Systems Engineers - Meeting the Needs of the Future
What is Systems Engineering? (SE)
Visualize a helicopter as a system. The components of that helicopter – the pilot, propeller, navigation, propulsion, etc – must all work together so the helicopter is able to perform its mission. A system performs a function that a single component cannot.
Now, think about the world as a network of systems that provide us with food, water, shelter, transportation, and the technology we need to manage our daily lives. Without these systems, life as we know it would not be possible. Likewise, without systems engineers, the management, lifecycle and performance of these systems could fail.
The academic discipline of Systems Engineering at USMA examines technical and human components, civilian and military components, land/sea/air based components and how each of these acts as a system. We improve systems by creating alternatives that increase system performance and longevity.
Why Study Systems Engineering?
SE is a program that provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about the art and science of making decisions in complex, dynamic environments. Systems Engineering will expose you to innovative methods of decision-making and can open doors to opportunities offered in fields such as business and finance, engineering, and management. SE introduces topics that are the basic foundations of several graduate degrees, such as a Masters in Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, or an MBA.
Systems Engineering prepares you to be an Army leader.
Systems Engineering graduates will become Military leaders and business professionals prepared to offer engineering solutions to management and resource problems. Gain the skills, as well as the technical and intellectual knowledge required of future military leaders and civilian industry professionals when you become a Systems Engineer. Systems Engineering also prepares you for several critical secondary Army career specialties, including Operations Research/Systems Analysis (ORSA), Acquisition, and Research and Development (R&D).
What do Systems Engineers Do?
Systems Engineers study contemporary issues facing the military and industry, build models, conduct analysis, and create simulation environments to help clients and senior leadership identify problems, assess risks, save resources and refine and test new ideas to avoid major mistakes before large scale systems are designed and implemented.
As a Systems Engineer, you will apply a broad range of skills to a multitude of modern systems and important contemporary issues. These issues will require an inter-disciplinary perspective and include some of the examples listed below:
o Analyzing combat simulations from the Corps to the Soldier level utilizing a variety of modeling software packages thereby increasing warfighting capabilities of deployed forces
o Designing decision support systems which maximize the lethality and effectiveness of our military forces across the globe
o Determining optimal use of resources in allocating and managing the latest Army multi-million dollar acquisition projects
o Supporting decision makers with accurate, timely, and relevant courses of action that span critical subject areas such as strategic policy, infrastructure, personnel, and logistics
o Managing Army transformation requirements by analysis of Army structuring, cost, effectiveness, and integration
o Evaluating Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) Systems and maximizing battle space command and situational awareness
o Protecting the environment through systematic evaluation of how to reduce pollutants while increasing productivity.
Program Highlights
Systems is Relevant
The Army and American industry seeks to gain a competitive advantage in the high-tech global marketplace. Learn to think ‘systems’, analyze, model and solve problems as they relate to design, development and operations in today’s economy.
Systems is Timely
As resources become more constrained, systems skills are in high demand. Use engineering principles to better understand real world systems and how to support the decision making process.
Technologically Savvy
Utilize state-of-the art technology with the latest simulation, management, modeling and analysis software.
Graduate School Preparation
Your education doesn’t stop here. The breadth of Systems courses provides excellent opportunities for graduate studies in academic disciplines ranging from an MBA to a master’s degree in information systems, operations research or other engineering fields.
Capstone and AIAD Opportunities
Real World Problems. Real World Clients. Real World Application. Evaluate dynamic problems that involve resources such as technology, people, equipment, money and information.
ABET Accreditated
This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone (410)347-7700.