Reference: Study and Examination Regulations for the International Master’s Degree
in Systems Engineering at the Munich University of Applied Sciences
Version dated 11^th April 2007

 

1. General Regulations

The International Master's Program Systems Engineering is a tuition-financed three-semester continuing education program. It is a full-time course of study.

Tuition is regulated in a separate Fee Regulation.

2. Lectures

2.1 Overview

Lectures are given in seminar style with integrated exercises. Questioning and discussions are encouraged. The course language for the master's degree is English (except for IP 1051, which is held in German).

All modules in the International Master’s program contain mandatory subjects, with the exception of the Module "Electives" for which subjects with 6 ECTS in total must be chosen from the subjects offered within that module.

Code	Modules and Subjects	Contact Hours	Credit Points 1)
	Module Systems Engineering Philosophy		4
IP 1011	Principles of Systems Engineering	4
	Module System Design I		6
IP 1021	Design of Complex Systems	4
IP 1022	System Analysis and Testing	2
	Module System Management I		8
IP 1031	Project Management	8
	Module General Soft Skills		6
IP 1041	Work Techniques and Social Skills	2
IP 1042	Communication for International Projects	4
	Module Extended Soft Skills		6
IP 1051	Germany: Language and Culture for Professional Practice	4
	Module System Design II		6
IP 2061	System Modeling	4
	Module System Management II		6
IP 2071	Risk Management	2
IP 2072	Legal Aspects of Project Management	2
	Module System Management Supplement		6
IP 2081	Quality Assurance and Configuration Management	2
IP 2082	International Business and Economics	2
	Module System Design and Management Synthesis		6
IP 2091	Systems Engineering in Selected Applications	6
	Module Electives (subjects with 6 ECTS in total have to be selected)		6
	Mandatory electives (see 2.3)	6
	Module Thesis		30
IP 3901	Master Thesis	---
Total		52	90

1) Credits will only be awarded upon completion of all subjects belonging to a module.

 

2.2 Subjects of the 1^st semester

Code	Subject	Contact Hours	Methodology of the Lectures
IP 1011	Principles of Systems Engineering	4	SL/E
IP 1021	Design of Complex Systems	4	SL/E/P
IP 1022	System Analysis and Testing	2	SL/E
IP 1031	Project Management	8	SL/E/P
IP 1041	Work Techniques and Social Skills	2	SL/E
IP 1042	Communication for International Projects	4	SL/E/REF
IP 1051	Germany: Language and Culture for Professional Practice	4	SL/E/REF
Total		28

 

 

2.3 Subjects of the 2^nd semester

Code	Subject	Contact Hours	Methodology of the Lectures
IP 2061	System Modeling	4	SL/E/P
IP 2071	Risk Management	2	SL/E
IP 2072	Legal Aspects of Project Management	2	SL/E
IP 2081	Quality Assurance and Configuration Management	2	SL/E
IP 2082	International Business and Economics	2	SL/E
IP 2091	Systems Engineering in Selected Applications	6	SL/E/Pres
IP 2101	Project Learning 1) 2)	6	Project
IP 2102	Intercultural Human Resource Management 1)	2	SL/E
IP 2103	Knowledge Management 1)	4	SL/E
IP 2104	Marketing 1)	4	SL/E
Total		24

¹⁾ In total 6 ECTS  have to be selected from subjects IP 2101-IP 2104.
Other appropriate subjects to be added to that list have to be approved by the
Examination Board.

²⁾ Participants will be selected by lecturer based on a
written application / motivation letter / personal interview.

 

2.4 Subjects of the 3^rd semester

Code	Subject	Contact Hours	Methodology of the Lectures
IP 3901	Master Thesis (see No. 3.4)
Total

3. Examinations

For all obligatory and chosen subjects a final grading is required resulting from examinations or graded proofs of achievement. The master's studies are successfully completed when the following results have been reached:

a)      a final grade of at least "sufficient" for all certificate lectures,

b)      "passed" in non-graded proofs of achievement,

c)      successful completion of the master thesis according to No. 3.4.

 Please note:

Students entering the Master’s Program with a Bachelor Degree equivalent to 180 ECTS Credits, have to earn an additional 30 credits before getting their Master's Degree. The Examination Board will decide on an individual basis in which subjects these additional 30 credits can be earned.

