SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
THE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING MAJOR AT A GLANCE: Systems Engineering is a broad discipline that addresses the development of large, complex systems. The system engineer (SE) designs, integrates, and helps to ensure smooth functioning of complex systems typical in today’s high-tech Air Force. The SE is a full lifecycle engineer, always keeping an eye on the design of the overall system to ensure that it will meet the needs of all the system’s stakeholders, including operators, maintainers and commanders, and our ultimate customer -- the American public!
The SE must consider the entire lifecycle of the system: design, development, verification, manufacturing, deployment, training, operations, support, and disposal. Therefore, SEs must have engineering competence augmented by studies in human factors engineering, operations research, system simulation, and program management.
Systems Engineering (SE) is an interdisciplinary major supported by the USAFA Systems Engineering Board (SEB). Membership of the SEB is comprised of the Heads of the Departments of Aeronautical Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Engineering Mechanics and the Department of Management as well as the SE Program Director. The Department of the elected Chairman of the SEB provides administrative support to the SE Program. Cadets who successfully complete the Systems Engineering program are awarded a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.
To ensure the success of our graduates, we prepare them to attain the following Program
Educational Objectives two to five years after graduation:
1) Recognition as successful Air Force officers through demonstration of their ability to:
o Rapidly acquire required knowledge, o Lead others effectively,
o Effectively apply ethical and moral standards,
o Improve unit performance by application of organizational skills, o Make sound decisions based on critical thinking, and
o Communicate effectively.
2) Selection for career training on, or ahead of, schedule and for a progression of assignments of increasing responsibility
3) A demonstrated ability to solve Air Force technical problems 4) Success in continuing education.
To support these goals, our program’s curriculum is designed such that, by completion of our program, our graduates shall demonstrate that they have attained the following Student Outcomes:
1) an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
3) an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
4) an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
5) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
6) an understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities of military officers and systems engineers
7) an ability to communicate effectively
8) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, military, and societal context
9) a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
10)a knowledge of contemporary issues and the role of military officers in our global society 11)an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for
systems engineering practice.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 146 semester hours
A. 96 Semester hours of Dean's academic core courses including the following core alternates:
Required Core Substitute Substitutes for
Ops Rsch 310 Systems Analysis Energy Systems Opt ECE 231 Electrical Circuits and Systems I ECE 315
Math 356 Prob. & Stats. for Engineers and Scientists Math 300
Sys Engr 301 Project Management Mgt 400
B. 5 Semester hours of Director of Athletics core courses.
C. 3 Semester hours of Academy Option (Comp Sci 211 for accreditation requirements).
D. 6 Semester hours of math courses
1. Math 344 or 245
2. Math 359, Math 243, or Math 253 E. 18 Semester hours of major's courses:
1. Sys Engr 310 Introduction to Systems Engineering
2. Sys Engr 311 Decision Analytics for Systems Development 3. Ops Rsch 312 Probabilistic Models
4. Sys Engr 336 Engineering Economics and Financial Management 5. Beh Sci 373 Introduction to Human Factors Engineering
6. Sys Engr 477 Operations Engineering and Management Seminar courses:
Sys Engr 405 Systems Engineering Colloquium I Sys Engr 406* Systems Engineering Colloquium II
* In addition, Sys Engr 402 Professional Systems Engineering Development (ASEP exam prep) is a recommended course for all Systems Engineering cadets to take concurrently with Sys Engr 406
F. 12 Semester hours of courses selected from the cadet’s choice of depth option area:
The available course list for each depth option is managed and vetted by the respective host departments. Cadets will take a set of four courses from any one named depth area or a coherent set of four courses from the below options with approval of the systems engineering program director. The four courses shall include a minimum of 6 engineering semester credits, as defined by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. A superscript “M” denotes a course that is mandatory for any cadet taking courses in the respective named depth option area.
Aeronautical:
Engr Mech 320 Dynamics
Aero Engr 241 Aero-ThermodynamicsM Aero Engr 341 Aeronautical Fluid Dynamics
Aero Engr 351 Aircraft Performance and Static Stability Aero Engr 352 Aircraft Dynamic Stability and Control Aero Engr 361 Propulsion I
Aero Engr 456 Flight Test Techniques
Astronautical:
Engr Mech 320 DynamicsM
Aero Engr 241 Aero-Thermodynamics Astro Engr 321 Intermediate Astrodynamics Astro Engr 331 Space Systems Engineering Astro Engr 351 Rocket Propulsion
Astro Engr 423 Space Mission Design
Computer:
Comp Sci 210 Introduction to ProgrammingM Comp Sci 220 Data Abstraction
Comp Sci 351 Computer Organization and Architecture Comp Sci 364 Information Storage and Retrieval Comp Sci 467 Computer Networks
Electronics:
ECE 281 Digital Design and Computer ArchitectureM
ECE 321 Electronics I
ECE 322 Electronics II
ECE 332 Electrical Circuits and Systems II ECE 348 Telecommunications Principles
ECE 382 Embedded Computer Systems I
ECE 387 Introduction to Robotic Systems ECE 434 Digital Signal Processing
ECE 485 Advanced Computer Architecture
Engr 311 Electrical Power
Human Factors:
Beh Sci 375 Human Factors in Aviation Systems Engineering Sys Engr 470 Human Systems Integration
Beh Sci 471 Engineering Psychology
Beh Sci 473 Human Factors Engineering in Systems Design
Mechanical:
Engr Mech 330 Mechanics of Deformable BodiesM
Any three (3) additional, 3-credit hour courses currently offered within the Mechanical Engineering curriculm that form a coherent set of courses. The courses deemed within the Mechanical Engineering curriculum include all Mech Engr and Engr Mech courses, plus additional courses considered part of certain Mechanical Engineering emphasis areas (e.g., Engr 341, Aero Engr 436, etc.) as shown in Table 10-1, Mechanical Engineering Emphasis Areas. The coherent set of courses should, in principle, fall within one of these traditional Mech Engr emphasis areas. The cadet will choose the courses in coordination with the cadet’s advisor with approval by the DFEM Deputy for Curriculum. Any courses selected outside of the current Mechanical Engineering curriculum require DFEM Department Head approval.
