Engineering: Systems Engineering
(ENSE)
Abstract
Students in the broadly-based, cross-disciplinary Master of Science in Systems Engineering (ENSE) program at ISR benefit both academically and professionally by:
- Being exposed to a wide range of systems engineering principles and software tools tailored toward support for visual modeling of systems, requirements engineering, system-level modeling, optimization and trade-off analysis, and human factors engineering.
- Becoming familiar with the financial and management issues associated with complex engineering systems.
- Acquiring a deep understanding of one particular application area.
- Becoming familiar for opportunities for leadership within the systems engineering profession.
Designed with substantial industry input, the ENSE curriculum represents the University of Maryland's first multi-college graduate degree program involving the A. James Clark School of Engineering.
In addition to the technical management of systems projects, the ENSE program covers a wide range of topics, from systems definition, requirements and specifications, to systems design, implementation, and operation. Students specialize in one technical area, selected from computer and software systems, communication and networking systems, signal processing systems, control systems, manufacturing systems, operations research, transportation systems, and robotics. The ENSE program draws upon the extensive engineering, computer science and management experience of the of University of Maryland faculty. The program makes optimum use of the university's advanced facilities, including extensive libraries of numerical, symbolic, and visualization software, engineering workstations, and wireless communication networks.
Admissions Information
Admission to the ENSE program is competitive. The program looks for strong evidence of motivation and achievement and/or significant professional experience in engineering and/or the sciences. At a minimum, all applicants must meet the general admission requirements of the Graduate School, graduation from a regionally accredited college or university with a B average (or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale). Also key are three (3) strongly positive letters of recommendation, usually from current or recent instructors, employers, or supervisors; competitive scores on standardized tests (the GRE general test with writing assessment is required); and an articulate statement of appropriate goals and interests. Applicants should have a solid background in engineering, math or science. Prospective and current students may seek support for their studies through graduate research assistantships or graduate fellowships. Students currently working in industry, the military, or the government, who plan to pursue their graduate studies part-time, might ask their employers about tuition assistance. All applicants are encouraged to explore sources of external funding; a number of comprehensive Internet sites, such as fastweb.com, offer detailed information and application instructions.
Application Deadlines
Type of Applicant Fall Spring Domestic Applicants; US Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials; International Applicants seeking admissions under A, E, G, H, I and L visas and immigrants
Deadline: March 15
International Applicants seeking admission under F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas
Deadline: February 1
Application Requirements
GRE. Official GRE scores should be sent directly to the University of Maryland (institution code 5814) through ETS. TOEFL. Official TOEFL scores should be sent directly to the University of Maryland (institution code 5814) through ETS. Official transcripts (original hard copy required) Residency information form (U.S. citizens and permanent residents only) Certification of Finances form (international applicants only) International applicants who are already in the U.S. must provide copies of the I-20, I-94, and passport visa stamp 3 Letters of recommendation Statement of Goals
All other supporting documents should be sent to: University of Maryland College Park, Enrollment Services Operations, Application for Graduate Admission, Rm 0130 Mitchell Building, College Park, MD 20742
Degree Requirements
Master of Science (M.S.)
General requirements for the master's thesis and non-thesis options are those of the University of Maryland Graduate School. All requirements must be completed within 5 years. The thesis option requires each student to obtain a total of 30 credit hours: 24 hours of coursework and six (6) hours for the thesis project to complete the program. The coursework includes 18 credits for the six core courses (four courses from the systems engineering core and two courses from the management core), and two (2) elective courses. The elective courses must be taken from one specialization area. The master's thesis project demonstrates the practical implications of systems engineering principles. The thesis project may be related to a practical industrial system, and must be supervised by the academic advisor.
The non-thesis option requires each student to obtain a total of 30 credit hours of coursework to complete the program (four courses from the systems engineering core, two courses from the management core, and four elective courses). The elective courses must be taken from not more than two specialization areas. In addition, students must complete a scholarly paper. Expectations of the scholarly paper: While less detailed and complex than the thesis, the scholarly paper also contributes to systems engineering research. For example, a student might chose to write a literature review, identify and propose a solution to a systems problem encountered on the job, or prepare a systems case study. The scholarly paper is prepared under the supervision of the student's academic advisor. It also must be read by at least one additional ISR faculty member, and approved by the ENSE graduate director. No specific format is required by the Graduate School.
Facilities and Special Resources
Modern laboratory, computation, and networking environments play an indispensable role in both the development and day-to-day operation of the research and education programs at the Institute for Systems Research. In all of the ISR laboratories, real-life experiments and associated research studies are enabled through the integrated design of automation and information engineering systems. Computational environments support advanced numerical simulation, sensing and control, and automated design of complex heterogeneous engineering systems. Networking environments play an indispensible role in enabling of interdisciplinary teams of faculty and students to work together. Prototype designs in both hardware and software have led to technological discoveries and patentable inventions.
ISR was established in 1985 as one of the first six National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers (ERCs). Now a self-sustaining ERC, it is a permanent state-supported institute of the University of Maryland, within the A. James Clark School of Engineering. ISR faculty and graduate students perform basic and applied research with an emphasis on six major research directions: systems engineering methodologies and tools, global communications systems, sensor-actuated networks, next generation product-realization systems, societal infrastructure systems, and cross-disciplinary systems engineering education. ISR seeks a cohesive and balanced approach to the modeling, design, and control of large heterogeneous systems, bringing together a diversified team of outstanding engineers, scientists, and students to research, develop, and implement advances in systems engineering.
Financial Assistance
Prospective and current students may seek support for their studies through graduate research assistantships with ISR faculty or graduate fellowships. Students currently working in industry, the military, or the government, who plan to pursue their graduate studies part-time, might ask their employers about tuition assistance. All applicants are encouraged to explore sources of external funding; a number of comprehensive Internet sites, such as fastweb.com, offer detailed information and application instructions.
Contact Information
Information regarding the program may be obtained by writing to:
Master of Science in Systems Engineering (ENSE) Program
Institute for Systems Research
2175 A.V. Williams Building (115)
University of Maryland
College Park
MD
20742
Telephone: (301) 405-4419
Fax: (301) 314-9920
ensegrad@deans.umd.edu
http://www.isr.umd.edu/MSSE/index.htm
Courses: ENSE
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Engineering: Materials Science and Engineering
Engineering: Aerospace Engineering
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Engineering: Mechanical Engineering
Engineering: Professional Master of Engineering
Graduate Certificate: Engineering