 
3.1 Graded Proofs of Achievement

(Grading with numbers)

Code	Subject	Type and Duration
IP 1042	Communication for International Projects 1)	Pres.
IP 1051	Germany: Language and Culture for Professional Practice 2)	Pres.
IP 2101	Project Learning	Report, Pres.

¹⁾  Grade contributes 40% to final grade in IP 1042.
²⁾  Grade contributes 40% to final grade in IP 1051.

3.2 Practical Proofs of Achievement ¹⁾

(Grading pass / fail)

Code	Subject	Type and Number
IP 1021	Design of Complex Systems	5 Assignments
IP 1031	Project Management	5 Assignments
IP 1041	Work Techniques and Social Skills	Seminar Attendance
IP 2061	System Modeling	5 Assignments

¹⁾  Attendance is mandatory for practical work in the laboratory.

3.3 Written Examinations

Examinations at the end of the 1^st semester

Code	Subject	Duration	Admission Requirements
IP 1011	Principles of Systems Engineering	WE 90 min	none
IP 1021	Design of Complex Systems	WE 90 min	PA IP 1021
IP 1022	System Analysis and Testing	WE 90 min	none
IP 1031	Project Management	WE 90 min	PA IP 1031
IP 1041	Work Techniques and Social Skills	WE 90 min	PA IP 1041
IP 1042	Communication for International Projects	WE 90 min1)	none
IP 1051	Germany: Language and Culture for Professional Practice	WE 90 min2)	none

¹⁾  Grade contributes 60% to final grade in IP 1042.

²⁾  Grade contributes 60% to final grade in IP 1051.

Examinations at the end of the 2^nd semester

Code	Subject	Duration	Admission Requirements
IP 2061	System Modeling	WE 90 min	PA IP 2061
IP 2071	Risk Management	WE 90 min	none
IP 2072	Legal Aspects of Project Management	WE 90 min	none
IP 2081	Quality Assurance and Configuration Management	WE 90 min	none
IP 2082	International Business and Economics	WE 90 min	none
IP 2091	Systems Engineering in Selected Applications	WE 90 min	none

Examinations of mandatory electives

Code	Subject	Duration	Admission Requirements
IP 2102	Intercultural Human Resource Management	WE 90 min	none
IP 2103	Knowledge Management	WE 90 min	none
IP 2104	Marketing	WE 90 min	none

 

3.4 Master Thesis

For the Master Thesis a project has to be worked out. The Master Thesis is an examination of the 3^rd semester. It comprises a written final report.

Students shall work independently on a problem within a specific project applying appropriate methodology based on scientific theory. This may include the following aspects:
Students shall select suitable methods of Systems Engineering to solve the problem.
They shall apply methods and tools to realize projects considering aspects of quality assurance and economy, and they shall trace the development of system components to ensure system integration capability.
Finally they shall apply project management techniques in their specific project.

Abbreviations:

4. Objectives and Contents of the Subjects

IP 1011 Principles of Systems Engineering

Objective:
The students shall gain an understanding of the necessity of specific complex ways of thinking and methods of working for the treatment of extensive projects taking into consideration the special knowledge acquired in pertinent courses of studies.

Contents:
Definition of the system conception, historical development of Systems Engineering, components of Systems Engineering (system techniques, system management) and their concurrence, structures, system life cycle from analysis to discard, importance of Systems Engineering during the particular phases of a system, standards and regulations concerning Systems Engineering, introduction into system theory.

 

IP 1021 Design of Complex Systems

Objective:
Ability to design complex systems on the basis of a comprehensive methodology.

Contents:
Definition and Modeling of systems, business reengineering, as-is analysis, entity-relationship analysis, to-be concept, ORG model and IT model.

 

IP 1022 System Analysis and Testing

Objective:
Ability to analyze and test systems on the basis of system models.

Contents:
Testing goals, testing strategies and testing practices with an eye towards system characteristics and interdependencies.

 

IP 1031 Project Management

Objective:
Students shall become familiar with the essential aspects of project management.

Contents:
Task definition, project organization, project planning, project control, project termination, economy of projects, cost planning, cost control, cost monitoring, PM-Support.

 

IP 1041 Work Techniques and Social Skills

Objective:
Students shall become familiar with proven methods to solve problems. They shall be introduced into important elements of cooperation within certain organizational levels and into relations between manager and employee.

Contents:
Creative processes, decision methodology, forms of organizations, teamwork, human resource management, moderation, group dynamic processes.

 

IP 1042 Communication for International Projects

Objective:
The students shall become sensitive to problems in cross-cultural communication and acquire means to solve them.

