum of 36 semester hours
of graduate level lecture courses including the required core courses. With
advisor approval, these may include some 5000 level courses.
Thesis Option:
An alternative to 36 credit hours required
for the MS SEM degree, would be the completion of a minimum of 30 semester
hours of graduate level lecture courses, including the required core courses,
and 6 semester hours of a combination of Master’s research (SYSM 6V70) and
thesis (SYSM 6V98), submitted to the graduate school, and a formal public
defense of the thesis.
Students enrolled in the thesis option should
meet with individual faculty members to discuss research opportunities and to
choose a research advisor during the first or second semester that the student
is enrolled. After the second semester of study, course selection should be
made in consultation with the research advisor. Part-time students are
encouraged to enroll in only one course during their first semester and in no
more than two courses during any semester they are also working full-time.
Research and thesis hours cannot be counted
in an MS in SEM degree plan unless a thesis is written and successfully
defended. A supervising committee, which must be chosen in consultation with
the student’s thesis advisor prior to enrolling for thesis credit, administers
the defense. With advisor approval, the lecture courses may include some 5000
level courses. Full-time students at UTD
who receive financial assistance are required to enroll in 9 semester credit
hours during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.
Either Option:
In either option, students must earn a grade
of B- or better in each of four core courses, two of which must be selected
from the following engineering courses and two of which must be selected from
the following management courses:
Required
Courses:
Students are required to take 4 courses (a total of 12 credit hours) from a set
of 8 courses in the table below. Two of
the courses must be from the Engineering 1 section and two from the Management
1 section. The 4 required courses contribute a total of 12 credit hours towards
the MS degree.
Engineering Core
Courses:
SYSM
6301 Systems Engineering, Architecture and Design
SYSM 6302 Dynamics of Complex Networks and Systems
SYSM 6303 Quantitative Risk, Probability, Stochastic Processes
SYSM 6304 Risk Assessment and Management
Management Core
Courses:
SYSM
6311 Systems Project Management
SYSM 6312 Systems Financial Management
SYSM 6313 Negotiating Deals & Resolving Conflict Within the Organization
SYSM 6314 Manufacturing & Service Systems Planning & Analysis
Students
will take additional courses from those described in the following pages.
Recommended Elective
Courses:
Choose any 18 hours of 6000 level courses or higher with approval of the advisor.
Prescribed
Elective Courses: these
consist of an additional 4 courses (a total of 12 credit hours) from the set of
20 courses listed in the table, excluding the four courses already taken for the
requirement above. At least two of these
courses must be chosen from the two Engineering sections in the table, and two
from the two Management sections.
SEM Core Curriculum |
||
Section & Course |
Course Title |
Credit |
Engineering 1 |
|
|
SYSM6301 |
Systems Engineering Architecture &
Design |
3 |
SYSM6302 |
Dynamics of Complex Networks & Systems |
3 |
SYSM6303 |
Quantitative Risk, Probability, Stochastic
Processes |
3 |
SYSM6304 |
Risk Assessment and Management |
3 |
Management 1 |
|
|
SYSM6311 |
Systems Project Management |
3 |
SYSM6312 |
Systems Financial Management |
3 |
SYSM6313 |
Negotiating Deals & Resolving Conflict
within the Organization |
3 |
SYSM6314 |
Manufacturing and Service Systems Planning
and Analysis |
3 |
Engineering 2
|
|
|
SYSM6305 |
Dynamic Systems Modeling & Analysis |
3 |
SYSM6306 |
Modeling and Simulation of Engineering
Systems |
3 |
SYSM6331 |
Systems and Control Theory |
3 |
SYSM6356 |
Software
Maintenance, Evolution and Re-engineering |
3 |
SYSM6361 |
Advanced Requirements Engineering |
3 |
SYSM6367 |
Software Testing, Validation, Verification |
3 |
Management 2 |
|
|
SYSM6315 |
The Entrepreneurial Experience |
3 |
SYSM6316 |
Innovation within the Corporation |
3 |
SYSM6317 |
The Management of High Tech Products |
3 |
SYSM6318 |
Marketing Management, Marketing Systems
Analysis |
3 |
SYSM6319 |
Business Economics |
3 |
SYSM6320 |
Strategic Leadership |
3 |
Free
Elective Courses:
For the free electives students will be able to take any 4 additional and
distinct courses of the remaining 12 core courses that have not already been
taken as required courses or prescribed elective courses. Students will also be able to take additional
free elective courses that are already being offered in management or in
engineering that will allow “concentration” or “specialization” in specific
industry sectors, including the following:
Areas for Free
Electives |
1.
