Master of Science in
Systems Design and Management
(SDM)

Why SDM?

Engineering systems is an important new field of study focusing on the complex engineering systems in a broad human, societal and industrial context. It takes an integrative holistic view of large-scale, complex, technologically enabled systems which have significant enterprise-level interactions and socio-technical interfaces. The establishment of this new field has been a significant step toward evolving the holistic engineering-management science needed to address the complex systems challenges of this century. The expertise to understand, analyse and build large scale systems calls upon the highest level of integration of core engineering competencies with social, economical and policy considerations.

The FoE launched the Engineering Systems Initiative (ESI) in January, 2005. A major objective of this initiative is to ensure that the knowledge and expertise in engineering and architecting large scale systems are crystallised into a discipline which can be ported, taught and adapted for the ongoing challenges, and improved by further systematic research.

Expected programme outcomes

The programme is targeted at graduates with an undergraduate background in a technical field like engineering, science or computing. Prospective students of the programme would also have at least 2 years of practical work experience in planning, designing or managing some aspect of a technical system. They recognize that in order to progress further to the next stage of their career, they would need to acquire knowledge that enables them to deal with the complexity of issues, look at problems in a broader perspective and acquire specific management skills. This programme significantly reduces the time needed for them to do so. At the same time, there are also many engineers who develop careers in project management through many years of practice. This programme will help them to consolidate and validate their project management experience through key engineering system concepts and methodology, hence significantly reducing the time to gain expertise compared to their predecessors.

There are many public and private organizations engaged in engineering systems design and management. These organizations look towards widening and deepening their talent pool of mid-level professionals with formal training in systems concepts and methods. Typical job titles for roles in these organizations might include systems planner, system architect, technology strategist, system project manager, new product development manager, technology strategist .

Admission criteria

For admission as a candidate for the degree of Master of Science (SDM), a person is expected to have at least a good bachelor's degree with honors (2 nd class Lower), or its equivalent in Engineering, Science, or a related discipline from a university with recognized standing. Candidates with relevant working experience will be favorably considered.

Graduation requirements

Period of Candidature

For the full-time Programme, the minimum period of candidature would be 12 months and the maximum period would be 24 months from the date of the candidate's first admission to the course. For the part-time Programme, the minimum period of candidature would be 24 months and the maximum period would be 48 months from the date of the candidate's first admission to the course.

Curriculum requirements

The modules in the Programme are divided between a core and foundation areas (of which there are currently two). The modules in the core area represent the fundamental knowledge of concepts and methodology that distinguish the SDM programme from other programmes. The modules in the foundation areas have been selected from existing graduate modules to provide essential and supporting knowledge from management science and engineering.

A full-time or part-time candidate for the degree of Master of Science in SDM must successfully complete a Programme of study consisting of 40 MCs:

Subject to the approval of the Programme Manager for MSc (SDM), students may be allowed to take up to 8 MCs outside the prescribed curriculum, in lieu of modules listed in the foundation areas, to complete the MSc degree.

CAP requirements

For graduation, a student:

Students may be allowed to take more than 40 MCs only if at the point of request to take more modules, the student has less than 40 MCs or his CAP is less than 3.0. In general, all students are expected to graduate after obtaining 40 MCs and who have already achieved a CAP of at least 3.0.

Continuation of Candidature

A student will be dismissed and refused re-admission if

Academic Warnings are issued to students if their CAP < 3.0.

Students must complete their requirements for the degree within the maximum period of their candidature, failing which they will have their candidature terminated.

Core Modules

The following are core modules and are 4 MCs each. Candidates have to take all the modules in this list.

Electives

The electives are organized into 2 different foundation areas. All the modules are 4 MCs otherwise stated. Candidates have to take at least 2 graduate modules from the list in each foundation area.

1. Systems methodology and management

*MT5011 and IE5003 are mutually exclusive

2. Systems application

*MT5006 and IE5211 are mutually exclusive

Students who are taking BMA modules from NUS Business School, please note that other than BMA5115 Management of Technological Innovation and BMA5108 Technopreneurship, there will be a module fee of $2,500 per 4MC module payable to NUS Business School. More details can be found HERE.