course-details-portlet

PK8210

System Engineering Principles and Practice

Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.

Credits 7.5
Level Doctoral degree level
Course start Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Aggregate score

About

About the course

Course content

The course gives an introduction to principles, concepts, and methods in systems engineering. The goal is to equip students with the skills to improve their own research work and solve complex socio-technical engineering problems using systems engineering. Core applications such as the systems engineering process, breakdown and aggregation of needs and requirements, stakeholder identification, definition of efficiency measures, life cycle analyses, and trade-off analyses will be assessed. Students will apply systems engineering as a research methodology to the student assignments and final report.

Learning outcome

By the end of this course, the student shall be able to

  • Describe fundamental concepts and principles of systems engineering.
  • Apply methods to identify stakeholders and their needs.
  • Apply systems thinking skills to problem solving analysis.
  • Apply systems engineering practices to enhance their research.
  • Provide constructive feedback on peers’ research presentations, identifying opportunities for improvement and using systems engineering principles.

Learning methods and activities

Seminars, presentation assignments, writing of paper and self-study.

If there are less than 3 registered students, the course coordinator will decide whether the course will take place.

Further on evaluation

Overall grade assessment is the basis for the grade in the course. The overall assessment includes writing a paper counting 70 % and an oral exam counting 30 %. The results for overall assessment are graded passed or not passed. Passed requires at least 70 % score in total for the overall assessment. For a re-take of an examination, all assignments must be re-taken.

Required previous knowledge

None.

Course materials

Recommended articles provided at the beginning of the course.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
EP8102 7.5 sp Autumn 2012
DIO4904 7.5 sp Autumn 2012
This course has academic overlap with the courses in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Technological subjects

Contact information

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Aggregate score
Grade: Passed / Not Passed

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

Paper
Weighting 70/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment
Oral exam
Weighting 30/100 Examination aids HJELPEMIDD Duration 5 hours