dynamicsystemsarchitecture.org

Dynamic Systems Engineering Degree

A complete 17-course curriculum teaching how to observe, model, design, and verify dynamic systems. Choose your pace: accelerated (1.9 years), balanced (2 years), or part-time (3.2 years). Learn in parallel or sequence. All domain-customized.

The Program at a Glance

17
Courses
5
Stages
56
Credits
1.9–3.2
Years

Fully flexible parallelization. Learn independently or with mentors. All assignments customized to your domains of interest. Capstone is a real-world systems design project.

Complete Curriculum Map
Stage 0: Entry Point (1-2 weeks)
1 course • 3 credits
Course 0
Ethics & Decision-Making
ETH-101
3 credits
Foundation principles for everything that follows. Why architecture matters. What makes a system trustworthy. Decision frameworks under uncertainty.
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Start here first

This 1-2 week course establishes the principles that guide all 17 courses. Even experienced engineers should start here. It's short but essential.

Stage 1: Core Concepts (14-28 weeks)
4 courses • 13 credits

All 4 courses can run in parallel (14 weeks) or staggered (28 weeks). No prerequisites within Stage 1 — all can start immediately after Stage 0.

Course 1
Dynamic Systems Analysis
DSA-101
3 credits
Learn to observe systems. Identify boundaries, relationships, feedback loops, and causality. Apply to 5 anchor systems (thermostat, learner, AI, traffic, business).
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Course 2
Mathematics for Dynamic Systems
MFDS-101
4 credits
Formalize system observations as equations. Functions, rates of change, differential equations. Algebra, calculus foundations. No prior math required; built incrementally.
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Course 3
Introduction to NCFCA
NCFCA-101
3 credits
The four-channel architecture: State (S), Schema (D), Interface (I), Execution (C). Why this structure. How channels separate. Applies to all systems: biological, artificial, social, technical.
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Course 4
Programming for Systems Analysis
PROG-101
3 credits
Implement systems in code. Python. Data structures, algorithms, simulation. No prior coding required; learns through building systems.
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Stage 2: Engineering Principles (28-56 weeks)
5 courses • 18 credits

Prerequisite: Complete Stage 1. Can run all 5 courses in parallel (28 weeks) or staggered in groups (28 weeks, lighter load) or sequential (56 weeks).

Course 5
Dynamic Systems Engineering
DSE-201
4 credits
Decompose systems into components. Interface design. Boundary conditions. Energy and information flow. Design decompositions that work.
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Course 6
Causal Structure & Dynamic Matrices
CSDM-201
4 credits
Map causality. Linear dynamics. Matrices and linear algebra. Eigenvalues and stability. Understand what makes systems predictable or chaotic.
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Course 7
Deterministic State Estimation
DSE-EST-201
4 credits
Observe hidden state. Kalman filtering. Reconstruction and verification. Estimate what you can't measure. Know what you actually know.
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Course 8
Statistical Modeling
STAT-201
3 credits
Handle uncertainty and noise. Probability, distributions, hypothesis testing. Regression and correlation. Design experiments that clarify.
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Course 9
Channel Identification & Separation
CHAN-SEP-201
3 credits
Implement the NCFCA architecture. Identify channels in real systems. Separate concerns. Design systems with clear channel boundaries.
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Stage 3: Networks & Emergence (28-56 weeks)
5 courses • 15 credits

Prerequisite: Complete Stage 2. Can run all 5 courses in parallel (28 weeks) or staggered (28 weeks, lighter load) or sequential (56 weeks).