Healthcare Services |
2.
Energy, Resources and Infrastructure |
3.
Complex Brain, Biological and Behavioral |
4.
Aerospace, Defense and Space |
5.
Telecom and IT Networks |
6.
Information Assurance and Cyber-security |
7.
Arts and Technology and Web-based |
8.
Transportation |
9.
Macro-economic and Financial Services |
10.
Global Supply Chain Management |
Note: SEM includes two non-degree certificate options
(listed below), one in Systems
Engineering and one in Systems Management.
Students who complete both certificates can go on to earn the M.S. degree by
taking additional program courses, and meeting the requirements set out above.
Interdisciplinary Opportunities
In keeping with the established tradition of
research at UT-Dallas, the Systems Engineering and Management Program
encourages students to interact with researchers in other strong programs, in
the engineering, management or science disciplines.
SEM
Certificate Programs
Curriculum Requirements
Students have a choice of two different SEM certificates: a Certificate in Systems Engineering, or, a Certificate
in Systems Management. Each certificate requires 12 credit hours. The courses are offered in an Executive
Education, 4-hour module format.
(1) The Certificate in Systems Engineering
requires students to complete over the period of one academic year two courses
from the set of engineering courses listed below, and any two additional
courses from the remainder of the 20 SYSM-prefix courses listed below in either
group, engineering or management.
Systems Engineering
Courses |
||
Prefix & Number |
Engineering Course
Titles |
Credit |
SYSM 6301 |
Systems
Engineering Architecture & Design |
3 |
SYSM 6302 |
Dynamics
of Complex Networks & Systems |
3 |
SYSM 6303 |
Quantitative
Risk, Probability, Stochastic Processes |
3 |
SYSM 6304 |
Risk
Assessment and Management |
3 |
SYSM 6305 |
Dynamic
Systems Modeling & Analysis |
3 |
SYSM 6306 |
Modeling
and Simulation of Engineering Systems |
3 |
SYSM 6331 |
Systems
and Control Theory |
3 |
SYSM 6356 |
Software
Maintenance, Evolution and Re-engineering |
3 |
SYSM 6361 |
Advanced
Requirements Engineering |
3 |
SYSM 6367 |
Software
Testing, Validation, Verification |
3 |
(2) The Certificate in Systems Management
requires students to complete over the period of one academic year two courses
from the set of management courses listed below, and any two additional courses
from the remainder of the 20 SYSM-prefix courses listed in either
group, engineering or management.
Systems Management Courses |
||
Prefix & Number |
Management Course
Titles |
Credit |
SYSM 6311 |
Systems
Project Management |
3 |
SYSM 6312 |
Systems
Financial Management |
3 |
SYSM 6313 |
Negotiating Deals & Resolving Conflict
within the Organization |
3 |
SYSM 6314 |
Manufacturing
and Service Systems Planning and Analysis |
3 |
SYSM 6315 |
The
Entrepreneurial Experience |
3 |
SYSM 6316 |
Innovation
within the Corporation |
3 |
SYSM 6317 |
The
Management of High Tech Products |
3 |
SYSM 6318 |
Marketing
Management, Marketing Systems Analysis |
3 |
SYSM 6319 |
Business
Economics |
3 |
SYSM 6320 |
Strategic
Leadership |
3 |
Engineering Course
Descriptions
SYSM 6301 Systems Engineering, Architecture and Design (3 credit hours) The
course will consider concepts related to the architecture and design of
large-scale and decentralized Systems from technical and management
perspectives. An overview of Systems architectures, requirements analysis,
design tradeoffs, and reliability will be discussed through case studies
and mathematical techniques. Students will explore the history and current
state-of-the-art in systems architecture and design concepts, international
standardization bodies, engineering processes, notations, and tool support from
both theoretical and practical perspectives. (3-0) Y
SYSM 6302 Dynamics of Complex Networks and
Systems (3 credit hours) Design, development, and analysis of the
dynamics of large, complex interconnected networks and systems. (3-0)
