Ph.D. Programs in Systems Engineering Prepared by Dr. Jerrell Stracener

Proposed PhD in Applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering nProposed PhD SE Program o Admission Requirements o Degree Requirements o First Step to the PhD nOther PhD SE Programs o Admission Requirements o Degree Requirements o Research Areas nComparison of Proposed PhD SE Programs to other University PhD Programs nSummary July 13, 2003

Proposed PhD SE Program

nAdmission Requirements For admission to the Ph.D. in Operations Research, a candidate must have: o an undergraduate degree in engineering, mathematics, computer science, economics, or a related technical field; o previous coursework that includes satisfactory completion of at least nine credit hours of calculus, three hours of linear algebra, and three hours of computer programming in a high-level language (normally, a Bachelor of Business Administration does not provide sufficient background); o a graduate degree; o a grade-point average of at least 3.40 on a 4.00 scale on all previous undergraduate and graduate studies; and o official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test results with a minimum 80th-percentile quantitative score. Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering

nDegree Requirements 1. A minimum of fifty-four (54) term credit hours (TCH) beyond the baccalaureate degree, plus 24 TCH of dissertation credit. Required courses are as follows: 3MATH 5316 Numerical Linear Algebra 3EMIS 7361 Computer Simulation Techniques 3EMIS 7362 Production and Operations Management 3EMIS 7370 Probability and Statistics for Scientists and Engineers 3EMIS 7377 Design and Analysis of Experiments 3EMIS 8360 Operations Research Models 3EMIS 8361 Economic Decision Analysis 3EMIS 8370 Stochastic Models 3EMIS 8371 Linear Programming 3EMIS 8373 Integer Programming 3EMIS 8374 Network Flows 3EMIS 8378 Optimization Models for Decision Support Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering

nDegree Requirements (Continued) 2. The 54 TCH must also include a 12 TCH minor. Acceptable minors include systems engineering, engineering management, information engineering, computer science, mathematics, statistics, business, economics, telecommunications, or other engineering area. The courses for the minor must be different from the required courses, except for MATH 5316, which can be part of a minor in mathematics. Sample Minors Systems Engineering: 3EMIS 7301 Systems Engineering Process 3EMIS 7303 Integrated Risk Management 3EMIS 7305 System Optimization and Analysis 3EMIS 7307 Systems Integration and Test Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering

nDegree Requirements (Continued) Sample Minors Engineering Management: 3EMIS 7360 Management of Information Technologies 3EMIS 8362 Engineering Accounting 3EMIS 8363 Engineering Finance 3EMIS 8364 Management for Engineers Information Engineering: 3EMIS 7351 Enterprise Fundamentals 3EMIS 7352 Information System Architecture 3EMIS 7353 Information System Design Strategies 3EMIS 7360 Management of Information Technologies Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering

nDegree Requirements (Continued) 3. Satisfactory completion of the Preliminary Counseling Examination, an oral exam covering courses EMIS 7362, 7370, 8360, and This exam should be taken after the student has completed 18 TCH. 4. Satisfactory completion of the Doctoral Qualifying Examination. This exam should be taken after the majority of the coursework has been completed. 5. Satisfactory completion and defense of the doctoral dissertation. Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering

nFive Steps to the PhD o In addition to the five steps below, process details and other requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree may be found in the SMU School of Engineering Graduate Catalog. 1. Basic Coursework: Upon entry into the Ph.D. program, a student is assigned an academic advisor. The advisor will examine the student's prior background and current state of knowledge, and recommend courses to be taken in preparation for Step Preliminary Counseling Exam and Program of Study: To be eligible for advanced study, a student must demonstrate competence in operations research fundamentals by passing the Preliminary Counseling Examination (PCE). This exam is oral and is administered by three faculty members. Particular emphasis will be given to the material covered in the following courses: EMIS 7362, 7370, 8360, and Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering

nFive Steps to the PhD (Continued) 3. Appointment of Supervisory Committee and Advanced Coursework: Upon completion of the PCE a proposed Program of Study is developed that meets the degree requirements in Section II and includes the planned advanced coursework. Based upon the proposed Program of Study a Supervisory Committee is formed. The Supervisory Committee will make any needed adjustments to the Program of Study. Changes in the Program of Study are subject to approval by the Supervisory Committee. Step 3 requires completion of the forms Recommendation and Certification of Appointment of Supervisory Committee and Doctoral Degree Plan. Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering

