Nov 23, 2024

2020-2021 Graduate Catalog

2020-2021 Graduate Catalog [OFFICIAL CATALOG]

Systems Engineering, M.S.

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This program is no longer accepting new majors.

Master of Science

The Systems Engineering Department of the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology offers a Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering. This degree allows students to specialize in systems engineering topics such as: Systems Engineering Design, Requirements and Functional Analysis, Systems Architecture Development, Design for Operational Feasibility, System Integration, Decision and Risk Analysis, Engineering Project Management, System Lifecycle Cost Analysis, and Organization for Systems Engineering.

The Master of Science in Systems Engineering program provides unique opportunities for the traditional student as well as for those in the professional engineering community to broaden their knowledge base and acquire state-of-the-art technical skills. The program helps students to integrate multifaceted engineering projects, model complex engineering systems and optimize their performance, and conduct real-life case studies by carrying out electrical, computer, telecommunication, or mechanical engineering projects. The Master of Science in Systems Engineering program prepares engineers for professional practice in today’s complex technical environment, and also offers cutting-edge knowledge for innovation and advanced research. To support these goals, both thesis and non-thesis options are available in the program.

The master’s program in Systems Engineering requires 31 credit hours of graduate course work with an option to carry out either a thesis or a graduate project.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the UALR Graduate School admission requirements, the applicants for the M.S. program in Systems Engineering must also meet the following criteria:

Education: Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, technology, science or related discipline. The applicants must have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or 3.3 on the last 60 credit hours.
Standardized test scores: Applicants must have a minimum score on the GRE test: a score of 140 on the Verbal Reasoning section, a score of 155 on the Quantitative Reasoning section, and a score of 3.5 in the Analytical Writing section. The GRE requirement will be waived if the student’s GPA is 3.5 or higher.
English language requirement: International students must satisfy the Graduate School TOEFL or IELTS tests requirements.

Applicants who do not meet all the admission requirements may be recommended for conditional admission. Conditionally admitted students must fulfill the requirements of the UALR Graduate School and those specified in their letter of admission to achieve regular admission.

Program Requirements

The Master of Science program in Systems Engineering consists of a minimum of 31 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree, of which a maximum of six hours can be transferred from a graduate program from another university with the graduate coordinator’s approval. In addition, students are required to maintain acceptable academic performance; all master’s course work must be completed with a minimum GPA of 3.0. If a student receives one “C” in the course work, the student will be warned that his/her academic performance is unacceptable and that the student will be reviewed by the Systems Engineering faculty, which will suggest corrective action. A student receiving two “C’s” will be dismissed from the program, pending review by the Systems Engineering faculty.

Master of Science in Systems Engineering Curriculum

The student’s plan of study must be developed in conjunction with his/her thesis/project major advisor or Graduate Coordinator and filed with the Systems Engineering Graduate Coordinator.

Program Core

The program core provides students the strong systems engineering preparation needed for either a successful professional career in one of the emerging engineering fields, or for further enhancing their education in high-quality engineering doctoral programs.

Systems Engineering Required Core – 12 credit hours

Systems Engineering Seminar- One credit hour

SYEN 7190 - Systems Engineering Seminar (offered on a credit/no-credit basis)

Thesis Option- Six credit hours

Non-Thesis Option- Three credit hours

SYEN 7385 - Systems Engineering Graduate Project

Program Electives

Thesis Option – 12 credit hours

Non-Thesis Option- 15 credit hours

In consultation with the Graduate Coordinator or thesis/project major advisor, students may take their elective course credits from any of the following sample courses. The courses are listed by categories only for easy reference. Students should take at least two 7000-level elective courses.

Systems Analysis and Applications

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Telecommunications, Networking, and Signal Processing

Miscellaneous

* Based on demand, special topics under SYEN 5399 and SYEN 7399 may include:

Optimization of Communication Networks
Design and Analysis of Advanced Manufacturing Systems<
Economic Evaluation of Engineering Projects
Renewable Energy Smart Grid
Essentials of Coding Theory
Human Movement Biomechanics and Motor Control

Master’s Thesis/Project Advisor

The advisor is the faculty member who supervises the student’s thesis work or project. Any faculty member appointed in the Systems Engineering department may serve as the advisor. Faculty members outside the Systems Engineering department may serve as advisor with approval of Systems Engineering Faculty. A studnet amitted to the master’s program should declare an advisor before he/she enrolls in thesis or graudate project courses.

Master’s Thesis/Project Committee

The Master’s Thesis Committee or Master’s Project Committee can be constituted once the student has declared his/her Master’s Thesis/Project Advisor. The committee will include a minimum of three members and a maximum of four members. At least two members have to be Systems Engineering faculty.

Thesis/Project Proposal Defense

Students choosing the thesis option must present their research proposal to their Master’s Thesis Committee one semester prior to their final thesis defense. Students choosing the non-thesis option must present their project proposal to their Master’s Project Committee before their final project defense. At the completion of the examination, the Master’s Thesis or Project Committee will vote to either pass or fail the student. Students who fail the proposal defense will have to repeat the defense. If the student fails the proposal defense for a second time, he/she will be dismissed from the program, pending review by the Systems Engineering Faculty.

Thesis/Project Defense

Students choosing the thesis option will prepare and successfully define a written thesis in accordance with the format and procedures dictated by the Graduate School. Students choosing the non-thesis option will prepare a final project report according to the requirements defined by their Master’s Project Committee. Students must orally defend their completed thesis research or project work to their Master’s Thesis or Project Committee. At the completion of the examination, the Master’s Thesis or Project Committee will vote to either pass or fail the student. If two or more negative votes are cast by the committee members, the student is considered to have failed the exam and will be dismissed from the program, pending review by the Systems Engineering Faculty.

Graduation Requirements

Pass thesis proposal defense / project proposal defense.
Pass thesis final defense / project final defense.

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