Exploring Linkages

Technology, Economics and Societal Values through Interdisciplinary Graduate Education

ABOUT: Sustainability-related “Special Problems” Course Opportunities for MSE, OMGT, and other non-thesis graduate students

If you are a MSE, OMGT or other non-thesis graduate student at the University of Arkansas who has an interest in an informal area of specialization related to Sustainable System Analysis and Modeling (SuSAM)………..

then there is a special opportunity for your consideration that includes a combination of formal courses and “Special Problems” type courses.

A typical approach would contain the following five programmatic components and need to satisfy the MSE program’s core requirements (30 academic hours of credit):

PROGRAMMATIC COMPONENT 1 (9 hours):  A student successfully would complete the following UA courses that are related to systems modeling, both conceptually and quantitatively:

  • BENG/OMGT 5633: Linkages Among Technology, Economics and Societal Value – the intent being for the student to develop critical thinking, enlightened leadership, and effective communication skills, especially as related to addressing differences in people’s backgrounds, expertise, experiences and perspectives.
  • BENG 5613: Simulation Modeling of Biological Systems (with the subtitle of “Using System Dynamics to Model Continuous Systems” – the intent being for the student to develop the skills required to quantify the dynamic impacts of certain types of macro-level policies, especially as related to sustainability.
  • INEG 5813: Introduction to Simulation – the intent being for the student to develop the skills required to quantify the dynamic impacts usually associated with the modeling of discrete systems.

PROGRAMMATIC COMPONENT 2 (6 hours):  A student would build on his/her expertise by successfully completing the following UA courses that are related to systems decision making and optimization:

  • INEG 5443: Decision Making – the intent being for the student to develop the skills required to evaluate systems in an objective and mathematically sound manner.
  • INEG 5613: Introduction to Optimization Theory – the intent being for the student to develop an understanding about how certain types of systems may be optimized mathematically.

PROGRAMMATIC COMPONENT 3 (6 hours):  A student would build on his/her expertise by successfully completing the following UA courses that are related directly to principles of sustainability:

  • BENG 5623: Life Cycle Analysis – the intent being for the student to develop an understanding of some of the core principles associated with sustainability.
  • BENG 5933: Environmental & Ecological Risk Assessment – the intent being for the student to develop an understanding about how the role that risk plays in environmental sustainability.

PROGRAMMATIC COMPONENT 4 (3 hours):  A student would build on his/her expertise by choosing an elective of special interest to the student and consistent with his/her program requirements and those of the MSE core requirements.

PROGRAMMATIC COMPONENT 5 (6 hours):  The student then uses two enrollments in a “special problems” type course to model a system of interest (perhaps related to his/her employment for example) that satisfies the criteria associated with one of the following (or a similar type course offered elsewhere):

  • GNEG 550V: Master’s Research Project – [From the UA course description: “Required course for MSE students who wish to complete a Master’s research project as part of their degree program” (1-3 Hours)].
  • GNEG 590V: Special Topics – [From the UA course description:  “Consideration of current engineering topics not covered in other courses. Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent. May be repeated for up to 4 hours of degree credit.”]
  • OMGT 577V: Special Problems – [From the UA course description: “Application of previous course work knowledge to problems encountered in military base and civilian operations. Problems are proposed by students according to individual interests and needs” (1-3 Hours)].

What may be gained by students who successfully complete the above includes the following:

  • The student will develop a core level of expertise in systems modeling.
  • The final project will hopefully be of direct use, possibly to the student’s employer.
  • There may be professional recognition for both the student and the University of Arkansas through presentations at professional meetings and/or possible publication in research and/or trade journals.

Students should contact the Instructor (Otto J. Loewer) and/or their respective advisors in either the UA MSE Program or the UA OMGT Program  if they have additional questions.