SYST Undergraduate Courses

SYST 210 Systems Design (3:3:0) (Previously SYST 301)
Prerequisite SYST 101 or permission of Instructor

Systems engineering design and integration process, the development of functional, physical, and operational architectures. Emphasis is on requirements engineering, functional modeling for design, and formulation and analysis of physical design alternatives. Methods and software tools for systems engineering design are introduced. (Fall)

SYST 220 Dynamical Systems I (3:3:0) (Previously SYST 201)
Prerequisite: MATH 114, PHYS 160, 161 ; corequisites: MATH 203, 214, and PHYS 260

Continuous dynamical systems: Introduction and modeling issues, Solution Methods (differential eqns, Laplace transforms, transfer functions), numerical methods/Matlab solutions, application: analysis of mechanical systems, block diagram and state-variable models/Simulink, discrete dynamical systems: linear, affine, exponential and polynomial systems. (Spring).

SYST 221 Systems Modeling Laboratory (1:0:3) (Previously SYST 203)
Corequisite: SYST 220

Introduction to computer modeling using an engineering modeling environment such as MATLAB. Solution to systems of linear equations, numerical integration and differentiation, interpolation and curve fitting, solution of ordinary differential equations. Simulation and numerical solution of continuous dynamic systems. Discretization of continuous time systems. Use of built-in functions and construction of macros. Graphical presentation of results. Spring.

SYST 320 Dynamical Systems II (3:3:0) (Previously SYST 202)
Prerequisite: SYST 220,221 , PHYS 260, 261, and MATH 203, 214

Continuation of SYST 220. Analysis of mechanical, electrical and electromechanical systems. Systems analysis in the time domain and frequency domain. Analysis and design of control systems. Fall.

SYST 330 Systems Methods (3:3:0) (Previously SYST 302)
Corequisites: CS 112, STAT 346, and SYST 220, 221. Prerequisites: MATH 114

Analysis methods of system engineering design and management. Decision analysis, economic models and evaluation, optimization in design and operations, probability and statistical methods, queuing theory and analysis, management control techniques, reliability and maintainability analysis, and economic and life-cycle cost analysis. Laboratory exercise with different software programs is included. Spring.

SYST 335/OR 335 Discrete Systems Modeling and Simulation (3:3:0)
Corequisites: CS 112, STAT 346

An introduction to the basic concepts of modeling complex discrete systems by computer simulation. Topics include Monte-Carlo methods, discrete-event modeling, a specialized simulation language, and the statistics of input and output analysis. Springr.

SYST 371 Systems Engineering Management (3:3:0)
Prerequisite: SYST 210; corequisite: SYST 330

Study of the basics of systems engineering management. This includes engineering economics, planning, organizing, staffing, monitoring, and controlling the process of designing, developing, and producing a system that will meet a stated need in an effective and efficient manner. Management tools, processes, and procedures will be discussed, including various engineering documentation templates, managerial processes, and dealing with personnel issues. Spring.

SYST 420 Network Analysis (3:3:0)
Prerequisite: OR 441 and MATH 213.

Network nomenclature. Elementary graph theory. Linear and nonlinear network models: multicommodity flow, mathematical games and equilibria on networks, network design and control; dynamic network models; applications to transportation, telecommunications, data communications, and water resource systems. Fall.

SYST 421/ECE 421 Classical Systems and Control Theory (3:3:0)
Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in ECE 220.

Introduction to the analysis and synthesis of feedback systems. Functional description of linear and nonlinear systems. Block diagrams and signal flow graphs. State-space representation of dynamical systems. Frequency response methods: Root Locus, Nyquist, and other stability criteria. Application to mechanical and electromechanical control systems. Fall and Spring.

SYST 460 Introduction to Air Traffic Control(3:3:0)
Prerequisites:STAT 346 and SYST 335

This course is intended as an introduction to Air Traffic Control (ATC) for those who plan professions in the air transportation industry. It is a necessary introduction for students who will later specialize and take more in-depth courses. The course will survey the entire field, presenting the history of ATC and how it came to be as it is, the technology on which the system is based, the procedures used by controllers to meet the safety and efficiency goals of the system, the organizational structure of the FAA, challenges facing the system and means under investigation to meet these challenges. Some field work will be required to acquire and analyze airport operational data. A brief introduction to airport design will be discussed.

SYST 465 Pricing in Optimization and Game Theory (3:3:0)
Prerequisites:MATH 203 or 216, and OR 441, or permission of Instructor.

