Multidisciplinary Technical Degree(s)

This post is just for sport and to wistfully ponder my future academic options. If you choose to read further, thank you for playing.

I like being a jack of all trades within my sphere of interests. Currently, I am completing a MSCS and in this program I am steering away from Software Engineering type courses so that I may concentrate on theory and technology (as opposed to process.) So I'll be covering topics like artificial intelligence, network architectures, advanced data structures, information security, formal languages/computation theory, distributed operating systems, database systems, etc. In addition to the microscopic view of Computer Science, I have other interests as well such as:

• Operations Research (Optimization/Queueing Theory)
• Systems Engineering
• Human Computer Interaction (Cognitive Engineering/Usability)
• Software Engineering
• Management (Project Management/Engineering Economics)
  [/list=a]I've toyed with pursuing some very specific programs like the MS in Human-Computer Interaction at RPI, a MS in Project Management at the Unversity of Wisconsin or a MS in Operations Research at Georgia Tech ; however, in each case they don't (in my best Goldilocks impression) seem "just right." Perhaps it is because they are so concentrated in their subject material. So I've started looking at degrees which are intended to be multidisciplinary like Systems Engineering. These degrees are much closer to what I'm looking for; however, I'm afraid just the name of the degree will pretty much nullify any management training I receive because it seems that very few employers ever want to know what classes you took. Recently, I've looked much closer at the MS in Systems & Engineering Management with a minor in Software Engineering offered by Texas Tech. In addition to their seven core courses which are:
  1. Principles of Optimization
  2. Simulation Models for Operations Analysis
  3. Systems Theory
  4. Decision Theory and Management Science
  5. The Engineering Management Environment
  6. Productivity and Performance Improvement in Organizations
  7. Total Quality Systems[/list=1] I would be able to throw in a software engineering minor which could include the following courses:
     1. Software Specification and Design
     2. Software Project Management
     3. Software Quality Assurance and Testing
     4. Software Process Improvement
     5. Software Construction and Evolution[/list=1] After completing this masters degree from Texas Tech I would then complete most of my objectives by completing a graduate certificate in HCI at RPI which includes the following courses:
        1. Foundations of HCI Usability
        2. Communication Design for the World Wide Web
        3. Electronic Coaching Systems
        4. Studio Design in HCI[/list=1]This seems like a pretty reasonable plan to me. Does anyone have any suggestions that my help me better realize my educational goals?
           
           Batter up!

 

Hi,

I have been looking for some software engineering programmes, with more management perspectives, yet, but with no luck. And thus turned in studying MBA instead while reading about software engineering via other means.

Although I believe what I had been looking for should be more or less on the same line as yours, I am not very sure if my understanding is correct. Are you looking for the kind of programme like the dual degree option of MSE/MBA in
Carnegie Mellon or the MS is Management Science and Engineering Standford ?

Unfortunately CMU does not offer that programme for DL while Stanford only offer that in DL for the "member companies".

Engineering Management programmes with traditional engineering are not too difficult to find, although good balance and coverage is one of the rare species. Software engineering schools proper management elements in their education are almost non-existent.

With only a scan on the course list you posted, some core management disciplines are lacking, although those may not be of interests to you:

- Organisation behaviour
- Marketing
- Accounting and Finance
- and maybe economics too

Further to your plan, I am thinking if the following would fit into your study too:

1) Stevens Institute of Technology WebCampus

They have a number of programmes online, software engineering, project management, MBA, technology management, and so on... they allow electives taken from other programmes but require advisor approval.

2) University of Southern California

I guess you already know how famous they are in terms of software engineering.

However, USC is for the rich people.

3) University of Waterloo

Unfortunately, they only has a course in HCI and information systems but not software engineering

BTW (and maybe off-topic), many of the software engineering education are still in the ages of scientific management, with much emphasis on the engineering approaches. Have you looked around programmes covering Innovation Management and New Product Development? This is where the Agile approach comes from.

 

Thanks for your reponse tcmak. I understand that the Texas Tech program does not provide an MBA replacement; however, I'm much more interested in systems management/engineering than in business administration. Plus (and I'm saying this to purposely ruffle feathers so take this with a grain of salt) traditional MBA programs are just so light on quatitative methods . I'm looking for something with a stronger emphasis on operations research, systems optimization, economics, etc. With that said, there are many days when I circle back to the desire to get an MBA as my next degree for the simple fact that MBAs are much better understood by people who have MBA degrees (duh!)

The programs you mentioned are indeed strong programs. I particularly like the MS in Management Science offered by Stanford, but alas, my employer has already told me flat out that they don't want to be a member company. Until recently, I thought the MS in Engineering Management with a Software Engineering emphasis at USC was my first choice. USC is indeed a power house (probably second only to CMU) in software engineering. Currently, I'm in the middle of reading Dr. Boehm's book on Software Engineering Economics. Even though it is pretty dated, it has many valuable chapters. I would dearly love to be able to name drop USC. Ultimately though, I just didn't feel their engineering management program covered enough systems engineering topics. I also looked at their MS in Architectural and System Engineering. Another cool degree, but it seemed to lack some of the management emphasis for which I was looking. The Texas Tech program, still seems to offer a better balance (at least to me) between these two topics. Of course, I may change my mind in the next hour or so.

BTW, is that the code word management types use for agile methodologies: Innovation Management and New Product Development??? If so, I'll make sure I pay closer attention to programs that offer said courses. I'm really interested in evaluating agile methods and extreme programming for the purpose of improving my department's productivity and quality.

Once again, thanks for your thoughts. How is the MBA working out for you? Is this degree going to be able to satisfy your educational goals?

 

1) Agile Methods, courses in new product development/innovation management may not cover agile software development directly. This is merely where Agile methods are developed. But surely by the time of learning, you will think about how they can add into existing software development practices. And this would give you a foundation in better understand the practices with Agile methods.

2) my MBA degree, I think it is good. I am learninig management prinicples and different areas of business like accounting, finance, marketing, and strategy which I have no experience/knowledge before. Many people I know of are taking their MBA degree to change industry into management consultant, investment banking. But my company focuses in software industry and I also want to develop myself into management in the software industry. The MBA degree makes me communicate better with the management and clients in meeting their business goals.

A graduate software engineering degree would be of utility to me. However, it lacks of the management/business elements which are also important in managing a software development team/delivering successful software projects or even maintaining a software house in the future (if one day I could). For now, knowledge in software engineering is now mostly obtained via readings. Fortunately enough my MBA project allows me to do a project on software development methologies.

It is hard to draw a line on what kind of studies belong to operation management and what belongs to industrial engineering, or software engineering. However, an MBA address qualitative better than traditional industrial engineering, although I have to admit that my school focus much more quantitive and analytical aspects than many MBA programmes I heard of. I am reading a book recently, "The Business of projects" (written by staff at Imperial College and University of Suessx, which, according to their findings, software intensive projects often rely too much on rational approaches while not able to address "soft" issues. I would agree that many of the elements in software projects are hard to quantify.

PS: I think you can add Stevens Tech's MS in quantitive software engineering in your "Top DL Schools for CS Majors" list. They used to be top 100 CS schools according to USNews, but I am not sure how well they perform recently.

Good Luck!