<p>Anyone have experience, perspective on this major? What's the 'rap', scuttlebutt on it on campus? </p>
<p>Are there any particular majors w/in engineering or sciences that seem to make greater "sense" for officers?</p>
<p>USNA is ranked no. 1 in the nation for the Systems Engineering degree.</p>
<p>Everything you wanted to know about Systems Engineering but were afraid to ask:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Many modern products, from microwave ovens, stereos and automobiles to spacecraft, missiles and robots, are a complex system consisting of components from many engineering disciplines. The systems engineer seeks to combine and control the diverse components in order to meet specific design specifications.</p>
<p>The Naval Academys systems engineering program, rated number one in the country for more than ten years, is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). It is an interdisciplinary major encompassing electronics, mechanics, automatic control, computers and simulation. An overall understanding of the analysis and design of complete engineering systems, including the interdisciplinary interfaces between systems, is the primary goal of the major. Systems engineering is particularly suited to those persons interested in the higher level interactions of engineering components rather than the detailed design of specific components. A bachelor of science in systems engineering is awarded.</p>
<p>Since most modern systems contain automatic control functions using digital control techniques, the core of the systems engineering major is the study of feedback control theory, with digital control as a major element. Surrounding this core is the interdisciplinary part of the major, with advanced courses in digital technology and microprocessors, computer interfacing and engineering, analog and digital communications, analog and digital simulation and robotics. As a part of the interdisciplinary concept, portions of the systems engineering major may be fulfilled with advanced courses from all other engineering disciplines as well as mathematics, physics and computer science.</p>
<p>A systems engineer is particularly well prepared to operate and maintain the most sophisticated systems found in todays Navy. Knowledge gained in the major is directly applicable to missile, gun, sensor, guidance and propulsion systems. The systems engineering major also provides an excellent foundation for postgraduate education in any engineering discipline.</p>
<p>Curriculum Requirements (in addition to the requirements of plebe year)
Professional: NE203, NL302, NL400, NN204, NS310, NS40X;
Mathematics: SM212, SM221;
Science: SP211, SP212;
Humanities: HH205, HH206 and two electives including one at the 300/400 level;
Engineering: EE331, EE332, EM211, EM232, EM318, EM319, ES300;
Major: ES202, ES301, ES302, ES307, ES308, ES401, ES402, SI283, SM314, plus five major electives.</p>
<p>Systems Engineering Courses</p>
<p>*ES202 Introduction to Systems Engineering<a href="2-2-3">/b</a>. Introduction to the mathematics, programming and simulation tools of the Systems Engineer. Introduction to analog and digital simulation techniques and modeling of electrical, mechanical and hydraulic systems. Includes a simulation project, a briefing from the 1/C on design projects and a survey of the simulation and control laboratories and courses available in Systems Engineering. *Coreq:SM212.</p>
<p>*ES300 Naval Weapons Systems<a href="3-0-3">/b</a>.
An introduction to the theory of weapons systems through a study of the fundamental principles of sensor, tracking, computational and weapons delivery subsystems. *Prereq: Calculus II (SM122 or SM162), Physics II (SP212 or SP222), and Chemistry II (SC112 or SC151).</p>
<p>*ES301 Analog/Digital Computer Methods<a href="2-2-3">/b</a>. Principles of computer simulation of linear and nonlinear multivariable systems are applied to the study of the behavior of realistic engineering control systems. Includes a hands-on hardware design and construction problem and a computer simulation design project. *Prereq: ES202 and EM232; Coreq: ES307.</p>
<p>*ES302 Applied Control Systems and Instrumentation<a href="2-2-3">/b</a>. Computer controlled instrumentation is used to collect data for
determination of mathematical model parameters of physical systems using statistical analysis. Comparisons of predicted and actual systems responses are made. Includes lab exercises with sensors, sensor operation and hardware design of DC and stepper motor controls. *Prereq: ES301 and ES307; Coreq: ES308.</p>
<p>*ES303 Linear Control Systems<a href="3-0-3">/b</a>.
Analysis and design of linear control systems in the time and frequencey domains. *Prereq: ES202 and EM232; Coreq: ES301.</p>
<p>*ES304 Advanced Control Systems<a href="3-0-3">/b</a>.