Y
SYSM
6303 Quantitative Risk, Probability, Stochastic Processes (3 credit hours).
In this course, basic approaches of risk analysis in project planning and
management are presented. The methodology used will be based on
probability theory and statistics. Students will be expected to present a
project report as a part of the course. (3-0) Y
SYSM
6304 Risk Assessment and Management (3 credit hours) This
course will familiarize participants with various kinds of risk that an
organization may face; methodologies for identifying these risks and
classifying them into various categories, their extent and their potential for
causing harm; methods for quantifying the potential impact of various kinds of
risk, as well as the cost of implementing risk management techniques; and risk
management and implementation strategies at an organizational level. (3-0) Y
SYSM
6305 Dynamic Systems Modeling & Analysis (3 credit hours) This
course will address foundational aspects of linear systems, nonlinear systems
and signal processing. Techniques such as time-domain and frequency
domain will be introduced. Applications to real-world engineering systems
will be presented, such as target tracking, large scale communication networks,
and large scale energy systems. (3-0) Y
SYSM
6306 Modeling & Simulation of Engineering Systems (3 credit hours) This
course will present principles of computational modeling, simulation and
optimization of complex systems. Techniques covered include hierarchical
decomposition, cellular decomposition, nonlinear programming and Monte Carlo
simulation. (3-0)
Y
SYSM
6331 Systems & Control Theory (3 credit hours) This
course will present widely used concepts and techniques from systems and
control theory:, such as convolution integrals,
transfer functions, state space, stability, controllability, observability, and feedback. Prerequisites: MECH 2300 and
MECH 4310 or equivalents or consent of instructor. (3-0) Y
SYSM 6356 (CS 6356, SE 6356) Software
Maintenance, Evolution & Re-engineering (3 credit hours) Principles and techniques of software maintenance.
Impact of software development process on software
justifiability, maintainability, evolvability, and
planning of release cycles.
Use of very high-level languages and
dependencies for forward engineering and reverse engineering. Achievements,
pitfalls, and trends in software reuse, reverse engineering, and
re-engineering. Prerequisite:
CE/CS/SE 5354 or consent of instructor. (3-0) Y
SYSM 6361 (CS 6361, SE 6361) Advanced
Requirements Engineering (3 credit hours) System and software
requirements engineering. Identification, elicitation,
modeling, analysis, specification, management, and evolution of functional and
non-functional requirements.
Strengths and weaknesses of different
techniques, tools, and object-oriented methodologies. Interactions and
trade-offs among hardware, software, and organization. System
and sub-system integration with software and organization as components of
complex, composite systems.
Transition from requirements to design. Critical issues in
requirements engineering. Prerequisite: CE/CS/SE 5354 or consent of instructor.
(3-0)S
SYSM 6367 (CE 6367, CS 6367, SE 6367) Software
Testing, Validation, Verification (3 credit hours) Fundamental concepts of software testing. Functional
testing. GUI
based testing tools. Control flow based test adequacy criteria. Data flow based
test adequacy criteria. White box based testing tools. Mutation
testing and testing tools. Relationship between test
adequacy criteria. Finite state machine based testing. Static and dynamic program slicing for testing and debugging.
Software reliability. Formal
verification of program correctness. Prerequisites: CE/CS/SE 5354
or consent of instructor. (3-0) Y
SYSM 6V70 Research In Systems Engineering and Management (3-9 semester hours)
(May be repeated for credit.) For pass/fail credit only.
([3-9]-0) R
SYSM 6V80 Special Topics in Systems
Engineering and Management (1–6 semester hours)
For letter grade credit only. (May
be repeated to a maximum of 9 hours.) ([1-6]-0) S
SYSM 6V98 Thesis (3-9 semester hours)
(May be repeated for credit.) For pass/fail credit only.
([3-9]-0)S
Management
Course Descriptions
SYSM 6311 Systems Project
Management (3 credit hours) Systems
project management is the discipline of planning, organizing and managing
resources to bring about the successful completion of specific project goals
and objectives. The course will cover critical path methods for planning and
controlling projects including time and cost tradeoffs, resource utilization,
organizational design, conflict resolution and stochastic considerations.
