Master of Science in Systems Engineering /
Master of Science in Engineering Systems (311 Curriculum)

MSSE Program Accreditation

The Master of Science in Systems Engineering (MSSE) Program is a signature program of the Systems Engineering Department accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC). This program primarily serves the U.S. Navy Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) community.

Depending on a Bachelor’s Level degree, some of students may not qualify for an ABET EAC accredited MSSE degree. In this case, while taking the same classes, these students will earn a non-ABET accredited Master of Science in Engineering Systems (MSES) degree.

Admission Requirements

Entry Dates: September, January, March, and July
Length of Study: Eight quarters
Program Officer: Joseph Sweeney
Academic Associate: Dr. Raymond Madachy

MSSE/MSES Degree Requirements

• Completion of an approved curriculum that includes:
  • A minimum of 36 quarter hours of 3000 and 4000 level courses, 16 of which must be at the 4000 level.
  • Completion of Core Systems Engineering and Advanced Systems Engineering course sequences
• Completion of a 12 quarter credit hour capstone project course sequence and capstone project report.

Unlike a resident 580 curriculum, its non-resident analogous, the 311 curriculum, does not have officially sponsored Educational Skill Requirements (ESRs) and therefore does not lead to a specific subspecialty code. Instead, graduates from the 311 curriculum meet the general ESRs for a subspecialty code 5800G (G stands for Master’s Degree that does not meet all required ESRs). These general ESRs are met by acquiring the competence to effectively contribute as a Systems Engineer to government systems engineering research, design, development, maintenance and acquisition.

Student Outcomes

In order to achieve the program educational objectives, graduates must complete at least one year of study, or at least 45 quarter credit hours, beyond a baccalaureate level program, achieve a mastery of systems engineering, and complete a thesis or capstone project report, where each student attains outcomes demonstrating competency in:

Advanced mathematics, including probability and statistics, and computing fundamentals, with practical applications thereof.
Engineering topics necessary to define, synthesize, analyze, design, and evaluate complex systems containing hardware and software, and human elements (where appropriate), in a holistic manner across the lifecycle.
Systems design and analysis topics, such as decision analysis, risk analysis (cost, schedule and performance), trade-off analysis, optimization, modeling-based engineering, simulation, sensitivity analysis techniques, or requirements engineering.
Communication: Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

In addition to attaining these student outcomes, an MSSE Program student will have had post-secondary educational and/or professional experiences that supports that attainment of student outcomes as defined in the ABET EAC general criteria for baccalaureate programs, Criterion 3; and includes at least one year of math and basic science, at least one-and-a-half years of engineering topics, and a major design experience that meets the requirements in the general criteria for baccalaureate programs, Criterion 5. Students that have attained an ABET EAC accredited undergraduate degree meet these post-secondary requirements.

Curriculum Sponsors

Director, Strategic Systems Programs, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)

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