Allocation of limited resources among competing activities to maximize the outcome, or minimization of expenses required to produce a given assortment of goods and services are two typical problems faced by any economic institution. Mathematical modeling of such problems and finding efficient mathematical tools for solving them are two main goals of modern optimization theory. Pricing limited resources, goods and services is the key instrument for theoretical analysis of complex economical systems. Pricing theory can also give rise to numerical methods for finding optimal solutions and economic equilibrium. Fundamental tools in pricing theory are the classical Lagrangian and Lagrangian multipliers for constrained optimization. In this course we will cover the basic ideas and methods of Linear Programming and Matrix Games. Particular emphasize will be given to pricing for both theoretical analysis and numerical methods.

SYST 470 Human Factors Engineering (3:3:0)
Prerequisites: SYST 210, STAT 346.

Human information processing, inferential analysis, biases and heuristics in human information processing, support systems to aid in human information processing, human-system interaction, and software systems engineering considerations. (Fall)

SYST 473 Decision and Risk Analysis (3:3:0)
Prerequisite: STAT 346.

Study analytic techniques for rational decision making that address uncertainty, conflicting objectives, and risk attitudes. The course covers modeling uncertainty; rational decision-making principles; representing decision problems with value trees, decision trees, and influence diagrams; solving value hierarchies, decision trees and influence diagrams; defining and calculating the value of information; incorporating risk attitudes into the analysis; and conducting sensitivity analyses.

SYST 480/ECON 440 Economic Systems Design I: Principles and Experiments. (3:3:0)
Corequisites: SYST 465. Prerequisites: OR 441.

This courses introduces students to the design principles used in developing systems used to allocate resources. Students will be required to participate in experiment demonstrations of different allocation mechanisms. In addition, students will be exposed to experimental methods in economics and market design.

SYST 481/ECON 441 Economic Systems Design II: Case Studies and Analysis (3:3:0)
Prerequisites: SYST 480.

Students design specific allocation mechanisms for specific problems. Students will be required to design and develop a mechanism to a specific allocation problem. Students must develop both and analytical model and a working engineering model of their mechanism.

SYST 489 Senior Seminar (3:3:0)
Corequisite: SYST 490.

This course is designed to introduce the students to several important topics in systems engineering, provide additional experience to the students in writing and giving presentations, and obtain feedback on the curriculum for the B.S. in Systems Engineering. Several lectures will be devoted to ethics in systems engineering. Writing and making presentations for systems engineering will also be covered early in the semester. Students will attend technical lectures and write a paper on material covered in the lectures. Students will also be required to write a long paper on new technology. The instructor and guest lecturers will present material that is not part of the required course load to expand the horizons of the studentsExamples of such "hot" topics are "knowledge-based" design, enterprise-wide reengineering, electronic commerce, and optimization by "natural analogy" (simulated annealing, neural networks, genetic algorithms). In addition, students will work in teams to critique and redesign the curriculum in Systems Engineering. Each group will deliver a written product and provide at least one briefing to the class. The best critique and redesign will be presented to the faculty.

SYST 490 Senior Design Project I (3:2:1)
Prerequisites: SYST 335,SYST 371 and 90 credits towards the BS in systems engineering; corequisites: OR 441, SYST 470.

The first part of a "capstone" course in the systems engineering program. Students apply the knowledge they have gained in systems engineering methods to a group project. During the first semester of the senior design course, students perform concept definition and requirements analysis. A plan for carrying out the project is developed, culminating in a proposal presented to faculty at the end of the semester.

SYST 491 Industrial Project (1-3:0:3-9)
Prerequisite: 75 credit hours, SYST 330; must be arranged with an instructor and approved by the department faculty advisor before registering.

Semester-long work experience in systems engineering in an industrial or governmental organization. The work is supervised jointly by a systems engineer from the sponsoring organization and a faculty member of the department. The project and the arrangements for supervision must be approved by the student's faculty advisor. Periodic reports, a written final report, and a presentation are required.

SYST 495 Senior Design Project II (3:1:2)
Prerequisite:SYST 490.

The second part of the "capstone" course in the systems engineering program. The design project plans formulated in SYST 490 are reviewed and modified. Additional instruction on documentation and project management is given. The design project is completed, and a formal report is prepared, presented, and evaluated. (Spring)

SYST 498 Independent Study in Systems Engineering (13:0:0)
Prerequisites: 60 credits; must be arranged with an instructor and approved by the department chair before registering.

Directed self-study of special topics of current interest in systems engineering. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits if the topics are substantially different. (Fall), (Spring), (Summer)

SYST 499 Special Topics in Systems Engineering (3:3:0)
Prerequisites: 60 credits; specific prerequisites vary with nature of topic.

Topics of special interest to undergraduates. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits if the topics are substantially different.