A study of advanced control methods for linear systems including frequency domain control system design, state feedback compensation, and state estimation. *Prereq: ES301 and ES303; Coreq: ES308.</p>
<p>*ES307 Linear Control Systems<a href="4-0-4">/b</a>.
Analysis and design of linear control systems in the time and frequency domains. *Prereq: ES202 and EM232; Coreq: ES301.</p>
<p>**ES308 Control Systems Design Laboratory<a href="1-2-2">/b</a>.
Applied control systems design. Implementation of analog and sample data
controllers. *Prereq: ES303. *</p>
<p>*ES401 Advanced Control Systems<a href="2-2-3">/b</a>.
A study of advanced topics of automatic control systems including compensation, modern control theory and nonlinear analysis and selected topics in research techniques. *Prereq: ES308 or ES410.</p>
<p>*ES402 Systems Engineering Design<a href="2-4-4">/b</a>. Introduction to the macro-techniques of engineering design including performance, reliability, management control, redundancy, man-machine systems and testing techniques. Design, construction, test and evaluation of an approved project is accomplished in the lab. Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory are normally scheduled for this course. Each team also meets for an additional two hours of project work each week according to a schedule arranged to accommodate all those involved. *Prereq: ES308 and (ES405 or ES302).</p>
<p>*ES403 Engineering Design Methods<a href="1-2-2">/b</a>.
An introduction to the engineering design process and project management. Also includes the composition of the proposal for the senior design project. *Prereq: ES308; Coreq: ES405.</p>
<p>*ES405 Applied Control Systems<a href="2-2-3">/b</a>.
Computer controlled instrumentation is used to collect data for determination of mathematical model parameters of physical systems using statistical analysis. Comparisons of predicted and actual systems responses are made. Includes lab exercises with sensors, sensor operation, and hardware design of DC and stepper motor controls. *Prereq: ES304 and ES308.</p>
<p>*ES410 Control Systems and Their Application to Weapons<a href="3-2-4">/b</a>. Linear control systems for engineering majors, using analytical, graphical
and computer techniques. *Prereq: ES300, SM212 or SM222, and EE221 or EE331.</p>
<p>*ES413 Digital Control Systems<a href="2-2-3">/b</a>.
Analysis, design and simulation of digital filters. Analysis, design and laboratory testing of digital controllers for continuous processes using digital
and analog computers and servo system hardware. *Prereq: ES308 or ES410.</p>
<p>*ES415 Nonlinear Control Systems<a href="2-2-3">/b</a>.
Analysis and design of control systems having nonlinear components. *Prereq: ES302 and ES308.</p>
<p>*ES418 Modern Control Systems<a href="3-0-3">/b</a>.
Analysis and design of control systems using modern control theory. *Prereq: ES304 or ES401.</p>
<p>*ES419 Weapons System Engineering<a href="3-2-4">/b</a>. An introduction to weapons systems applications of RADAR, eletro-optics, SONAR, engagement systems, destruction systems and systems integration. An introduction to the engineering principles used in the control of
weapons systems, including modeling of physical systems, analysis, and design. Applications of control systems is also addressed. *Prereq: EE301.</p>
<p>*ES421 Digital Information Systems<a href="2-2-3">/b</a>. Introduction to the tools required to study digital and analog communications systems including Fourier analysis, sampling correlation, convolution and windowing. Analysis of different ways to encode digital communication signals. *Prereq: 1/C engineering major or approval of department chair.</p>
<p>*ES422 Analog Information Systems<a href="2-2-3">/b</a>. Study of amplitude and frequency modulation techniques. Develop models of receiver structures for extracting signals from a noisy environment. System identification of unknown black boxes using time and frequency domain techniques. *Prereq: ES421.</p>
<p>**ES430 Introduction to Computer Engineering<a href="2-2-3">/b</a>. An introduction to logic operations starting with Boolean algebra and switching circuits up to an introduction of the logical organization and internal functioning of computers. Lab exercises include combinatorial logic design,
sequential logic design, computer functional simulation and a three-chip computer project.</p>
<p>*ES432 Microcomputers in Control Applications<a href="2-2-3">/b</a>. An introduction to the role of the microcomputer as a component in control systems, applying assembly language programming techniques and a variety of interface hardware. *Prereq: ES430 or approval of department chair.</p>
<p>*ES440 Environmental Systems Engineering<a href="2-2-3">/b</a>. A survey of systems engineering topics related to the environment. Topics include environmental sensing, data processing, environmental modeling, alternate energy, and combustion emissions. Environmental engineering issues are explored through student research projects. Design and analysis of environmental sustems are explored through laboratory xercises. *Prereq: 1/C engineering major or approval of department chair.</p>
<p>*ES450 Introduction to Robotic Systems<a href="2-2-3">/b</a>. Fundamentals of robotic systems including historical development, applications, basic configuration and design considerations, control principles of robot systems, computer vision processing and a group design project.