Course 10
Dynamic Network Engineering
DNE-301
4 credits
Analyze networks of systems. Connectivity, topology, resilience. Cascades and contagion. Design networks that don't break under stress.
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Course 11
Multilevel & Hierarchical Modeling
MLH-301
3 credits
Scale and hierarchy. Local rules → global patterns. Emergence. Multi-agent simulation. Design hierarchies that coordinate effectively.
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Course 12
Dynamic Network Simulation
DNS-301
3 credits
Simulate complex networks. Implement in code. Run experiments on your systems. Understand behavior before deploying.
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Course 13
Collective & Coordinated Behavior
CCB-301
3 credits
Study emergence: how local interactions create system-level behavior. Swarms, markets, pandemics, traffic. Design for emergent order.
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Course 14
NCFCA Verification & Fault Injection
VERIF-301
4 credits
Systematically test systems. Fault injection, stress testing, adversarial probes. Verify robustness. Know where your designs fail before reality does.
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Stage 4: Architecture & Capstone (28-56+ weeks)
3 courses • 11 credits

Prerequisite: Complete Stages 1-3. Courses 15 & 16 run in parallel (14 weeks), then Course 17 (capstone) follows (14-28 weeks).

Course 15
Dynamic Systems Architecture
DSA-401
4 credits
Architectural thinking. Principles for designing complete systems. Requirements to verification. Real-world case studies. Design systems that scale.
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Course 16
Advanced NCFCA
NCFCA-401
3 credits
Deep dive into the four-channel architecture. Proofs. Extensions. Research frontiers. Understand the theory completely.
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Course 17
Network Architecture Capstone
CAP-401
4 credits
Your final project: design a complete system for a real-world problem. Defense presentation. Demonstrate mastery of all 17 courses.
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Choose Your Pace: Four Learning Paths
Path 1: Accelerated
~70-80 hours/week
1.9 years (98 weeks)
All courses run in parallel within each stage. Stage 1: 4 courses together. Stage 2: 5 courses together. Stage 3: 5 courses together. Stage 4: sequence.
Best for: Full-time students, strong background, high capacity. Maximum integration between courses. Fastest completion.
Path 2: Balanced
~50-60 hours/week
2 years (98-112 weeks)
Pairs of courses run in parallel. Stage 1: all 4 but in pairs. Stage 2: split into groups. Stage 3: split into groups. Same time as Accelerated but lighter load per week.
Best for: Working part-time, strong self-discipline, prefer depth. Same completion time but more breathing room.
Path 3: Part-Time
~20-30 hours/week
3.2 years (168 weeks)
One or two courses at a time, sequential. Each stage takes 2 semesters. Flexible around work and life commitments.
Best for: Working full-time, not flexible on capacity. Can start and stop. Integrate with other commitments.
Path 4: Custom
Flexible
Variable
Mix and match. Start with Accelerated, drop to Balanced if overwhelmed. Spike harder on interesting stages, lighter on others. Adjust as you go.
Best for: Uncertain capacity, evolving schedule, learning what works. AI recommends adjustments based on your performance.
Prerequisites: What You Need Before Each Stage
Hard Prerequisites (Required)

Stage 0: None. Start here.

Stage 1: Complete Stage 0 only.

Stage 2: Complete all of Stage 1.

Stage 3: Complete all of Stage 2.

Stage 4: Complete all of Stages 1-3. Capstone (Course 17) requires Courses 15 & 16.

No Prior Knowledge Required

You don't need algebra, calculus, programming, or advanced math to start. Any missing prerequisites are filled dynamically as courses need them. If a course needs functions and you haven't learned them, a 2-3 hour bootcamp covers it in your domain of interest. No blocking. No prerequisite gates.

Start Here: Stage 0 — Ethics & Decision-Making

Before you begin the full 17-course degree, you'll complete one essential 1-2 week course that establishes the principles for everything that follows.

This course answers: Why does architecture matter? What makes systems trustworthy? How do you make decisions under uncertainty?

Even if you're experienced, start here. It's brief but it's the foundation.

View Stage 0 Start Course Now
Additional Resources
📋 Core Principles

The 12 principles that govern this entire curriculum. Read before starting.

Read Principles
👨‍🏫 Facilitator Guide

For instructors. How to teach this curriculum effectively.

Read Guide
📚 Glossary

All terms and concepts defined. Searchable reference.

View Glossary

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