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Who
is the program tailored for? [top]
The USC DEN program is designed to enable engineering professionals
who work full-time to obtain their Master's degree from one of the top
ten engineering graduate schools in the nation.
The USC M.S. in Systems
Architecture & Engineering program is designed to provide engineers
and engineering managers with the advanced knowledge and skills necessary
for the conception and implementation of complex systems. The emphasis
is on the processes by which complex systems are conceived, planned, designed,
built, tested and certified. The systems engineering experience can be
applied to defense, space, aircraft, communications, navigation, sensor,
computer software, computer hardware, transportation and other aerospace
and commercial systems activities.
How
does the USC School of Engineering rank among other universities?
[top]
U.S.
News and World Report ranks USC # 7 in the nation
for best overall graduate programs in its 2006 rankings of the top schools
of engineering.
How
is the USC/UMR program different from the regular USC degree?[top]
Boeing
has mapped out a recommended track for employees pursuing the M.S.
in Systems Architecture & Engineering. Please note that employees
are not required to follow this recommended track. They may follow the
regular USC M.S. in Systems Architecture & Engineering track if they
choose, at http://den.usc.edu/sae.
What
other Master of Science degrees do you offer entirely from a distance?
[top]
Through DEN, students residing in the U.S. can earn a Master of Science
in many different disciplines, entirely from a distance:
How
long does it take to earn a degree? [top]
This depends on the rate at which courses are taken. For example if one
course a semester is taken during the fall, spring, and summer terms,
a student will earn a master's degree in three years. Students have seven
years from their first course to complete the degree.
Will
my degree be from DEN or from USC? [top]
DEN students are no different from on-campus USC students. The same requirements
and curriculum apply, so the degree is a Master of Science from the University
of Southern California.
What
type of Certificate programs do you offer? [top]
DEN currently offers the following graduate certificate programs:
How
can I get in contact with an Academic Advisor? [top]
The Academic Advisor for the Systems Architecture & Engineering
degree is Evelyn Felina: efelina@usc.edu.
If you have a specific question for other Academic Advisors, click
here for the contact list.
Do
you offer Ph.D. programs via distance education? [top]
The University of Southern California does not offer an online Ph.D. It may be possible to take some of courses for the Ph.D. via DEN, however, all Viterbi School of Engineering doctoral candidates must be in residence which is defined as “a period of intensive study completed on the University Park campus.”
If you are interested in applying to a Ph.D.program, you should contact the department in which you are interested directly. DO NOT ENROLL IN ANY COURSES TOWARD THE Ph.D. UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO THE PROGRAM.
You can find information about our departments and Ph.D. admission requirements by clicking here. Or click here to contact an Academic Advisor with your specific question.
Admission,
Student Enrollment Options, How To Apply
How
do I apply for formal admission to pursue the M.S. in Systems Architecture
& Engineering degree? [top]
In order to evaluate
any application for admission, application materials must be submitted
by the deadlines listed:
June
1st Fall admission
Oct 1st Spring admission
April 1st Summer admission
Graduate applicants
for the M.S. in Systems Architecture & Engineering degree should submit
the following:
Submit directly to Department (ATTN:
Graduate Admissions Committee, USC Industrial & Systems Engineering,
3715 McClintock Avenue, GER 240, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0193):
- Statement
of Purpose
- Three Letters
of Recommendation (required for PhD applicants; not required, but highly
recommended for MS applicants)
Submit
directly to the Office of Admissions
(USC Office of Admissions, University Park Campus, Los Angeles,
CA 90089-0911):
- Graduate
application form along with the $65 application fee
- Official transcript(s)
- General GRE scores
(scores must be no older than 5 years)
However,
keep in mind that if you meet our minimum requirements (Bachelor of Science
in an engineering, math or science discipline from a regionally-accredited
institution with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale), you
can begin classes as a "Limited"
student BEFORE you are formally admitted to the program.
Do
I have to be admitted as a student to take classes? [top]
No. You do not have to be formally admitted as a student to begin taking
classes. DEN has four enrollment options but please note that some companies
do not allow the non-degree (NDO) or non-credit participant (NCP) option.
Check your company's education policy before selecting those options:
- Admitted
- Admitted students are those that have formally applied for admission
and have been accepted to a graduate degree program. To apply for admission,
applicants will submit the USC Application for Graduate Admission, official
transcripts of prior university or college work, and satisfactory general
GRE scores to the USC Office of Admissions. There will be a $65 application
fee. Click here for more
information.
I've
taken a few graduate classes at another institution - can they be transferred?
[top]
Up to four (4) units of graduate credit earned at another institution
may be transferred into a USC graduate degree program upon approval from
the specific department. If you have a specific question about this, please
e-mail Carolyn Suckow, Director of Student & Corporate Affairs at
jecks@usc.edu.
How
do I obtain an USC Application for Graduate Admission form? [top]
To obtain an USC Application for Graduate Admission form, click
here. To apply online, click
here. To
view the USC School of Engineering Admission Requirements, click
here.
Can
I apply online? [top]
To apply online, click
here. To
view the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Admission Requirements, click
here.
When
is the deadline for the application? [top]
In order to evaluate any application for admission, application materials
must be submitted by the deadlines listed:
June
1st Fall admission
Oct 1st Spring admission
April 1st Summer admission
Please click
here to download or view the application.
How
long does it take to process my application? [top]
During the peak admission period (from January through April), admission
processing takes a minimum of four weeks after we receive your application.
You will receive a letter notifying you when we receive your application.
If something is missing from your application file, we will send you a
letter to let you know. Click
here for more information on the application process.
