2008-2009 Catalog - United States Air Force Academy

Suggested Course Sequence
3rd-Class Year 2nd-Class Year 1st-Class Year
Acad Opt Comp Sci 211 Aero Engr 315 Astro Engr 410
Chem 200 Beh Sci 310 Beh Sci 373
Econ 201 Biology 315 English 411
English 211 El Engr 231 MSS 400
Engr Mech 220 History 302 Philos 310
Law 220 Math 356 Soc Sci 412
Math 243 Ops Rsch 321 Sys Engr Capstone I
Math 245 Sys Engr 290 Sys Engr Capstone II
MSS 200 Sys Engr 301 Sys Engr Concentration 4
Physics 215 Sys Engr Concentration 2 Sys Engr Concentration 5
Pol Sci 211 Sys Engr Concentration 3 Sys Engr Concentration 6
Sys Engr Concentration 1 Sys Opt Ops Rsch 310 Sys Engr Concentration 7
SYSTEMS ENGINEERING (Sys Engr)
Administered by the Departments of Aeronautical Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Behavioral Sciences, Computer
Sciences, Electrical Engineering, and Engineering Mechanics, with participation by the Department of Management.
Sys Engr 290. Systems Engineering I. Introduction to the systems engineering process and the development lifecycle as
a foundation for solving complex problems to fulfill end user needs. Topics include customer needs, technical requirements
analysis, functional analysis, creative design synthesis, and selection across all eight primary system functions (development,
manufacturing/production, verification, deployment, training, operations, support, and disposal). Planning, organizing, leading,
and controlling a project throughout the phased program development lifecycle is also addressed. Other topics include
engineering ethics and economics, technical communications, and Computer Aided Design (CAD). Students apply the systems
engineering processes through the development, manufacture, and verification of several system prototypes.
Sys Engr 301. Project Management. Introductory project management course. Topics covered include financial project
selection models, risk management, project life cycle management, negotiation and meeting management, scheduling, planning,
budgeting, and project control. Many of these skills are enhanced through the use of MicroSoft Project software.
Sys Engr 405. Systems Engineering Seminar I. Seminar course to help integrate Sys Engr and Sys Engr Mgt (SE/SEM)
majors into the capstone design sequence and share knowledge across various capstone design projects. Seminar also helps
transition SE/SEM majors from undergraduate education to duties as Air Force officers and systems engineering professional.
Topics include current Sys SE/SEM literature and tools used to manage large complex systems and integrate the many
subsystems comprising the larger systems, engineering ethics and typical engineering/management problems which students
may encounter during their capstone design experience and after graduation. Invited speakers offer their view of what it takes
to be successful in the Air Force.
Sys Engr 406. Systems Engineering Seminar II. Seminar designed to help integrate Sys Engr and Sys Engr Mgt (SE/
SEM)majors into the capstone design course sequence and share knowledge across various capstone design projects. Seminar
also helps transition SE/SEM majors from undergraduate education to duties as Air Force officers and systems engineering
professionals. Topics include current SE/SEM literature and tools to manage large complex systems and integrate the many
subsystems comprising the larger systems, engineering ethics, and typical engineering/management problems which students
may encounter during capstone and after graduation. Invited speakers offer their view of what it takes to be successful in the
Air Force.
Sys Engr 460. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Systems. Introduction to unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems and
systems engineering processes used to build them. Topics include air vehicles and capabilities, ground control stations,
payloads, personnel training and support systems. Students work on interdisciplinary teams to build, fly, and test one or more
UAV systems.
United States Air Force Academy Catalog 147