Degree Requirements
Email: isedept@usc.edu
Master of Science in Systems Architecture and Engineering
This program is recommended to graduate engineers and engineering managers responsible for the conception and implementation of complex systems. Emphasis is on the creative process by which complex systems are conceived, planned, designed, built, tested and certified. The architecting experience can be applied to defense, space, aircraft, communications, navigation, sensor, computer software, computer hardware, and other commercial systems and activities.
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be earned on all course work applied toward the master’s degree in systems architecture and engineering. This average must also be achieved on all 400-level and above course work attempted at USC beyond the bachelor’s degree. Transfer units count as credit (CR) toward the master’s degree and are not computed in the grade point average.
In addition to the general requirements of the School of Engineering, the Master of Science in Systems Architecture and Engineering is also subject to the following requirements:
(1) a total of at least 30 units is required, consisting of at least nine units in the Technical Management Area, nine units in the General Technical Area, and 12 units in the Technical Specialization area;
(2) every course requires prior written approval by the director of the Systems Architecture and Engineering Program recorded each semester on the study plan in the student’s file;
(3) no more than nine units at the 400 level may be counted toward the degree – the remaining units must be taken at the 500 or 600 level;
(4) at least 24 of the 30 units must be taken in the School of Engineering;
(5) units to be transferred (maximum of four with advisor approval) must have been taken prior to taking classes at USC; interruption of residency is not allowed;
(6) no more than six units of Special Topics courses (499 or 599) may be counted for this degree;
(7) students interested in completing a research project for this degree will normally be advised to take AE 549b rather than directed research (590) or thesis (594abz). Thesis and directed research registrations may be allowed to individual students only by special permission of the supervising faculty member and the program director;
(8) a bachelor’s degree in an engineering field and a minimum of three years systems experience are recommended prior to taking systems architecting and design experience courses. This program is not recommended for recent bachelor’s degree graduates.
| Required courses | Units |
| AE 549a | Systems Architecting | 3 |
| ISE 460 | Engineering Economy, or | |
| ISE 541 | Systems Engineering Theory and Practice | 3 |
| ISE 561 | Advanced Engineering Economy | 3 |
| one of the following design experience courses: | Units |
| AE 503 | Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design | 3 |
| AE 556 | Systems Architecture Design Experience | 3 |
| CSCI 577a | Software Engineering | 4 |
| Electives | Units |
| Advisor-approved electives in Technical Management Area | 3 | |
| Advisor-approved electives in General Technical Area | 3 | |
| Advisor-approved electives in Technical Specialization Area | 12 | |
Courses Pertinent to the Program
Technical Management Area: nine units required including one required course and two elective courses.
| Required | Units |
| ISE 541 | Systems Engineering Theory and Practice | 3 |
| ISE 460 | Engineering Economy, or | |
| ISE 561 | Advanced Engineering Economy | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Electives | Units |
| CE 556ab | Planning, Scheduling and Cost Control | 3-3 |
| IOM 525* | Quality Improvement Methods | 3 |
| IOM 527* | Managerial Decision Analysis | 3 |
| IOM 532* | Designing E-Business Models | 3 |
| IOM 537* | Information Systems Management for Global Operations | 3 |
| IOM 580* | Project Management | 3 |
| ISE 515 | Introduction to Systems in Industrial Engineering | 3 |
| ISE 544 | Engineering Team Design | 3 |
| ISE 550 | The Political Process in Systems Architecture Design | 3 |
| ISE 585 | Strategic Management of Technology | 3 |
| ISE 562 | Value and Decision Theory | 3 |
| ME 586 | Management for Engineers | 3 |
| MOR 561* | Strategies in High Technology Firms | 3 |
*Marshall School of Business course.