G. 6 Semester hours of Capstone Courses
Sys Engr 491 Systems Engineering Capstone Design I Sys Engr 492 Systems Engineering Capstone Design II
To satisfy the Systems Engineering Capstone Design sequence requirement, cadets will enroll in Sys Engr 491/Sys Engr 492 and be assigned to one of the following two-semester capstone design options based on interest, depth option selection, and capstone needs.
SE Capstone (fall)
Design Focus Embedded within Domain Capstone
Host Department SE491A Aircraft & Jet Engines Aero Engr 481 DFAN
SE491B Spacecraft Astro Engr 436 DFAS
SE491BL Human Systems Sys Engr 491BL DFBL
SE491C Software Comp Sci 453 DFCS
SE491E Electronic/Computer ECE 463 DFEC
SE 491H Mechanical Mech Engr 491 DFEM
SE 491M Tech Innovation Mgt 419 DFM
SE491S Various Systems Sys Engr 491S DFSE SE Capstone
(spring)
Design Focus Embedded within Domain Capstone
Host Department
SE492A1 Jet Engines Aero Engr 483 DFAN
SE492B Spacecraft Astro Engr 437 DFAS
SE492BL Human Systems Sys Engr 492BL DFBL
SE492C Software Comp Sci 454 DFCS
SE492E Electronic/Computer ECE 464 DFEC
SE 492H Mechanical Mech Engr 492 DFEM
SE 492M Tech Innovation Mgt 420 DFM
SE492S Various Systems Sys Engr 492S DFSE
Domain capstone course titles:
Aero Engr 481 Intro to Aircraft and Propulsion System Design
Aero Engr 482 Aircraft Design
Aero Engr 483 Aircraft Engine Design
Astro Engr 436 Small Spacecraft Engineering I
Astro Engr 437 Small Spacecraft Engineering II
Comp Sci 453 Software Engineering I
Comp Sci 454 Software Engineering II
ECE 463 Capstone Design Project I
ECE 464 Capstone Design Project II
Mech Engr 491 Capstone Design Project I
Mech Engr 492 Capstone Design Project II
Mgt 419 Technological Innovation Management
SUGGESTED COURSE SEQUENCE
4o hrs per 3o hrs per 2o hrs per 1o hrs per
Math 141 3 1 Law 220 3 1 Math 356 3 1 MSS 416 3 1
Engr 101 3 1 English 211 3 1 ECE 231 3 1 Biology 315 3 2
Comp Sci 110 3 1 Econ 201 3 1 Beh Sci 310 3 1 Beh Sci 373 3 1
English 111 3 1 Engr Mech 220 3 1 Comp Sci 211 3 1 Sys Engr 477 3 1
For Lang 1 3 2 Physics 215 3 2 Sys Engr 311 3 2 Depth Option 3 3 1
Phy Ed 0.5 2 Pol Sci 211 3 1 Depth Option 1 3 1 Sys Engr 491 3 2
15.5 8 Phy Ed 1 2 Phy Ed 1 2 Sys Engr 405 0 1
19 9 19 9 Phy Ed 0.5 2
18.5 11
Math 142 3 1 Aero Engr 315 or 210 3 1 Sys Engr 301 3 1 Soc Sci 412 3 1
Physics 110 3 2 MSS 200 3 1 History 300 3 1 Astro Engr 310 3 1
History 100 3 1 Chem 200 3 2 Ops Rsch 312 3 1 English 411 3 1
Beh Sci 110 3 1 Ops Rsch 310 3 1 Sys Engr 336 3 1 Philos 310 3 1
Chem 100 3 2 Math 344 or 245 3 1 Math 359 or 243 3 1 Depth Option 4 3 1
For Lang 2 3 2 Sys Engr 310 3 2 Depth Option 2 3 1 Sys Engr 492 3 2
Phy Ed 0.5 2 Phy Ed 0.5 2 Phy Ed 0.5 2 Sys Engr 406/402 0 1
18.5 11 18.5 10 18.5 7 Phy Ed 0.5 2
18.5 10
Course Unit Summary Semester Hour Summary
Core (32) Core = 96.0Sem Hours
Major (14) Major = 42.0 "
Academy Option (1) Academy Option = 3.0 "
Phy Ed (10) Phy Ed = 5.0 "
Total = 146.0 "
Systems Engineering Major
Fall
