Systems Science and Engineering, BSE

Systems Engineers provide technical management for societal-scale problems that often encompass the connections between the physical and the information world. Examples of the many cutting-edge applications include autonomous robotics, smart buildings, national power grid management, global networks, service optimization, and biological systems. Systems engineering is the set of reusable mathematics, intellectual tools, and methodologies for attacking large-scale engineering problems. These common tools are adaptable for problems in different engineering domains (e.g., electrical, mechanical, biological, chemical, and computing) and help us understand, design, and manage systems that contain elements from multiple domains. Systems engineering deals with how we extract useful, abstract models from lower level systems, use these models to analyze and predict behavior, and use the analysis to control behavior and optimize/synthesize solutions. System engineering helps us understand what happens when we compose many elements, each with their own behavior, and how to design and constrain the individual elements to engineer desired behavior for the composed system.

For more information: https://www.seas.upenn.edu/prospective-students/undergrad/majors/systems-science-and-engineering/

Systems Science and Engineering (SSE) Major Requirements

40 course units are required. Read more about the Undergraduate Student Handbook.

Course List
Code	Title	Course Units
Engineering
Systems Foundations
CIS 110	Introduction to Computer Programming (or equivalent)	1
or ENGR 105	Introduction to Scientific Computing
ESE 111	Atoms, Bits, Circuits and Systems ¹	1
CIS 120	Programming Languages and Techniques I	1
ESE 204	Decision Models	1
ESE 210	Introduction to Dynamic Systems	1
ESE 224	Signal and Information Processing	1.5
ESE 303	Stochastic Systems Analysis and Simulation	1
Information Systems Electives
Select 3 from the following:		3
CIS 240	Introduction to Computer Systems
CIS 450	Database and Information Systems
ESE 305	Foundations of Data Science
ESE 407	Introduction to Networks and Protocols
ESE 420	Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation
ESE 504	Intro to Linear, Nonlinear and Integer Optimization
ESE 505	Feedback Control Design and Analysis
ESE 512	Dynamical Systems for Engineering and Biological Applications
ESE 520	Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation
ESE 528	Estimation and Detection Theory
ESE 545	Data Mining: Learning from Massive Datasets
NETS 212	Scalable and Cloud Computing
NETS 312	Theory of Networks
NETS 412	Algorithmic Game Theory
System Design
Select one of the following:		1
CIS 350	Software Design/Engineering
CIS 441	Embedded Software for Life-Critical Applications
ESE 527	Design of Smart Systems
ESE 590	Systems Methodology
Select one of the following:		1
ESE 290/291	Introduction to Electrical and Systems Engineering Research Methodology
ESE 350	Embedded Systems/Microcontroller Laboratory
ESE 421	Control For Autonomous Robots
ESE 505	Feedback Control Design and Analysis
or BE 470	Medical Devices
ESE 450	Senior Design Project I - EE and SSE	1
ESE 451	Senior Design Project II - EE and SSE	1
Math and Natural Science
MATH 104	Calculus, Part I	1
MATH 114	Calculus, Part II	1
MATH 240	Calculus, Part III	1
ESE 301	Engineering Probability	1
ESE 402	Statistics for Data Science	1
Select one of the following:		1
PHYS 140	Principles of Physics I (without laboratory)
PHYS 150	Principles of Physics I: Mechanics and Wave Motion
PHYS 170	Honors Physics I: Mechanics and Wave Motion
MEAM 110	Introduction to Mechanics
Select one of the following:		1.5
ESE 112	Engineering Electromagnetics	1.5
PHYS 141	Principles of Physics II (without laboratory)
PHYS 151	Principles of Physics II: Electromagnetism and Radiation
PHYS 171	Honors Physics II: Electromagnetism and Radiation
Select one of the following:		1
CHEM 101	General Chemistry I
BIOL 101	Introduction to Biology A
BIOL 121	Introduction to Biology - The Molecular Biology of Life
MATH 312	Linear Algebra	1
or EAS 205	Applications of Scientific Computing.
Natural Science Lab ²		0.5
Professional Electives
Technology Management Electives
Choose 1 from the following:		1
ESE 400	Engineering Economics
EAS 545	Engineering Entrepreneurship I
EAS 595	Foundations of Leadership
MGMT 237	Management of Technology
Societal Problem Application
Select 3 Societal Problem Electives ³		3
Social Sciences and Humanities ⁴
EAS 203	Engineering Ethics	1
Select 1 Social Science course		1
Select 2 Humanities courses		2
Select 1 Social Science or Humanities course		1
Select 2 Social Science or Humanities or Technology in Business & Society courses		2
Free Elective
Select 3 free electives		3
Total Course Units		40

If not taken by the end of freshman year, must be replaced by another department approved Engineering course.

Natural Science Lab - 1.0 cu total; ESE 112%7C, PHYS 150%7C/PHYS 170%7C, MEAM 147%7C; PHYS 151%7C/ PHYS 171%7C; BIOL 101%7C/BIOL 121%7C; CHEM 053%7C can each count 0.5 cu toward this requirement.

Approval required; A complete list of approved SPA electives can be found on the ESE undergraduate webpage.

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The Social Science & Humanities Depth and Writing Requirement can be satisfied with the 7 total course units.

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2019 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.