General Technical Area:nine units required including two required courses and one elective.
| Required | Units |
| AE 503 | Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design, or | |
| AE 556 | Systems Architecture Design Experience, or | |
| CSCI 577a | Software Engineering | 3 |
| AE 549a | Systems Architecting | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| And one of the following design experience courses or equivalent approved by the director: | Units |
| AE 503 | Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design | 3 |
| AE 556 | Systems Architecture Design Experience | 3 |
| CSCI 577a | Software Engineering | 4 |
| Electives | Units |
| AE 549b | Systems Architecting | 3 |
| CSCI 510 | Management of Computing: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| CSCI 577ab | Software Engineering | 4-4 |
| IOM 535* | Database Management | 3 |
| ISE 542 | Advanced Topics in Systems Engineering | 3 |
| ISE 550 | The Political Process in Systems Architecture Design | 3 |
| ISE 580 | Statistics of Simulation | 3 |
*Marshall School of Business course.
Technical Specialization Area: Twelve units are required, usually in the student’s present or intended technical specialty. Courses are intended to complement the student’s prior education and experience toward becoming a well-rounded systems architect-engineer or architect-manager. With a few exceptions, the courses should come from the recommended list, and usually all from a single specialization.
The student may choose from a large variety of technical specializations spanning all departments in the School of Engineering. Flexibility is emphasized in this choice; the program director is expected to work closely with the student in choosing the best set of courses to meet the student’s need.
Several sample specializations are listed below but are not intended to be complete.
Recommended Courses
Aerospace and Mechanical Systems: Aerospace and Mechanical Systems: AE 501, 502, 516a, 580, 581, 583, 585, 599 – Mars Exploration Studio, 599 – Design of Low Cost Space Missions; ME 503, 504, 521, 544, 548, 560, 583
Artificial Intelligence/Neural Networks: CSCI 460, 545, 561, 564, 566, 567, 574; EE 547
Automation and Control Systems: EE 543a, 547, 585, 587, 588, 593
Communication and Signal Processing Systems: EE 551, 562a, 563, 564, 567, 580, 582, 583, 599
Computer and Information Systems: CSCI 485, 551, 575a, 585, 598; EE 552, 554, 561, 562a, 574, 658
Construction: CE 501, 519, 525ab, 533, 536, 556ab, 583
Engineering Management Systems: ISE 515, 530, 535, 541, 544, 550, 562, 580, 585, 599
Integrated Media Systems: EE 469, 522, 555, 569, 596, 599 – Immersive Audio Signal Processing, 669; CSCI 450, 480, 551, 574, 576, 585, 588
Manufacturing Systems: ISE 511, 514, 516, 517, 544, 570; ME 583; EE 561
Software Process Architecting: CSCI 510, 577b, 665; ISE 544, 562, 564, 574; EE 554, 557
Systems: AE 549b; ISE 515, 520, 525, 527, 528, 532, 535, 536, 538, 541, 542, 544, 562, 580, 585; EE 598
Graduate Certificate in Systems Architecture and Engineering
The graduate certificate in systems architecture and engineering is designed for practicing engineers engaged in the creation and design of complex innovative systems, in aerospace and commercial fields. Entering students are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field from an accredited institution. Three years of industry experience are recommended. Students are required to earn a cumulative B average or higher in courses taken for the certificate. The courses taken for the certificate may be applied later to the Master of Science in Systems Architecture and Engineering.
Required Courses – Choose Four
Units
| AE 549a | Systems Architecting | 3 |
| ISE 460 | Engineering Economy, or | |
| ISE 561 | Advanced Engineering Economy | 3 |
| ISE 515 | Engineering Project Management | 3 |
| ISE 541 | Systems Engineering Methodology | 3 |
| ISE 542 | Advanced Topics in Systems Engineering | 3 |
| ISE 544 | Management of Engineering Teams | 3 |
One of the five courses above may be accepted for transfer from another university by the program director. In addition, one 3- or 4-unit elective course shall be taken from the list of those approved for the Master of Science in Systems Architecture and Engineering.
All programs of study will be approved by the director of the Systems Architecture and Engineering program.