*Prereq: 2/C engineering major or approval of department chair.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Be prepared to study your a$$ off. That's no bull major you're looking at.</p>
<p>There seem to be very few Systems Engineering programs. Penn, UVA, RIT, Cornell, a few others. In fact ABET doesn't even list it as one of its accredited specialty areas. Would it be listed under other name(s) at other institutions? More graduate programs, it seems.</p>
<p>And what's the scuttlebutt relative to EE, ME?</p>
<p>Unless things have changed, EE has always been the real killer. ME has always been known as tough because of having had to ride the Rocket in thermo. If Rocket Ried is no longer there, then things just got easier.</p>
<p>If I had a choice, I'd study Systems Engineering over EE, simply because it seems that SE is more application-based than EE.</p>
<p>As to whether SE is tougher or easier than EE, I honestly couldn't tell you, but I rarely heard SE being called a killer like EE.</p>
<p>WP: Systems Engineering would typically be found under Industrial and Systems Engineering "ISYE" or Industrial Engineering "IE" programs at other institutions. The big difference is at USNA it is "Weapons and Systems Engineering", hence a focus on weapons and control systems. Industrial Engineering Systems, more in line with optimization and logistics is taught in Division II - Mathematics and Sciences - under Operations Analysis. USNA is the best program for the weapons and control systems, Georgia Tech probably the best program for logistics, manufacturing systems and Operations Research.</p>
<p>Now that makes sense to me. As we've looked @ curricula in various programs, many tend to be highly mathematical model focused.</p>
<p>And I do understand the IE. Many purists tend to look down their ivy covered noses at the IE thing, at least for undergrads, suggesting they ought to get grounded in one of the so-called disciplines ... EE, ME, etc.</p>
<p>"Many purists tend..."
Those would be the folks that referred to Industrial Engineering as "Imaginary Engineering" for undergrads or even the "easy" engineering curriculum. Little did/do they realize that it is probably one of the most mathematical based and least “cookbook” based of the engineering disciplines. It just doesn’t happen to be one of those “classical fields of study." If you look at most of the major public universities with engineering, most offer undergraduate degrees in ISYE/IE. </p>
<p>You take a degree in Weapons and Systems Engineering, with a minor or electives from Operations Analysis and you are set for many career paths.</p>
<p>Yea, you always have to wonder some when you hear that. Wikpedia discusses this some.</p>
<p>I can vouch for what Profmom is saying. I have my BS in General Engineering from Canoe U, but my MS is in Industrial Engineering from the University of Miami.</p>
<p>It's amazing just how much you can shoehorn IE into just about anything, sometimes without even thinking about it.</p>
<p>so for all you engineering folks- what about naval archectiture? where does that fit in to the whole scheme of engineering things?</p>
<p>Naval Architecture is a difficult major. In my class, there were 10 of us who completed this major. Most of the mids who originally selected Naval Architecture eventually dropped to General Engineering.</p>
<p>General Engineers: The Few, The Proud. The STILL NOT BULL MAJORS! :D</p>
<p>You could always spot the General Engineers when they walked around with their little IC-chip pinboard computer sets for EE. We carried them as a badge of honor. :D</p>
<p>Naval Architecture is no joke. It's serious engineering.</p>
<p>Look, folks, the bottom line is that any Group 1 major is a bear, and most Group 2 majors are only marginally easier. The biggest difference is the Thermo, Wires/Cables, Ships/Boats difference.</p>
<p>We won't get started on Group 3 majors. ;)</p>
<p>
[quote]
General Engineers: The Few, The Proud. The STILL NOT BULL MAJORS!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>As we liked to say, Poly Sci, QPR high!</p>
<p>Seriously, you should major in something you think you'll "enjoy." There's enough misery -- I mean opportunities to excel -- at USNA that your coursework shouldn't be a drag. If you enjoy something, you can better deal with the fact that it's hard. However, if you don't really like the major -- and it's really hard -- it's just going to add to a misery factor.</p>