Contents:
Introduction to basic theories of cross-cultural communication (Hall; Hofstede) and aspects of principled negotiation (Harvard concept); discussing strategies for the solution of short „critical incidents“ and more complex case studies; developing communicative skills in hands-on activities like role plays and simulations relating to international projects.

 

IP 1051 Germany: Language and Culture for Professional Practice

Objective:
In this two-part course students shall acquire (a) a basic command of the German language and (b) general knowledge of German history, politics, economy and culture with respect to professional situations.

Contents:
(a) Based on the fact that participating students have at least a working knowledge of the English language, the method „German after English“ enables a fast and efficient approach to learn basic vocabulary and grammar as a beginner.
(b) Students shall learn facts about Germany and will be encouraged to present them to the class.

 

IP 2061 System Modeling

Objective:
The students shall become acquainted with the principle of modeling complex systems by means of different proven modeling methods and the respective modeling tools.

Contents:
Verbal and formal system description, characteristics of different system descriptions, methods and tools for system description, relation of the methods to particular phases of the lifecycle.

 

IP 2071 Risk Management

Objective:
Students shall recognize that risk management is an essential and integrated part of project management. They shall be able to apply effective methods to identify, analyze and handle risks in projects.

Contents:
Definition and nature of risks, techniques of risk identification and classification, impact and probability analysis, qualitative and quantitative risk assessment, risk responses and contingency planning. Risk reduction by avoidance, transfer and mitigation. Risk monitoring and management.

 

IP 2072 Legal Aspects of Project Management

Objective:
Students shall be enabled to recognize the legal requirements of the various stages of the system arrangement and the completion of projects, they shall acquire knowledge of the legal regulations.

Contents:
Trading of systems, elimination of faults, guarantee and product liability, contractual basics and specific aspects of contracts of manufacture, labor law, legal aspects of the system arrangement.

 

IP 2081 Quality Assurance and Configuration Management

Objective:
The students are to learn that the development of a system is not finished with its perfect function but that in addition a systematical quality assurance and formal release and documentation are needed.

Contents:
Standards, certifications, patents, testing regulations.

 

IP 2082 International Business and Economics

Objective:
Enhancement of the knowledge and competence of the students in selected areas of international business and economics.

Contents:
Instruments of economic policy, comparative advantage, international organizations, globalization. Analysis of company structures, production operations, marketing and human resources from an international perspective, intercultural issues.

 

IP 2091 Systems Engineering in Selected Applications

Objective:
Students shall learn to systematically approach complex projects. This will be accomplished by studying various aspects of project examples from different areas using methods and tools of system engineering and system management.

Contents:
Development of specific projects in selected areas (e.g. office automation, production planning, automotive, embedded systems, aerospace, transport and traffic) using methods and tools of system engineering and system management.

 

IP 2101 Project Learning

Objective:
Students shall learn to plan and perform a real project. Working in teams, technical solutions have to be found in a project management environment.

Contents:
Definition of the problem, project planning and control, application of suitable methods to solve problems, team organization and communication, reporting and final presentation.

 

IP 2102 Intercultural Human Resources Management

Objective:
To develop an understanding of how to implement intercultural and international co-operation through Strategic International Human Resources Development programs. Practical examples from international organizations are used.

Content:
An introduction to Strategic International Human Resource Development. How, in practice, does an organization set out to strategically “internationalize” its employees so that they are best prepared for the global challenges of this century? Impact of globalization on business and organizations; characteristics of global organizations; specific skills, competencies and qualities expected of managers operating globally.

 

IP 2103 Knowledge Management

Objective:
Students realize the importance of knowledge management in companies. They are able to explain and assess approaches, strategies and methods of knowledge management and have an overview on existing technical approaches for knowledge and information management.

Contents:
To enable the creation and utilization of knowledge and intellectual capital in organizations. Organizational learning, intellectual capital and knowledge creation. 
Knowledge management through knowledge exchange, capture, internalization, codification, testing and reuse. Knowledge management tools; the strategic role of information in organizations and how to use it for competitive advantage.

 

IP 2104 Marketing

Objective:
Students shall be able to understand and apply Marketing Management. They shall know basic marketing principles, marketing strategy, terms of competitive advantage, success factors and how to implement them.

Contents:
Evolution of marketing, market and market behavior, strategic marketing, marketing factors and instruments. Examples from various industries, international marketing.