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Systems Engineering Fundamentals MSSE5341: Required Readings

Introduction to and discussion of the key concepts, processes, and process activities carried out by systems engineers.

Required Texts

CMMI for Development, Version 1.3

Defense Acquisition University. Systems Engineering Fundamentals. Jan 2001.

  • Link 1 to DAU Systems Engineering Fundamentals
  • Link 2 to DAU Systems Engineering Fundamentals

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* INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook, Version 1.5

NASA Systems Engineering Handbook (NASA SP-2016-6105 Revision 2)

SEBoK Guide to the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge

* Please follow the instructions on INCOSE: How to Create a CAB Limited Account to Register with INCOSE and access any/ all INCOSE products & publications. Please wait 24 to 48 hrs. after registration for approval from INCOSE. Once registered, please log in and use INCOSE Store to see the list of publicatons.

Required Readings

Module 1 (Weeks 1 & 2)

Week 1                                                                      Week 2                                                                        

Student Introduction                                                INCOSE SE Handbook: Ch. 1, 2
                                                                                    DoD SE Fundamentals: Ch. 1, 2
                                                                                    NASA SE Handbook: Ch. 1, 2

  • If a link is not working or the file has been removed from any of the sites referenced above, you may access the file in the library secure reserve site Course Reserve MSSE 5341. You must log in with your UTEP Credentials to access Course Reserve materials.

Module 2 (Weeks 3 & 4)

Week 3                                                                      Week 4

INCOSE SE Handbook: Ch. 3                               INCOSE SE Handbook: Ch. 4.1 - 4.2
DoD SE Fundamentals: Ch. 3                              DoD SE Fundamentals: Ch. 4.1
NASA SE Handbook: Ch. 3                                    NASA SE Handbook: Ch. 4.1

  • If a link is not working or the file has been removed from any of the sites referenced above, you may access the file in the library secure reserve site Course Reserve MSSE 5341. You must log in with your UTEP Credentials to access Course Reserve materials.

Module 3 (Weeks 5 & 6)

Week 5                                                                         Week 6

INCOSE SE Handbook: Ch. 4.3                              INCOSE SE Handbook: Ch. 9.3
DoD SE Fundamentals: Ch. 4                                DoD SE Fundamentals: Ch. 5
NASA SE Handbook: Ch. 4.2, 6.2, App. C             NASA SE Handbook: Ch. 4.3

  • If a link is not working or the file has been removed from any of the sites referenced above, you may access the file in the library secure reserve site Course Reserve MSSE 5341. You must log in with your UTEP Credentials to access Course Reserve materials.

Module 4 (Weeks 7 & 8)

Week 7                                                                          Week 8

INCOSE SE Handbook: Ch. 4.4 – 4.5                     INCOSE SE Handbook: Ch. 4.6, 5.2 – 5.7 and 9.1
DoD SE Fundamentals: Ch. 6                                 DoD SE Fundamentals: Ch. 10, 12-15
NASA SE Handbook: Ch. 4.4                                    NASA SE Handbook: Ch. 6.3 – 6.7, App. L

  • If a link is not working or the file has been removed from any of the sites referenced above, you may access the file in the library secure reserve site Course Reserve MSSE 5341. You must log in with your UTEP Credentials to access Course Reserve materials.

Module 5 (Weeks 9 & 10)

Week 9                                                                         Week 10

Mid-Term Due                                                              INCOSE SE Handbook: Ch. 4.7, 4.8, 4.10, 5.8, 9.6-9.

                                                                                        NASA SE Handbook: Ch. 5.1 – 5.2, 5.5, App H

  • If a link is not working or the file has been removed from any of the sites referenced above, you may access the file in the library secure reserve site Course Reserve MSSE 5341. You must log in with your UTEP Credentials to access Course Reserve materials.

Module 6 (Weeks 11 & 12)

Week 11                                                                      Week 12

INCOSE SE Handbook: Ch. 4.9, 4.11                    INCOSE SE Handbook: Ch. 5.3, 10
DoD SE Fundamentals: Ch. 7                                NASA SE Handbook: Ch. 6.8
NASA SE Handbook: Ch. 5.3-5.4, App D, E, I      

  • If a link is not working or the file has been removed from any of the sites referenced above, you may access the file in the library secure reserve site Course Reserve MSSE 5341. You must log in with your UTEP Credentials to access Course Reserve materials.