nFive Steps to the PhD (Continued) 4. Qualifying Examination: At or near the completion of the coursework, the Supervisory Committee will conduct the Qualifying Examination. This exam ordinarily involves a series of take-home exams, but is left to the discretion of the Supervisory Committee. The exam is concluded by an oral exam at which time the student is expected to present a proposal for the dissertation. A written proposal must be given to the Supervisory Committee prior to the oral exam. Upon passing this exam, the student is admitted to Doctorial Candidacy. Step 4 requires completion of the form Admission to Candidacy. Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering

nFive Steps to the PhD (Continued) 5. Dissertation Defense: The most distinguishing characteristic of a program leading to the Ph.D. degree is the requirement that the candidate write a dissertation embodying the results of a significant and original investigation. The dissertation must make a real contribution to the operations research discipline, and it is expected to be a mature and competent piece of writing. The defense, which is conducted orally, must enable the Supervisory Committee to satisfy itself that the dissertation is an original piece of research work, that it has been carried out in keeping with the highest standards of investigation and reporting, and that it makes a contribution to knowledge that is of value to the scientific community. Satisfactory performance on this defense constitutes the last academic requirement to be met for the Ph.D. degree. Step 5 requires completion of the form Report on Thesis or Dissertation and/or Final Examination. Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering

Other PhD SE Programs

nAdmission Requirements oAn Undergraduate Degree 3Boston 3MIT 3Stevens Institute of Technology 3University of Virginia Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering Yes Yes ; not necessarily in science Yes Yes; not necessarily in eng.

nAdmission Requirements (Continued) oPrevious Course Work 3Boston 3MIT 3Stevens Institute of Technology 3University of Virginia Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering None One yr of undergraduate calculus including DFQ; Working knowledge of at least 1 high level programming language; 2 undergraduate courses in calculus based probability and statistics; Mathematical programming or linear algebra

nAdmission Requirements (Continued) oA Graduate Degree 3Boston 3MIT 3Stevens Institute of Technology 3University of Virginia Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering Yes Not required Generally None

nAdmission Requirements (Continued) oGPA 3Boston 3MIT 3Stevens Institute of Technology 3University of Virginia Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering Minimum of in Science; 3.2 all other B average or better Minimum of 3.0

nAdmission Requirements (Continued) oGRE 3Boston 3MIT 3Stevens Institute of Technology 3University of Virginia Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering Yes Yes: 600 Quan; 500 Verbal Not Required Yes; No minimum. Average applicant has 1300 Quantitative and Verbal

nDegree Requirements oTotal Credit Hours 3Boston 3MIT 3Stevens Institute of Technology 3University of Virginia Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering l 64 units of graduate coursework l 66 units core; 48 units in tech elective; 3 classes in a minor l 90 credits; 30 Masters; credits beyond a masters; credits in dissertation work l 26 hours beyond the masters degree including 6 hours of grad mathematics; min 32 hours in a masters degree

nDegree Requirements oMinor Hours 3Boston 3MIT 3Stevens Institute of Technology 3University of Virginia Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering Not required Yes; 3 added classes None

nDegree Requirements oPreliminary Counseling Examination 3Boston 3MIT 3Stevens Institute of Technology 3University of Virginia Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering Yes; two. One in math and one in area of specialization Yes; written and oral Yes; written. Comprehension in engineering and math Yes; two part. Written and oral. Covers subjects within student’s major and minor

nDegree Requirements oDoctoral Qualifying Exam 3Boston 3MIT 3Stevens Institute of Technology 3University of Virginia Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering None Yes; general exam Yes; oral preliminary exam None

nDegree Requirements oSatisfactory Completion and Defense of Doctoral Dissertation 3Boston 3MIT 3Stevens Institute of Technology 3University of Virginia Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering Yes

nComparison oAdmission Requirements Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering

nComparison oDegree Requirements Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering

nComparison oDegree Requirements Proposed PhD in applied Science with a Major in Systems Engineering