plan for fulfillment of requirements: ph.d. in engineering southern methodist university

PhD_Plan_112404 1

Plan for Fulfillmentof Requirements:

Ph.D. in EngineeringSouthern Methodist University

Gerard Ibarra

November 24, 2004

UPDATED July 3, 2005

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Outline

Professional Background Admissions Admission Requirements General Requirements Course Requirements Admission to Candidacy

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Outline

Education Background SoE General Requirements Systems Engineering Program:

Five Steps to a PhD Responsibilities of the Supervisory

Committee

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Outline

Current Supervisor Committee Proposed Schedule Ph.D. Abstract

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Professional Background

Gerard Ibarra is the President and CEO of Ibarra and Associates, a Logistics and Systems Engineering (SE) research and consulting firm. He specializes in applying SE methodologies to the logistics and supply chain management fields. He has saved companies millions of dollars, helped improve efficiencies, and taken products from conception to market. He currently teaches graduate courses in both fields at Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) school of Engineering and University of Dallas’ Graduate School of Management. He is editor and secretary of the Dallas chapter International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) and an active member of SMU’s SE Program Development Team. Furthermore, he is providing research assistance for SMU’s Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) contract.

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Previously, Gerard held the Houston Vice-President position at Business Courier Service (BCS), Inc. His responsibilities included all facets of the operation, growth and vision. Before, he led BCS with the development and execution of all marketing and logistic strategies at their corporate headquarters in Dallas. He complimented his work by germinating close and lasting relationships with essential customers.

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From 1987 to 2000, Gerard Ibarra held various positions in operational and support functions at United Parcel Service (UPS). As the manager for the Southwest Region International Key Markets, he guided a team to assess and develop marketing strategies for international shipments in Texas and Oklahoma. He introduced the SE concepts to the program, statistically quantified all analysis, and demonstrated over one million-dollar return on investment. For the Northeast Texas (NET) Customer Support Group, he directed individuals in analyzing and building operational logistic solutions through SE methodologies. A majority of the analysis encompassed large and strategic customers. In addition, he taught classes in industrial engineering, SE and logistics during his tenure at UPS.

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He has guest lectured at the University of Dallas’s Logistics MBA program and University of North Texas Logistics program. He presented papers in Reliability, Logistics and Customer Support at various functions. They included the INCOSE North Texas chapter and Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) Dallas chapter. In addition, he presented at the 11th Annual Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International workshop G-11 Reliability Maintainability Supportability and Logistics (RMSL) track and 35th Annual Society of Logistic Engineers (SOLE). He was also Vice Chair of the 11th annual SAE International workshop Logistics track and Chairman of the SAE International G-11 RMSL Logistics’ Committee. He moderated at

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the 35th Annual SOLE track: A Holistic/SE Approach to Transportation Systems and International Logistics. He also chaired SMU’s Systems Engineering Students and Alumni Council.

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Admissions: 2003

Applicants holding baccalaureate or higher degrees in engineering, mathematics, or the science from accredited colleges or universities of the United States and institutions of high academic standing from other countries will be considered for admission to the Graduate Division of the SMU School of Engineering for the purpose of pursuing work leading to an advanced degree in engineering or applied science. Each case is considered on an individual basis, and due to the wide variations in student education, past performance, age, experience, and academic objectives, individualized graduate-program requirements for each student may be anticipated.

SMU SoE Graduate: 2003 – 2005 Catalog

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Admission Requirements: 2003

Applicants for admission to the Graduate Division must have an undergraduate G.P.A. of 3.00 (B) or better in the last two years of undergraduate study, and in all graduate work. Three letters of recommendation are required for all doctoral applicants and for all applicants requesting financial aid. In addition, an official Graduate Record of Examination (GRE) score is required in the following cases: 1) for Master’s applicants in computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and operations research programs; 2) for all doctoral applicants; 3) for all applicants requesting financial aid.


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Graduate students applying for admission to the School of Engineering are required to pay an application fee of $50, which must accompany the application. Applications will not be considered unless the complete official transcripts of the applicant’s prior undergraduate and graduate work are in the possession of the Graduate Division. The transcript is regarded as official only if it is received directly from the registrar of the institution in which the work is done, or if it is an original and authenticated transcript bearing the institutional seal.


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Graduates from foreign countries are required to submit three letters of recommendation and notarized financial certification form. Where the predominant language is not English, students are required to have a minimum score of 550 in the Test of English AS A Foreign Language (TOEFL) or its equivalent. This examination is given five times a year at a number of locations in the United States and is also offered under the Special Center Testing Program on selected Fridays. For further information, write to TOEFL, PO Box 899, Princeton NJ 08541, U.S.A.