Module 7 (Weeks 13 & 14)

Week 13                                                                      Week 14

INCOSE SE Handbook: Ch. 9.1, 9.2                      INCOSE SE Handbook: Ch. 4.12, 4.14     

  • If a link is not working or the file has been removed from any of the sites referenced above, you may access the file in the library secure reserve site Course Reserve MSSE 5341. You must log in with your UTEP Credentials to access Course Reserve materials.

Module 8 (Week 15)

Final Project due

  • If a link is not working or the file has been removed from any of the sites referenced above, you may access the file in the library secure reserve site Course Reserve MSSE 5341. You must log in with your UTEP Credentials to access Course Reserve materials.

Required Readings for MSSE 5341 Spring 25 with Dr. Shawn Smith

**Note that the listed readings do not include any videos or PDFs due to copyright, and may be incomplete. Please check your syllabus and Blackboard course to ensure you are completing all required coursework**

Week 2 Readings

  • In the SEH v5

    • Read page 1-7.

    • Read Sections 5.1.4 and 5.2.

  • In the Guide to the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge wiki (SEBoK wiki) read Part 5: Enabling Systems Engineering: Ethical Behavior

  • Read the INCOSE Vision 2035

Week 3 Readings

  • In the SEH v5

    • Read starting with Section 1.3 and go thru the end of Section 1.3.7 on page 15 

    • Read Section 3.1.12 System Security Engineering, Section 4.3.5 Cyber-Physical Systems, and Section 4.3.6 Systems of Systems.

  • Refer to the ISO/IEC 15288:2023; 21840:2019; and 21841:2019 standards

Week 4 Readings

  • In the SEH v5

    • Read Sections 2.1 and 2.2.

  • Read “A systems thinking habit Pareto improvement” by Ricardo Valerdi.

  • Using the SEBoK wiki, read and study the “What is Systems Thinking?” section found in Part 2: Foundations of Systems Engineering: Systems 

  • Read "The Role of Systems Thinking in Systems Engineering, Design and Management" by W. T. Chan

Week 5 Readings

  • In the SEH v5

    • Read Section 2.3.4 on page 67 to its end on page 101.

    • Read Section 3.1.10 on Sustainability.

    • Read Section 4.4.1 Automotive Systems

Week 6 Readings

  • In the INCOSE SEH v5

    • Read from Section 2.3.5 on page 101 to the end of Section 2.3.5.14.

  • On the SEBoK Wiki read all of Part 3 SE and Management: System Architecture and Design

Week 7 Readings

  • In the SEH v5

    • Return to Sections 2.3.4, 2.3.4.1, and 2.3.4.2 (pages 70-78) and reread it. Pay special attention to Figure 2.24.

  • On the SEBoK Wiki read “Cost Estimating and Analysis in Systems Engineering” by Gan Wang

Week 8 Readings

  • In the SEH v5

    • Read all of Section 3.2.4 Interface Management. Pay special attention to Figure 3.13.

    • Read 3.1.5, 3.1.8, and 3.1.11.

Week 9 Readings

  • In the SEH v5

    • Return to Section 2.3.4.5 and re-read, review, and study the section.

  • Read the MITRE Systems Engineering Guide Article on Configuration Management

Week 10 Readings

  • In the SEH v5

    • Return to Section 2.3.4.7, reread and study the section, paying special attention to the discussion of Leading Indicators beginning at the top of page 97.

  • In the SEBoK wiki read: Measurement by Garry Roedler, Ray Madachy

  • Read Section 3, Leading Indicators, to the end of Section 3.1, Requirements Trends in the INCOSE Leading Indicators Guide version 2.0

Week 11 Readings

  • In the SEBoK wiki read Decision Management by Ray Madachy, Garry Roedler, Greg Parnell, Scott Jackson

  • In the SEH v5

    • Return to Section 2.3.4.3, reread and study it.

    • Read Section 5.3.5

Week 12 Readings

  • In the SEH v5

    • Return to Section 2.3.4.4 and reread it

    • Read all of Section 5.3.3

  • In the SEBoK wiki read: Risk Management by Ed Conrow, Ray Madachy, Garry Roedler, Richard Turner

Week 13 Readings

  • In the SEH v5

    • Read Section 5.1 to the end of 5.1.3.

    • Read 5.3.3.

    • Refer to Sections 2.3.4.1 and 2.3.4.2 as needed.

  • On the SEBoK Wiki read: Project Management for a Complex Adaptive Operating System by Rick Adcock

Week 14 Readings

  • In the SEH v5 read

    • Section 4.1 Tailoring Considerations

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