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Session 2455

Industry Supported Dual-Master’s Degree Program

Frederick S. Brown, Mel I. Mendelson Loyola Marymount University, College of Science & Engineering Los Angeles, CA 90045

Abstract: In the fall 2003, Loyola Marymount University (LMU) will initiate a new, dual-degree Systems Engineering Leadership Program (SELP) to fulfill the graduate educational needs of industry and government in Southern California. The SELP is based on the collaborative development of an integrated curriculum among LMU’s college of engineering, business and local industry. It is designed around the constituents' needs and confers two degrees: M.S. in systems engineering and MBA. The systems engineering leadership emphasis resulted from suggestions by local industry and the Air Force. The constituents and their needs have been established and translated into a set of educational objectives and program outcomes. Since very few universities offer dual-degrees in systems engineering and business, the SELP fills an important need for an integrated engineering/business curriculum.

I. Introduction

Today the United States has a major shortage of engineers and scientists capable of leading and managing complex technical projects. One example is the U.S. Air Force whose Secretary, Hon. James Roche, has testified before the U.S. Congress [1] that one of the reasons for the large cost overruns and schedule slips on major acquisitions is the lack of systems engineering and management capability. In discussions between LMU’s President and industry leaders from Southern California’s high-technology organizations, the need for well-rounded systems engineers who understand business was established [2]. As a result, the University President chartered an LMU-industry partnership for a new graduate program, entitled the Systems Engineering Leadership Program (SELP).

The SELP will confer two degrees upon its graduates: an MS in Systems Engineering and an MBA. Based on the needs of its constituents, the SELP’s goal is to provide the education needed for working engineers and scientists to take leadership roles in complex, multi- disciplinary projects. The emphasis is on meeting all customer requirements in the broadest sense – including the quality, technical, schedule, financial, legal/environmental, ethical, international, and customer satisfaction aspects. Our graduates will be able to integrate across technical and business disciplines to creatively design affordable solutions to a wide variety of problems. The program’s techniques will lead to shorter product development cycles and lower life-cycle costs.

LMU’s commitment to ethics will be built into the SELP with an integrated approach to developing and practicing ethical strategies in solving problems and integrating/managing projects.

“Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2003, American Society for Engineering Education”

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Brown, F., & Mendelson, M. (2003, June), Industry Supported Dual Master's Degree Program Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--12622