<p>Good counsel. Still, this whole thing IS about education, and it's valuable to get insight from those who are there. You can help to lend some light to those academic experiences, and their merit and direction for both service as a naval officer AND a civilian ...</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing about these rather than merely pooh-poohing them as ancillary to a USNA education. I confess to being somewhat intriqued by the lack of discussion about the academics, which Smallwood emphasizes ... is a very critical issue once there.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Naval Architecture is a difficult major. In my class, there were 10 of us who completed this major. Most of the mids who originally selected Naval Architecture eventually dropped to General Engineering.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>GreatAmerican-</p>
<p>Can you share more about the program? Presuming your Navy days are behind you, what did you do with that in the civilian world? </p>
<p>Also- was it a highly selective major, meaning, was there a particular GPA you needed in order to follow that track at the end of plebe year? What other info can you share with candidates and plebes with a budding interest in the field? Would love to pass your insights along - Thanks!!</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you enjoy something, you can better deal with the fact that it's hard. However, if you don't really like the major -- and it's really hard -- it's just going to add to a misery factor.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No joke. Very, very true.</p>
<p>Navy2010, I am unaware of any GPA requirement to enroll in a particular major (aside from that new Arab Studies one). Unless they changed things, you pick your major sometime around March of your Plebe Year, and away you go.</p>
<p>Z-Man ... my understanding is that the Arabic language major is one of the few? that the Acad identifies plebes as majors right out of the box. Yes?</p>
<p>peskemom would know. Her dd is among that select group, I believe?</p>
<p>navy2010,</p>
<p>
[quote]
Can you share more about the program? ...Also- was it a highly selective major, meaning, was there a particular GPA you needed in order to follow that track at the end of plebe year?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>First, I think we need a little history lesson on the academy and the degree programs. Back in the old days (when ships were made of wood and men were made of iron) :D the Naval Academy didn't have majors. The academy was essentailly a trade school that cranked out division officers for the Navy and platoon leaders for the Marine Corps. Everybody graduated with a BS (Bachelor of Science not Barbara Streisand) degree.</p>
<p>With the advent of Admiral Rickover's nuclear power program, changes were needed in the quality of officers graduating from the academy. The "Godfather" needed a pool of qualified officers to enter the nuclear power program. Hence, the academic curriculum was revamped during the 1960's to include 26 majors of which seven were accredited engineering degrees. The Marine Engineering major is no longer offered at the academy. The Marine Engineering major was a nuclear engineering curriculum. That's why the academy has a subcritical reactor in Rickover Hall. Also, we had numerous foreign language majors to choose from (i.e., Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, etc.). The foreign language majors were deleted somewhere along the line but are now being reinstated for obvious reasons. (The pendulum is swinging back.)</p>
<p>Thirty years ago, each class was required to have approximately 80 percent majoring in an engineering / technical degree and approximately 20 percent majoring in the humanities ("Bull" majors). All midshipmen are required to take core engineering courses even if they are "Bull" majors. This ensures that, theoretically, all academy graduates should be qualified to enter into the nuclear power program.</p>
<p>The Navy used to say: "We need technicians not poets."</p>
<p>Also, during my time, majors were selected during plebe summer. There were no GPA criteria associated with majors.</p>
<p>At this point I would like to mention, that the "Godfather" convinced the CNO to conduct a nuclear power draft for the Class of 1980. This was a fiasco that resulted in midshipmen being assigned to sevice selections they didn't want.</p>
<p>I have a lot of good Admiral Rickover stories that I can share. Rickover was very powerful and was feared by many in the Navy. Even John Lehman, former Secretary of the Navy, knew that he couldn't fire Rickover. He had to get President Reagan to do the deed. Rickover's response: "Mr. President, this young pisant doesn't know a damn thing about the Navy." :D</p>
<p>To be continued...</p>