What
if I missed the application deadline? Do I have to wait until the next
semester? [top]
No. If you qualify, you can enroll in the upcoming semester as a
Limited student.
If you have a specific
question about enrollment options, please e-mail studentaffairs@den.usc.edu.
If you want to learn
how to get started, click here.
What
are the criteria to earn a graduate degree from the USC School of Engineering?
[top]
- An overall minimum
GPA of 3.0 (A=4.0) is required to earn the Master of Science (MS) degree.
- A minimum grade
of C (2.0) is required in a course to receive graduate credit.
- Work graded C-
or below is not acceptable for subject or unit credit toward any graduate
degree.
- Transfer units
count as credit (CR) toward the MS and are not computed in the GPA.
- A student has up
to seven years to earn the graduate degree. The seven years starts when
a student first begins takng classes, whether the student is Admitted,
Limited or Non-Degree Option (NDO).
If you have a specific
question about graduating requirements, please e-mail Carolyn Suckow,
Director of Student & Corporate Affairs at jecks@usc.edu.
What
if I miss the drop/add deadline date? [top]
If the course is dropped within weeks four through 12, it will be recorded
with the mark of "W." No course may be dropped after the end
of the twelfth week. NOTE: There is no refund of tuition and
fees for courses dropped after the third week of each semester.
Please see the above answer for more information. If you have a specific
question about the drop/add deadline date, please e-mail Carolyn Suckow,
Director of Student & Corporate Affairs at jecks@usc.edu.
Tuition
& Payment
What
is the tuition? [top]
Click here for information
on tuition and fees.
Is
there a tuition deferment program? [top]
Yes, the USC School of Engineering Industry Deferment Program was established
to assist industry students with the "up front" payment of tuition
and mandatory fees if their companies reimburse after the semester is
over and upon presentation of the final grade. The program only applies
to tuition and mandatory fees.
This program does not defer the DEN surcharge, and other fees such as
parking. Please click here
for eligibility requirements and information on how to apply for tuition
deferment.
What
do I do with my Boeing voucher? [top]
Please check the tuition amount,
and then email your Boeing vouchers to denvoucher@usc.edu.
It will take 1-2 weeks before the voucher will be credited to your student
account. To check your account balance, visit: http://www.usc.edu/dept/ARR/oasis/.
Please enter your social security number as your ID and your 6-digit birth
date as your password. If you have any questions regarding financial matters,
please contact Susanna Sahakian at susannas@usc.edu
or call (213) 740-8198.
How
DEN Works
How
does DEN work? [top]
DEN administers
and delivers all courses in the program. Courses are transmitted from
studio classrooms at the USC campus via an extensive Internet-delivery
system enabling students to access their classes anytime, anywhere in
the United States. Instruction is highly interactive; students can ask
questions and carry on discussions with the instructor by telephone or
threaded chat discussions. Students download their course notes and homework
assignments from the course website. Handouts given during class will
be posted before the beginning of class, or as soon as the professor provides
the material. E-mail allows students to obtain assistance from the instructor
or teaching assistant outside of class hours. Homework assignments are
transmitted to and from DEN via e-mail and/or fax. For more information
about how DEN works, click here.
Please e-mail us at info@den.usc.edu
with any questions.
If
I do not live in Los Angeles, how do midterms and final examinations work?
[top]
For students outside of Los Angeles, DEN will arrange for exams to be
proctored at local testing centers. For students in the Los Angeles region,
examinations are taken on campus. If you have questions about exams and
proctoring, please contact Sean Elliot, Exams Coordinator at srelliot@usc.edu.
Besides
streaming live and archived webcasts of courses, are there other technical
features available? [top]
DEN works closely with USC's Information
Sciences Institute (ISI) to continuously research the latest and greatest
Internet technology. DEN has begun implementing threaded chat discussions
(for professors who request it), synchronized slides, downloadable in-class
notes (written by the professor during the lecture) captured and digitized
for viewing and printing, and much more.
What
kind of technical setup do I need for webcasts? [top]
All you need
is access to a modem with a minimum speed at 56 Kbps. DSL or Cable
is highly recommended. DEN requires Microsoft's Windows Media Player
(6.4 or higher) and Real Player 8.0 (for certain courses) for viewing
course videos. Please note: Windows Media Player is preferred as not all
classes may be available via Real Player. A web browser, such as Internet
Explorer or Netscape Navigator/Communicator is also needed (Note: Netscape
Navigator 6 and Windows Media player are not compatible. We recommend
using Internet Explorer 5.5 or above instead of Netscape Navigator 6).
To download the players and review system requirements,
click here.
To learn more about
DEN's course management system, BlackBoard 6.0, click
here.
For more information
on accessing webcasts and system requirements,
click here.
Can
I speak to someone from the technical team about my specific technical
setup ? [top]
Of course. Please call (213) 821-1321 or e-mail webclass@usc.edu.
The Webcasting Department's hours are Monday to Thursday 8am - 10pm (PST);
Friday 8am - 6pm (PST); Saturday and Sunday 10am - 6pm (PST). Note:
The Webcasting Department is closed on public holidays and hours vary
in between semesters.
How
can I get started with DEN? [top]
To get started with DEN, click
here. For questions about this process, please e-mail
info@den.usc.edu.
Whom
can I talk to for more information about DEN and programs offered?
[top]
For more information about DEN and programs offered, please e-mail studentaffairs@den.usc.edu.
How can I interact with my fellow students? [top]
The DEN Student Association is a USC-recognized student organization whose mission is to
cultivate a supportive community, articulate and advocate for the needs of DEN students; and to nurture professional development.
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