Systems Engineering Major

Systems Engineering Major

Systems Engineering

Major

The systems engineering major combines elements of traditional engineering, systems engineering, finance, decision analysis, and organizational management courses. Cadets will learn the methods, processes, and tools needed to understand and conduct meaningful decision analysis in support of complex systems.

Offered by the Department of Systems Engineering.

The systems engineering major is concerned with system design, management, and decision analysis of tangible and abstract systems in accordance with performance requirements, budget, and schedules. The program combines elements of traditional engineering, systems engineering, finance, decision analysis, and organizational management courses. Cadets will learn the methods, processes, and tools needed to understand and conduct meaningful decision analysis in support of complex systems. These large systems require an interdisciplinary approach rooted in technical, management, and leadership skills. Industry and domain-based concentrations are available, to include project management, logistics management, personnel management, defense systems, financial Systems, cyber security, management science, international affairs, and mathematical modeling. Systems and decision sciences graduates are ready to lead multidisciplinary teams, perform systems thinking and tackle complex, ill-defined, and interdisciplinary problems characterized by global, political, social, military, economic, and technological challenges.  

This major also provides in-depth study of systems engineering-applies engineering principles to understand real world problems, prepares cadets for the everyday challenges an Army officer encounters, and provides the foundation for a wide spectrum of graduate degrees.

Designing Integrated Solutions to Complex Problems

Systems Engineers innovatively solve complex problems in a technologically advanced environment, by engineering solutions that provide significant value to client organizations. Systems Engineers also lead interdisciplinary teams in the development and implementation of technical solutions to complex issues facing organizations. Systems Engineering majors learn to think systematically, engineer systematically, and approach decisions systematically.

Thinking systematically involves understanding the entire environment in which the system operates and includes the needs, wants, and desires of all the stakeholders of the system. Engineering systematically involves identifying and understanding the required system functions, developing alternative system solutions, and applying the basic modeling and simulation tools required to analyze the system from an engineering perspective. Approaching decisions systematically involves leading and participating in multi-disciplinary teams to innovate and implement visionary solutions to these complex problems.

Advances in technology and the transition to a highly networked, global information age has trigged rapid growth in the field of Systems Engineering. These problems require systems thinking and a holistic approach to problem-solving that is at the heart of the systems engineering discipline. It is the challenge of systems engineers to harness and direct technology toward solving problems most often related to processes and operations. 

This major offers an honors track. 

Watch a video about the Systems Engineering major. 

To learn more about this area of study, visit the Department of Systems Engineering.

Required Courses

  • SE301 FNDTN ENGIN DSGN & SYS MGMT 
  • SE302 FUNDAMENTALS OF SYSTEMS ENG 
  • SE370 COMPUTER AIDED SYSTEMS ENG 
  • SE375 STATISTICS FOR ENGINEERS 
  • SE385 DECISION ANALYSIS  
  • SE387 DETERMINISTIC MODELS  
  • SE388 STOCHASTIC MODELS 
  • SE400 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SEMIN
  • EM411 PROJECT MANAGEMENT
  • SE402 SYSTEMS DESIGN & MANAGEMENT I
  • SE403 SYSTEMS DESIGN & MANAGEMENT II

Sample Electives

  • EM381 ENGINEERING ECONOMY
  • EM481 SYSTEMS SIMULATION  
  • SE485 COMBAT MODELING 
  • SM484 SYSTEM DYNAMICS SIMULATION
  • ME387 INTRODUCTION TO AERONAUTICS
  • CE350 INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING
  • NE300 FUNDAMENTALS OF NUCLEAR ENGR
  • CY450 CYBER SECURITY ENGINEERING
  • XE475 MECHATRONICS
  • EV398 GEOG INFORMATION SYSTEMS
  • CS486 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
  • CY394 CLOUD COMPUTING
  • EE450 MILITARY ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS
  • PL394 ANTHROPOMETRICS & BIOMECHANICS
  • ME472 ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS

This major offers an honors track. 

To learn more, view the full Systems Engineering Major Curriculum.

Cadets in this major have the opportunity to apply for a summer Academic Individual Advanced Development (AIAD) program, USMA-run academic enrichment experience. Past experiences have included work with The Army Science Board, the Environmental Protection Agency, Raytheon, Boeing, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Research and Analysis Command (TRAC), and NATO. These opportunities allow cadets to travel around the world to place like France, Australia, Nicaragua, Germany, Honduras, Washington, D.C., Monterey, C.A., and Maui, H.I. Cadets can also apply to the Alpha Pi Mu - Industrial Engineering Honor Society, or the Tau Beta Pi - National Engineering Honor Society.

Other Honor Societies:
Golden Key - International Honour Society
Phi Kappa Phi - Oldest and Largest Collegiate Honor Society

To learn more about enrichment for this area of study, visit the Department of Systems Engineering, the System Design and Analysis Center or the Operations Research Center.

The Systems Engineering (B.S.) program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Systems Engineering and similarly named engineering programs.

Student Outcomes

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Program Educational Objectives 

  1. Effectively led interdisciplinary teams to solve complex problems.
  2. Demonstrated intellectual growth and continued self-improvement through self-study, continuing education, or professional development.
  3. Fostered an organizational ethos that promotes the professional, moral, ethical, and respectful treatment of all.
  4. Analyzed, designed, implemented, and maintained systems throughout their lifecycles.
  5. Clearly communicated engineering solutions and analysis to leaders, both orally and in writing, to enable sound decision-making in the presence of uncertain, biased, or confounding influences.        
  6. Approached problems holistically while recognizing each system as a whole, with its fit and relationship with the environment being primary concerns.