5.6 Research and Development Management 5.6.1 Purpose The Graduate…

5.6 Research and Development Management

5.6.1 Purpose

The Graduate School of Engineering and Management, Department of Systems and
Engineering Management, offers the Master of Science with a major in Research and
Development Management (GRD). The GRD program provides students with an in-depth
study of the unique challenges associated with the development of new defense products and
systems within the DoD and Air Force. Students will learn the principles of product
development, systems engineering, and the associated organizational management necessary
for effectively and quickly fielding new products and systems. The objective is for students
to understand the research and development process in order to lead and effectively
implement it in all phases of weapon system development. Overall, the program requires the
building of technical and managerial skills in the areas required for effective product
development to prepare the students for leadership roles in the research and development and
systems acquisition communities.

GRD Program Educational Objective:
   Provide Air Force career professionals with relevant graduate education in the research
   and development process in order to lead and effectively implement it with particular
   focus on rapid technology transition and product development cycle time reduction.

GRD Program Outcomes: Students should be able to:
   1. Apply the business and organization management skills and the economic and
      decision making skills necessary for effective project analysis and decision support.
   2. Apply the concepts, methods, and tools related to research and development of new
      defense products including planning, directing, and controlling resources (people,
      material, equipment, and funds) in a systems management context.
   3. Provide oversight support and make specific recommendations on appropriate
      strategies and administration techniques for each phase of a weapon system
      development effort.
   4. Apply the best commercial practices to the DoD product development process.
   5. Conduct and present methodological research to solve problems and support
      decisions.

Program graduates are well grounded in course work related to follow-on assignments within
the systems management environment at all levels of the DoD and USAF (e.g., unit,
MAJCOM, SECDEF). The output advanced academic degree (AAD) code is 1APY. (Some
qualified students will have the opportunity to pursue a 1ASY AAD code by taking an
additional 3-course sequence above the program degree requirements).




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5.6.2 Admission Standards

The general requirements for admission to the Master of Science program in Research and
Development Management are:
   1. An undergraduate degree in a technical area (engineering, math, or science) or with
      significant technical content (e.g., USAFA core). Mathematics courses in calculus up
      to (but not necessarily including) differential equations.
   2. A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). GPA in mathematics-
      related courses should be at least 3.0.
   3. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores of at least 1100 (with a minimum 500
      verbal and 600 quantitative) or Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)
      score of at least 550.

Students in the Wright-Patterson area who do not meet these criteria may register for
individual courses as a part-time student (space available) but are expected to meet the above
criteria prior to being granted candidacy for the degree. Waivers to the criteria may be
granted (on an individual basis) by the Department of Systems and Engineering
Management.

5.6.3 Curriculum Description

The GRD program is conducted in six academic quarters and a short term (18 total months,
beginning in September) for full-time students. The short term provides an orientation to the
GRD curriculum, a review of basic mathematics and technical writing skills, and an
introduction to the computer systems serving AFIT.

The minimum curriculum satisfying the degree requirements consists of 2 methods courses,
1 organizational management course, 4 product development core courses, 3 systems
engineering core courses, and 12 hours of thesis research. Each of these areas is required to
effectively lead large or small defense product development efforts. The methods courses
provide a strong background in probability for understanding and describing the nature of
uncertainty in real world decision making along with a strong foundation in research
methods and supporting statistics. These courses serve to prepare the student for both the
research required within the degree and for rigorous problem solving as a senior leader in
product development. In the product development core courses, students learn the
commercial and defense product development process; study the innovation process,
acquisition strategies, and risk analysis techniques; and learn the state of both the
technologies fielded and those in development. The systems engineering core provides a
foundation in system science to include conceptualization, design, modeling, testing,
implementation, and operation of a working system, particularly as it applies to the analysis
and synthesis of large and complex systems. Included is a substantial technical foundation in
systems architecture, analysis, and design. Electives are offered in addition to strict degree
requirements and broaden the student's horizons and/or provide more in-depth knowledge in
a specific area of interest. Electives may also be required by the thesis advisor in order to
adequately complete the required thesis research. The thesis must address a real-world

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problem of interest to the DoD product development community in a research and
development management area. The primary purpose of the thesis is for the student to
demonstrate scholarly pursuit of a research question and the ability to integrate concepts and
techniques acquired through course work. Typically, thesis topics are provided by the DoD
and USAF agencies interested in sponsoring student research in areas of practical concern.
Supplemental courses are provided in these areas for students who need them. Students
participate in research thesis seminars and colloquiums throughout the year that will assist
them in the identification, development, and execution of their research.

In addition to degree requirements, all DoD-sponsored full-time students must complete an
average of 12 credit hours per quarter over the total number of quarters in residence.
Sponsored students may also be required to take additional courses to satisfy education needs
of the sponsor or to qualify for award of an additional advanced academic degree code. For
example, most sponsored students will have the opportunity to participate in a multi-course
research and development effort where they develop and demonstrate a new project or
product.

Students selected by AFPC to earn the 1ASY AAD code may do so by taking an additional
course sequence in Software Systems Development and Management. This specialty
sequence provides an in-depth, specialized study tailored to the development of software
systems (including networks, databases, and embedded systems). The required courses to
earn the 1ASY code are:

   CSCE 093        Object Oriented Program Design (short term orientation)
   CSCE 593        Introduction to Software Engineering (4 credit hours)
   IMGT 651        Systems Analysis and Design (3 credit hours)
   CSCE 693        Software Evolution (3 credit hours)




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