Systems Architecture and Engineering Program

Center for Systems

and Software

Engineering

Convocation

October 23, 2006

University of Southern California

• Founded in 1880 (Early for the Western U.S.)

• Private university – not part of UC system• Large (~31,000 students)• An AAU university• Includes a full spectrum of professional

schools and the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

• Last 40 years has made great strides in becoming one of the great academic institutions in the country.

• By the way – does have a football team

University of Southern California

MISSION: The central mission of the

University of Southern California is the

development of human beings and society

as a whole through the cultivation and

enrichment of the human mind and spirit.

USC Vision

USC intends to become one of the

most influential and productive

research universities in the

world. Three core approaches

will underlie our efforts:

USC Vision (continued)

A. We will conduct a range of research

and scholarship that advances

knowledge and at the same time

addresses issues critical to our

community, the nation, and the

world.

USC Vision (continued)

B. We will create a significant global

presence that will increase

international visibility, reach, and

impact of our research, scholarship,

art, education, and service.

USC Vision (continued)

C. We will focus our educational programs on meeting the needs of qualified students worldwide, from undergraduates through continuing professional development. This commitment will guide our choices regarding pedagogy, instructional technology, curriculum, admissions, and support services.

USC Viterbi School of Engineering (VSoE)

Consistently in top 10 graduate ranking (USN&WR)

• Improved significantly in the last 15 years

Highest ranking of research expenditures per

faculty member

Viterbi naming gift in 2004 - $52M

Strong commitment to distance education

• Over 130 courses in spring and fall semesters

on Distance Education Network (DEN)

• Over 1300 students taking graduate

engineering courses on DEN

Systems Architecture and Engineering

• First academic program of this nature • Founded in 1988 by the late Eb Rechtin,

President Emeritus of Aerospace Corporation• First MSSAE degrees earned in 1992• Led by Elliot Axelband, retired VP of Hughes,

from 1994 – 2003• Current Director – Stan Settles,

Associate Director – George Friedman• Strategically important to the VSoE• New level of program status within

Epstein ISE/Viterbi School

New SAE Organization

• SAE is an interdisciplinary program within the Epstein Department of ISE

• The SAE Director reports to the Dean on SAE matters• SAE has its own budget – like a department• 7 courses are controlled by SAE with ISE coordination • 3 courses are controlled by ISE with SAE coordination• SAE course prefix is in place – e.g. SAE 574• Ph.D. program in SAE is being created• The SAE Director is Associate Chair of Epstein ISE

Department

USC Systems Engineering Influence

• Co-sponsor of annual Conference on Systems

Engineering Research (Six have been held)

• Heavily represented in INCOSE

• SE is influencing the industrial engineering discipline

• Created a SE Track in the annual IE research

conference

• In leadership roles in the Council of Engineering Systems

Universities and the INCOSE Academic Leadership

Roundtable

SAE Enrollment (without “Limited Status”)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

CtSAESAE

CtSAE 4 2 4 6 6 9 6 8 7

SAE 38 50 65 72 85 100 92 95 111 125 155 158

Fall 00 Spr 01 Fall 01 Spr 02 Fall 02 Spr 03 Fall 03 Spr 04 Fall 04 Spr 05 Fall 05 Spr 06

Note: Fall 2006 enrollment is 309 students, including “Limited Status”

SAE Planning

Mission

Vision

Goals

Objectives

SAE Mission

The mission of the SAE Program is:

to conduct leading edge research and

deliver excellent education in systems

architecting and engineering.

SAE Vision

The SAE vision is:

to be perceived as the leading source of

systems architecting and engineering

research and education worldwide.

SAE Goals

Establish the program more like a department within the

VSoE *

Create an organized research unit (ORU)

Establish the Ph.D. in SAE

Continue to increase course enrollments

Create new courses to meet the demand and to lead the field

Establish an Industry Advisory Board *

* = Done

SAE Objectives

Hire at least one tenure-track faculty member starting by

Fall 2007

Hire at least one more tenure-track faculty member

starting by Spring 2008

Add at least one part-time person with industry experience

to help in marketing and teaching SAE courses by Fall

2007

Current SAE Degrees and Certificates

MSSAE

• 30 units (10 courses)

Graduate Certificate in SAE

• 15 units (5 courses)

Graduate Certificate in Network-Centric Systems

• Approval expected in fall 2006

SAE Program Philosophy

• Systems architecture and engineering education builds on expertise in one or more engineering discipline(s).

• Courses in systems architecting, engineering and management are required.

• The student is expected to continue to grow in a technical specialty track also.

• SAE is an art based on science and engineering

• Industrial experience is key to teaching some core courses.

SAE Core Courses

• SAE 549 Systems Architecting *• SAE 541 Systems Engineering Theory and

Practice *• SAE 542 Advanced Topics in Systems

Engineering• ISE 460 or ISE 561 Engineering Economy, or

ISE 583 Financial Engineering *• ISE 515 Engineering Project Management• ISE 544 Management of Engineering Teams

* Indicates course is required in all programs

Other Key Courses

• SAE 550 Engineering Management of Government-Funded Programs

• SAE 574 Net-Centric Systems Architecting and Engineering (new – Fall 2003)

• CSCI 510 Software Management and Economics

• CSCI 577a Software Engineering• SAE 5xx Research in Systems Architecting

(not offered recently)• SAE 551 Lean Operations• SAE 552 Six Sigma

Graduate Certificate in SAE

Required Courses: (Pick four from list)

• SAE 549 Systems Architecting• SAE 541 Systems Engineering Theory

and Practice • SAE 542 Advanced Topics in Systems

Engineering • ISE 460 or ISE 561 Engineering Economy,

or ISE 563 Financial Engineering • ISE 515 Engineering Project Management• ISE 544 Management of Engineering

TeamsPlus one approved elective course

Graduate Certificate in Network-Centric Systems

Required Courses

• SAE 574 Net-Centric Systems Architecting and

Engineering

• Either

• CSCI 551 Computer Communications, or

• EE 535 Mobile Communications

Elective Courses

• Select at least two from long list of CSCI and EE courses

Note: Certificate is in approval process

Issues to Consider? (From Industry Advisory Board)

More courses on Net-Centric Systems?Net-Centric Graduate Certificate?Case studies-based SE course?General systems theory course?Modeling and Simulation course?Undergraduate SE course/minor?Certificate course for BS holders to help them move to

SE roles?Collaborative research with industry?Value of Ph.D. to industry?Include lean manufacturing & six sigma courses?Others????

SAE Research Foundations

• USC and Viterbi School mission and vision consistent with

interdisciplinary program

• Large network of research affiliates identified

• Rapidly growing interest in Ph.D. program for SAE

• Based on ISE Ph.D. program

• Companies and organizations are identifying significant

areas for research

• Affiliates help to establish research agenda

• Funding sources are emphasizing systems research areas