Prerequisites: none (3-0) Y
SYSM 6312 Systems Financial Management (3
credit hours) Theoretical and
procedural considerations in the administration of the finance function in the
individual business firm; planning, fundraising, controlling of firm finances;
working capital management, capital budgeting and cost of capital. Co-prerequisites: OPRE 6301 and ACCT
6201, or consent of instructor. (3-0) Y
SYSM 6313 Negotiating Deals & Resolving
Conflict Within the Organization (3 credit hours) This course explores
the theories, processes, and practical techniques of negotiation so that
students can successfully negotiate and resolve disputes in a variety of
situations including interpersonal, group, and international settings. Emphasis
is placed on understanding influence and conflict resolution strategies;
identifying interests, issues, and positions of the parties involved; analyzing
co-negotiators, their negotiation styles, and the negotiation situations; and
managing the dynamics associated with most negotiations. Practical skills are
developed through the use of simulations and exercises. Prerequisite: OB6301 or
consent of instructor. (3-0) Y
SYSM 6314 Manufacturing & Service
Systems Planning & Analysis (3 credit hours) Manufacturing & Service Systems Planning &
Analysis is the study of management related to transforming inputs to outputs
for both manufacturing and service organizations. Its fundamental purpose is
the adding of value to inputs - materials, labor, capital and management - to
create outputs - products or services which customers want-throughout the
supply chain. Prerequisites: none (3-0) Y
SYSM 6315 The Entrepreneurial Experience (3
credit hours)
This
course is designed to provide student teams with practical experience in the
investigation, evaluation and recommendation of technology and/or market entry
strategies for a significant new business opportunity. Projects will be defined
by the faculty and will generally focus on emerging market opportunities
defined by new technologies of interest to a sponsoring corporate partner.
Teams will be comprised of management and engineering graduate students,
mentored by faculty and representatives of the partnering company. Evaluation
will be based on papers, presentations and other deliverables defined on a
case-by-case basis. Prerequisites: ENTP 6370 or consent of instructor (3-0) Y
SYSM 6316 Innovation within the
Corporation (3 credit hours) Intrapreneurs are the entrepreneurs within established
corporations who combine innovation, creativity and leadership to develop and
launch new products, new product lines and new business units that grow
revenues and profits from within. Course topics include the elements of
strategic analysis and positioning for competitive advantage in dynamic
markets, and the structuring, utilization and mobilization of the internal
resources of existing firms in the pursuit of growth and new market
opportunities. Prerequisites: OB 6301 and ENTP 6370 or consent of the
instructor. (3-0) Y
SYSM 6317 Management of High Tech
Products (3 credit hours) This course addresses the strategic and organizational
issues confronted by firms in technology-intensive environments. The course
reflects five broad themes: (1) managing firms in technology-intensive
industries; (2) linking technology and business strategies; (3) using
technology as a source of competitive advantage; (4) organizing firms to
achieve these goals; and (5) implementing new technologies in organizations.
Prerequisites: AIM 6201 and OB 6301 or consent of instructor. (3-0)
SYSM 6318 Marketing Management, Marketing
Systems Analysis (3 credit hours) Overview of marketing management methods, principles and
concepts including product, pricing, promotion and distribution decisions. Prerequisites:
none (3-0) Y
SYSM 6319 Business Economics (3 credit hours)
This course provides foundations
of the economic analysis of business problems, with special emphasis on the
function and determination of market prices in production and consumption.
Supply and demand, price theory, production theory, trade theory with reference
to the global economy, the effects of tax and other policies in the economy,
and essential elements of the banking system and monetary policy are addressed.
Prerequisite:
MATH 5304 or equivalent or consent of instructor. (3-0)
Y
SYSM 6320 Strategic Leadership (3 semester hours) This
course addresses the challenge of leading organizations in
dynamic and challenging environments. Overall goal is to not only question
one’s assumptions about leadership, but also enhance skills and acquire new
content knowledge. Topics include visionary and transformational leadership;
post-heroic leadership; empowerment; leveraging & combining resources,
designing organizations, and ethics. Prerequisites: none
(3-0) Y
,