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Students may apply for admission at any time. However, initial review for admission in a given term is dependent upon receipt by the Graduate Division of all requisite application materials by no later than July 1 for fall admission, November 15 for spring admission, and April 15 for summer admission. All International Students use the following dates: May 15 for fall admission, September 1 for spring Graduate Admissions, and February 1 for summer admission. Students should write directly to Graduate Admission, School of Engineering, Southern Methodist University, Dallas TX 75275-0335. The student will be supplied with the necessary application forms, which then must be returned to the same office.


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General Requirements: 2003

General requirements for the Ph.D. degree include the following components: (1) total academic credit, (2) residence requirements, (3) course requirements, (4) preliminary counseling examination, (5) qualifying examination, (6) admission to candidacy, (7) dissertation, (8) final examination, and (9) supervisory committee. A student admitted to a doctoral program is expected to have been awarded a Master's degree in the same or a closely related program or to earn such a Master's degree during the course of the program.


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Course Requirements: 2003

The minimum academic course work of 54 term credit hours should include a major as well as a minor area of investigation. Specific course requirements for these areas are identified by the individual departments. As a general guideline, at least 12 term credit hours are required for the minor, which should be in an area providing breadth as well as support to the major field of investigation.


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For a Ph.D. program, qualifying examinations and the dissertation are paramount. Course requirements are identified to facilitate the student's training toward the qualifying examination. Of the 24 term hours required in course work beyond a Master's degree, 12 term hours must be taken at SMU. Generally speaking, up to 12 term hours of graduate courses may be transferred into the Ph.D. program from an institution approved by the Graduate Division, provided that such course work was completed in the five years prior to matriculation; that the transferred courses were taken toward a Ph.D. degree; and that grades of B- or higher were received in the courses to be transferred. The request to transfer credit must be made, using appropriate forms, during the term of matriculation to the Graduate Division. Grades of courses transferred for credit are


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neither recorded nor used in computing grade-point averages. Acceptance of transfer credit requires approval of the student's faculty adviser, department chair, and the Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies. Transfer of any credit for courses taken at other institutions after admission to SMU is not normally permitted.


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Admission to Candidacy: 2003

A graduate student does not become a candidate for the Ph.D. degree until the formal application for candidacy has been approved. Such admission requires the approval of the student's supervisory committee, the department chair, and the Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies. The approval is based upon (1) passing the qualifying examination, (2) the academic record of the student as attested by a G.P.A. of 3.00 or better (4.00 = A), (3) selection of a tentative title for the dissertation, and (4) the student's overall fitness as judged by the supervisory committee. The formal application for candidacy should be submitted as soon as these four requirements have been met as judged by the supervisory committee.


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Educational Background

B.S. EE, SMU 1987 M.S. SE, SMU 1997

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Course

Number

Systems Engineering (SE) Courses

with Description

Semester

TakenGrade

SYS 5305 Systems Optimization / Analysis Spring 1996 A-

SYS 5301 Systems Engineering Process Fall 1996 B

SYS 5303 Integrated Risk Management Fall 1996 A-

SYS 5307 Systems Integration / Test Spring 1997 B+

SYS 7300 Systems Analysis Methods Fall 2000 A-

SYS 7330 Systems Reliability Engineering Fall 2000 A-

SYS 7340 Logistics Systems Engineering Spring 2001 A

SYS 7310 Systems Engineering Design Summer 2001 A

Systems Engineering Graduate Courses

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Course

NumberNon SE Courses with Description

Semester

TakenGrade

CSE 5369 Engineering Reliability Summer 1995 A-

CSE 6364 Management for Engineers Fall 1995 A

CSE 6363 Engineering Finance Fall 1995 B

SSH 5315 Integrated Waste Management Summer 1996 A

EE 5301 Introduction to Telecommunications Spring 1997 B-

CSE 5364 Statistical Quality Control Summer 1997 A-

Non-Systems Engineering Graduate Courses

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Course

NumberNon SE Courses with Description

Semester

TakenGrade

EMIS 7370 Probability and Statistics for Scientist and Engineers Fall 2001 B+

EMIS 8360 Operations Research Models Spring 2002 B+

EMIS 7362 Production and Operations Management Fall 2002 B+

ENCE 7369 Transportation Analysis Spring 2005 A-

Non-Systems Engineering Graduate Courses

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Course

Number

Residence Requirements Hours

with Description

Semester

TakenGrade

Six – Worked on proposed K-Link concept. There were three objectives.

1. To successfully fink the K-Links through enumeration using Dr. Abdelghany’s algorithm

2. To develop a methodology and algorithm for finding the K-Links without enumeration

3. Compare the efficiency and performance of the proposed algorithm to Dr. Abdelghany’s

Summer

Residence Requirements

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School of EngineeringGeneral Requirements Total academic credit Residence requirements Course requirements Preliminary counseling examination Qualifying examination Admission to candidacy (See attached letter from

James George Dunham, Associate Dean) Dissertation Final Examination Supervisory Committee

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Systems Engineering ProgramFive Steps to a PhD

1. Basic Coursework: Upon entry into the Ph.D. program, a student is assigned an academic advisor. The advisor will examine the student's prior background and current state of knowledge, and recommend courses to be taken in preparation for Step 2.

