M.S. in Systems Modeling

Interdisciplinary Master’s Degree in Systems Modeling

There is a strong and growing demand for graduate-level training in systems modeling. Interest in system dynamics and formal mathematical modeling in industry and government organizations increases every year. Many employees of these organizations, and those seeking career changes, desire to improve their skills in these methodologies. In addition, these modeling methods are growing as a research tool and many prospective Ph.D. students desire to build skills in them.

Systems modeling subsumes both formal and computer simulation-based approaches to the construction and analysis of mathematical models of economic, social, and physical systems. It builds on methodologies such as feedback control theory, optimization, numerical methods and computer simulation. Moreover, systems modeling is applied in a variety of application areas such as management, biology, ecology, economics, etc. Students of systems modeling study not only the basic courses in System Dynamics, but also explore its methodological underpinnings in other disciplines and apply the methods to other disciplines, preparing them to mobilize the modeling concepts they learn to problem solving in the real world.

To meet this need, the departments of Mathematical Sciences and Social Science & Policy Studies have established an interdisciplinary master’s degree in systems modeling. This interdisciplinary 30 credithour program utilizing courses taught in Mathematical Sciences, Social Science & Policy Studies, and electives taught in engineering, science and management departments.

Admission

Students should have a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering. Students with other backgrounds will be considered based on their interest, formal education, and work experience. Many students pursuing a 5- year bachelors/masters program also enroll for a masters in systems modeling along with a bachelors in a major of their choice to prepare for meeting the challenges of their future careers.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete 30 credit hours of coursework: 15 credit hours in system dynamics and 15 credit hours in mathematical modeling and an applications area (e.g. industrial engineering, management, infrastructure planning, telecommunications planning, power systems). Up to 6 of these latter credit hours may be done as supervised project work. New students must submit a Plan of Study identifying the courses to be taken and a prospective project topic before the end of the first semester in the program. If the student has earned a Graduate Certificate in System Dynamics from WPI, the Plan of Study must be submitted with the application materials. The Plan of Study must be approved by the administering faculty who will serve as advisors.

The specific course requirements for the interdisciplinary masters in system modeling include the following:

  1. Nine credit hours of required System Dynamics coursework selected from among the following:
    • SD 550 System Dynamics Foundation: Managing Complexity (3 credit hours)
    • SD 551 Modeling and Experimental Analysis of Complex Problems (3 credit hours)
    • SD 552 System Dynamics for Insight (3 credit hours)
    • SD 554 Real-World System Dynamics (3 credit hours)
    • Independent graduate studies and selected topics as approved by the administering faculty (up to 3 credits)
  2. Six credit hours of elective courses in System Dynamics to be selected from among the following:
    • SD 553 Advanced Techniques for System Dynamics (3 credit hours)
    • SD 555 Psychological Foundations of System Dynamics (3 credit hours)
    • SD 561 Environmental Dynamics (3 credit hours)
    • SD 562 Project Dynamics (3 credit hours)
    • SD 560 Strategy Dynamics (3 credit hours)
    • SD 565 Macroeconomic Dynamics (3 credit hours)
    • Independent graduate studies and selected topics as approved by the administering faculty (up to 3 credit hours)
  3. Six credit hours of required Mathematics coursework selected out of the following:
    • MA 508 Mathematical Modeling (3 credit hours)
    • MA 510 Numerical Methods (3 credit hours)
    • MA 540 Probability and Mathematical Statistics I (3 credit hours)
  4. Nine credit hours in an application area (coursework and/or research) in mathematical sciences, engineering or science, excluding social science, to be selected from among the following:
    • MA 514 Numerical Differential Equations (3 credit hours)
    • MA 541 Probability and Mathematical Statistics II (3 credit hours)
    • MA 542 Regression Analysis (3 credit hours)
    • Approved graduate coursework in a related application area (mathematical sciences, management, engineering or science excluding social science)
    • Up to 6 credit hours of directed research

All courses selected by the student must appear in the WPI Graduate Catalog and must be approved by the administering faculty.

More Information

For more information, contact Prof. Saeed.

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Last modified: March 17, 2008 10:20:02