Using the systems engineering method to design a system engineering major at the United States Air Force academy

Abstract

In response to an articulated customer need for more engineering graduates who can "think in systems engineering terms," the United States Air Force Academy recently began the process of developing a new undergraduate academic major in systems engineering. An interdisciplinary team of engineering educators, computer science and behavioral science professors, employed a robust systems engineering process to design the major so that the needs of all constituencies would be met during a time of constrained resources. In true systems engineering fashion, the team created a robust program architecture based on customer needs and requirements, a review of existing programs, and a forward-looking concept of operations. The architecture not only included the curricular design, but also addressed other aspects of the system, to include organizational design, marketing, and research. The systems engineering methodology allowed the team to establish the systems engineering major in an efficient, thorough, and organized manner. In less than a year the systems engineering major was in place with over 30 students enrolled. This paper will present the entire developmental process, describe the major in detail, and discuss how a systems engineering framework can be used to easily meet all ABET General Criteria.