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2. Preliminary Counseling Exam and Program of Study:

To be eligible for advanced study, a student must demonstrate competence in systems engineering fundamentals by passing the Preliminary Counseling Examination (PCE). This exam is oral and is administered by three faculty members. Particular emphasis

TBD

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2. Preliminary Counseling Exam and Program of Study (Continued):

will be given to the material covered in the following courses: EMIS 7300, 7301, 7303, 7305 and 7307.

TBD

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3. Appointment of Supervisory Committee and Advanced Coursework:

Upon completion of the PCE a proposed Program of Study is developed that meets the degree requirements in Section II and includes the planned advanced coursework. Based upon the proposed Program of Study a Supervisory Committee is formed. The Supervisory Committee will make any

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3. Appointment of Supervisory Committee and Advanced Coursework (Cont.):

needed adjustments to the Program of Study. Changes in the Program of Study are subject to approval by the Supervisory Committee. Step 3 requires completion of the forms Recommendation and Certification of Appointment of Supervisory Committee and Doctoral Degree Plan.

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4. Qualifying Examination:At or near the completion of the coursework, the Supervisory Committee will conduct the Qualifying Examination. This exam ordinarily involves a series of take-home exams, but is left to the discretion of the Supervisory Committee. The exam is concluded by an oral exam at which time the

TBD

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4. Qualifying Examination (Continued):student is expected to present a proposal

for the dissertation. A written proposal must be given to the Supervisory Committee prior to the oral exam. Upon passing this exam, the student is admitted to Doctorial Candidacy. Step 4 requires completion of the form Admission to Candidacy.

TBD

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5. Dissertation Defense: The most distinguishing characteristic of a program leading to the Ph.D. degree is the requirement that the candidate write a dissertation embodying the results of a significant and original investigation. The dissertation must make a real contribution to the systems engineering discipline, and it is

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5. Dissertation Defense (Continued): expected to be a mature and competent piece of writing. The defense, which is conducted orally, must enable the Supervisory Committee to satisfy itself that the dissertation is an original piece of research work, that it has been carried out in keeping with the highest standards of investigation and reporting, and that it

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5. Dissertation Defense (Continued): makes a contribution to knowledge that is of value to the scientific community. Satisfactory performance on this defense constitutes the last academic requirement to be met for the Ph.D. degree. Step 5 requires completion of the form Report on Thesis or Dissertation and/or Final Examination.

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Responsibilities of the Supervisory Committee1. To assist the student in interpreting all regulations

governing the degree sought. This does not absolve the student from the sole responsibility to remain informed concerning these regulations.

2. To meet immediately after its appointment for the purpose of passing on the qualifications of the student, to discuss and approve a Plan of Study, and to set a tentative time schedule for the qualifying examination.

3. To discuss and approve the dissertation project proposed by the student and the plans for implementing it.

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Responsibilities of the Supervisory Committee4. To participate in the qualifying examination.5. To convene whenever needed during dissertation

research to review procedure, progress, and expected results, and to develop suggestions for the remainder of the work. The supervisory committee may be convened by either the chair of the supervisory committee or the Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies. The supervisory committee may suggest discontinuation of the student if sufficient progress toward the PhD has not been achieved.

6. To conduct the final examination.

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Current Supervisor Committee

Dr. Eli Olinick, Assistant Professor, EMIS (Committee Chair)

Dr. Jerrell Stracener, Director, System Engineering Program & Scholar in Residence (Academic Advisor)

Dr. Steve Szygenda, Cecil H. Green Chair in Engineering, Professor of CSE and EMIS

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Current Supervisor Committee

Dr. Khaled Abdelghany, Assistant Professor, ENCE

Dr. Jim Hinderer, Adjunct Professor, EMIS Dr. Russell Vacante, DAU Director, Sector

Leadership, and member of the SMU School of Engineering Executive Board

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Proposed ScheduleTask

Proposed

Comp. Date

Completed

Date

Finalize committee 08/16/04 10/12/04

Review with committee dissertation proposal 12/07/04 12/07/04

Complete literary search 04/04/05 On Going

Complete dissertation proposal 04/25/05 04/20/05

Committee to review and approve dissertation proposal 05/06/05 04/21/05

Take Qualifying Exam 05/06/05 04/21/05

Conduct Research 05/09/05 On Going

Complete additional class requirements 12/09/05 Completed

Dissertation defense 06/06/06

Graduation TBD

Start Life Again 06/06/06

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Abstract

Brief Statement of Objective Description Expected Outcome Benefit

plan for fulfillment of requirements: ph.d. in engineering southern methodist university

Documents

se methodologies

se concepts

systems engineering

industrial engineering

logistics rmsl track

incose north texas chapter

international shipments

support functions