This page provides information about student learning outcomes for the Graduate Certificate in Systems Engineering (GCSE). The GCSE has an assessment plan that will continuously improve the program, and also meet the accrediting requirements of Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), which is its accrediting body. To be accredited, certain student learning outcomes must be measured, evaluated and improved.

Students will achieve many student learning outcomes by pursuing the GCSE. In particular, all students will be prepared to earn an Associate Systems Engineering Professional title from the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE). Numerous other learning outcomes exist, but the program only evaluates the following 11 student learning outcomes for program improvement and accreditation purposes. Some of these learning outcomes are derived from INCOSE’s Graduate Reference Curriculum for Systems Engineering (GRCSE, version 1.1) as indicated.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Elicit, define, reconcile, and manage system needs and requirements in consideration of cost, time, knowledge, risk, existing systems, and organizations. (Derived from INCOSE's GRCSE, “SE Practice, Requirements Reconciliation” category)
  2. Create systems engineering models of systems or products. (Derived from INCOSE's GRCSE, “SE Concepts, Topic Depth” category)
  3. Use appropriate systems engineering knowledge and skills to develop real-world solutions.  (Derived from INCOSE's GRCSE, “SE Practice, Realism” category)
  4. Show a graduate level knowledge in one particular systems engineering focus area.
  5. Show a breadth and/or depth of systems engineering knowledge.
  6. Communicate effectively in writing. (Derived from INCOSE's GRCSE, “SE Professionalism, Teamwork” category)

GCSE Program Assessment Plan

The GCSE will use the following assessment strategy involving classes. Annually, the Program Director of the Masters of Science in Systems Engineering will convene at least 3 faculty teaching core GCSE topics. These individuals will evaluate all of the assessment data. In the event that any outcome is not met, the results will be distributed to the relevant faculty and strategies to resolve the inadequacies will be discussed. Changes to courses or the curriculum are the most likely outcomes of these meetings. In the end, this program will have a feedback loop. The goal will always be continuous improvement of the student learning outcomes.

For anything that is assessed through coursework, having 90% of students that earned a grade of a B or better for a core course or a B- or better for an elective course is sufficient to show acceptable student learning outcomes.

For learning outcomes assessed during student's culminating experience. The faculty will either vote to pass or fail the student based upon this culminating experience. It is important to emphasize that if any assessed student learning outcome is not sufficiently presented in the

culminating experience, then the committee will vote to fail the student. If a student passes their culminating experience, then any outcomes assessed during the culminating experience will also pass. If 90% or more of culminating experiences pass, then the program will satisfy the assessments related to the culminating experience.

Assessment plan for each student learning outcome

1. Elicit, define, reconcile, and manage system needs and requirements in consideration of cost, time, knowledge, risk, existing systems, and organizations.

This student learning outcome will be assessed in the required core class ME EN 6160 - Fundamentals of Systems Engineering. This class focuses on the first half of the vee model, which deals with these learning outcomes. A student receiving a B- or better in this class indicates that the student has met this student learning outcome. Since a student is required to earn a B- or better in all core classes, all certificate awardees will meet this requirement.

2. Create systems engineering models of systems or products.

This student learning outcome will be assessed in ME EN 6170 - Systems Engineering and Integration. ME EN 6170 focuses on the integration or the last half of the aforementioned vee model. In ME EN 6170, the instructor will be responsible to assign a tests, projects and/or homeworks where the students builds models in SysML (model based systems). A student receiving a B- or better in this class indicates that the student has met this student learning outcome. Since a student is required to earn a B- or better in all core requirements, all certificate awardees will meet this requirement.

3. Use appropriate systems engineering knowledge and skills to develop real-world solutions.

This student learning outcome will be assessed in ME EN 6170 - Systems Engineering and Integration. Integration is about real-world implementation. In ME EN 6170, the instructor will be responsible to assign real-world example problems where the students apply systems engineering tools and techniques. A student receiving a B- or better in this class indicates that the student has met this student learning outcome. Since a student is required to earn a B- or better in all core requirements, all certificate awardees will meet this requirement.

4. Show a graduate level knowledge in one particular of systems engineering focus area.

The students are required to take 3 hours from a very short list of Systems Engineering courses. Each of these courses is a core focus area of Systems Engineering. Each course teaches students graduate level depth in one systems area. Students receiving a B- or better in these 3 hours shows that the student has gained graduate level knowledge in one area of Systems Engineering. Since a student is required to earn a B- or better in these courses, all certificate awardees will meet this requirement.

5. Show a breadth and/or depth of systems engineering knowledge.

The students are required to take 6 hours of electives from an extensive list of classes. All classes in this list either cover some portion of systems engineering or are in a field that frequently uses systems engineering. Students receiving a B- or better in these 6 hours, along with the knowledge gained from the other courses, shows that the student has sufficient breadth or depth of systems engineering knowledge. Since a student is required to earn a B- or better in these courses, all certificate awardees will meet this requirement.

6. Communicate effectively in writing.

This student learning outcome will be assessed in ME EN 6170 - Systems Engineering and Integration. This class integrates models into real world products or services. Having good communication skills is necessary for effective integration. The instructor is required to both assign written work and to effectively evaluate the students’ writing. Some of the class lectures should be dedicated to effective writing and communication. Since a student is required to earn a B- or better in this course, all certificate awardees will meet this requirement.