Systems Engineering at USA

The Systems Engineering program at the University of South Alabama offers students specialization in an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to engineering design of complex systems. The International Council on Systems Engineering defines systems engineering as “…a transdisciplinary and integrative approach to enable the successful realization, use, and retirement of engineered systems, using systems principles and concepts, and scientific, technological, and management methods.”

USA offers a Graduate Certificate, a Master’s in Systems Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering.

Primary objective of the Systems program include 1) to provide a unique interdisciplinary program that meets the needs of industry and the community in the area of systems engineering, 2) to prepare graduates for leadership positions in applied research that require the use of systems engineering tools to solve complex engineering problems, and 3) to capitalize on the opportunities that result from the interactions of a research university with industry.

The Master’s degree offers three approaches to an MSSE. There is a course only option, a project-based option, and a thesis-based option. These are discussed on the Curriculum tab.

The PhD program is designed primarily for students who wish to pursue research-based careers in industry and government. Coursework across several systems-related disciplines is coupled with research on a topic pertaining to systems engineering. Doctoral topics might include improvement of Systems Engineering, application of systems engineering to new engineering disciplines, and topics within systems engineering - improving system reliability, application of patterns to systems, etc.

The systems program supports both full time students, and working adults wanting to go back to school to attain a graduate degree. Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and modeling & simulation are core components in many of our courses.