The major in industrial engineering requires a strong foundation of courses in engineering science, mathematics, design, manufacturing, social science, and humanities. Advanced work includes specialty courses in human factors and ergonomics, management, information systems, manufacturing, quality control, and operations research. Design is an integral part of the undergraduate program; all students complete a comprehensive design experience.

The Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering offers a host of options for each engineering student. From the undergraduate engineering degree, a dual Undergraduate to Graduate (U2G) degree, focus areas, and extracurricular activities, there are many options available to explore and develop professional skills. The industrial and systems engineering undergraduate program emphasizes a broad education in engineering fundamentals and the opportunity for in-depth learning in a focus area.

Focus Areas and Specialized Opportunities

As part of the mission to help students be engineers and something more, the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering offers a variety of focus area options so that students can pursue specialized interests. Industrial engineering focus areas include big data analytics, computer and information systems, design and manufacturing, entrepreneurship, human factors and ergonomics, management, and an option to tailor a focus area to an individual student's interests.

Big Data Analytics

Big data analytics is the process of examining big data in an effort to uncover hidden patterns, unknown correlations, and other useful information. Ninety-five percent of the data in the world today has been created in the last two years alone. This data comes from everywhere: sensors used to gather climate information, posts to social media sites, digital pictures and videos, purchase transaction records, and cell phone GPS signals to name a few.

Computer and Information Systems

Industrial engineers have a natural role to play in this field by using quantitative system analysis, manufacturing system knowledge, and human factors skills to help design and refine computer systems that are becoming ever more complex. The field offers substantial opportunities for technical skill development, travel, and interaction with a diverse range of professionals.

Design and Manufacturing

Many graduates find careers in manufacturing industries that include the use of computer-aided design and manufacturing, virtual and physical prototyping, 3D design, design and simulation of manufacturing processes, and manufacturing systems. They find employment in diverse industries, including the supplier manufacturing industry (e.g., John Deere, Caterpillar, Rockwell Collins, Raytheon, Boeing), health care (e.g., Johnson & Johnson, Zimmer), software, and the information industry (e.g., Pro/Engineer, CATIA, SolidWorks, AutoCAD).

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship allows engineering students to explore venture capital, marketability of products, and technology transfer. They gain exposure to understanding sound business practice, acquire team-building skills in both small and large companies, understand the entrepreneurial approach to acquiring and managing resources, learn how to create a business plan, and obtain valuable contacts and networking opportunities with businesses and industries.

Human Factors and Ergonomics

The human factors and ergonomics focus area represents an increasingly important engineering specialty. The dramatic increase in netcentric computer technology makes system performance increasingly dependent on the match between system characteristics and human capabilities. Graduates find employment in diverse industries that include health care (e.g., GE, Medtronics, Guidant), original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and supplier manufacturing industry (e.g., Rockwell Collins, Boeing, Deere, Caterpillar), computer systems (e.g., Microsoft, Intel, IBM), the government (e.g., NHTSA, NTSB, NASA, the Department of Defense), and consulting (e.g., Accenture, Battelle). Human factors considers cognitive characteristics, and ergonomics considers physical characteristics. This focus area provides advanced education in psychology, systems, statistics, and biomechanics.

Management

Industrial engineers are often assigned managerial tasks, project management, and financial assessments as they relate to project budgets, cost calculations, and optimization criteria. This focus area prepares students for a career in business management.

Tailored

Students work with an advisor to tailor a program that is specific to their individual needs. For more information about guidelines for tailored focus areas, see EFAs and Specialized Opportunities on the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering website.

Student Organizations

Student organizations can have an enormous impact on an undergraduate student's career. The College of Engineering is home to a number of student organizations and clubs. Popular organizations for industrial and systems engineering students include the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES).

Undergraduate Resources

Undergraduate resources are available to students to pursue research, access professional services available in the college and across the university, and participate in or view sports and arts events on campus and around town.

Scholarships

A variety of engineering scholarships and funding opportunities are available to industrial and systems engineering students.

Accreditation

The undergraduate program in industrial engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Educational Objectives

The following educational objectives of the program are defined in conjunction with the accreditation process.

Within a few years of graduation, industrial engineering graduates will:

  • continue learning,
  • lead and inspire others, and
  • engage in the community and society.

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a major in industrial engineering requires a minimum of 129 s.h. of credit, including three 0 s.h. seminars. Students must have a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in all college work used to satisfy degree requirements as well as on all coursework attempted at the University of Iowa.

All B.S.E. students are required to take the same collegiate curriculum. For information about these collegiate requirements, see the Bachelor of Science in Engineering, B.S.E. in the Catalog. Students completing the major in industrial engineering fulfill the collegiate statistics requirement by completing STAT:2020 Probability and Statistics for the Engineering and Physical SciencesStudents within the department also are required to take PSY:1001 Elementary Psychology to fulfill part of the B.S.E. collegiate curriculum General Education Component approved course subjects requirement.

The major in industrial engineering requires the following coursework.

Collegiate Curriculum50
Major Requirements (includes three 0 s.h. seminars)55
Focus Area24-29
Total Hours129-134

Major Requirements

Major requirements include a set of common courses (40 s.h.), at least 11 s.h. in engineering fundamentals elective courses, three departmental seminars (0 s.h.), and one capstone design course (4 s.h.).

Common Courses

All of these:
ISE:2360Design for Manufacturing3
ISE:2500Engineering Economy3
ISE:3300Manufacturing Systems3
ISE:3350Process Engineering3
ISE:3400Human Factors3
ISE:3450Ergonomics3
ISE:3500Information Systems Design3
ISE:3600Quality Control3
ISE:3610Stochastic Modeling3
ISE:3660Data Analytics with R3
ISE:3700Operations Research3
ISE:3750Digital Systems Simulation3
PHYS:1612Introductory Physics II (with lab)4

Engineering Fundamentals

At least 11 s.h. from these:
ENGR:2110Statics2
ENGR:2120Electrical Circuits3
ENGR:2130Thermodynamics3
ENGR:2710Dynamics3
ENGR:2720Materials Science3
ENGR:2750Mechanics of Deformable Bodies3

Departmental Seminars

Students typically complete ISE:3000 Professional Seminar: Industrial Engineering in the spring semester in each of the third and fourth years, for a total of three departmental seminars.

Both of these:
ISE:2000Industrial Engineering Sophomore Seminar0
ISE:3000Professional Seminar: Industrial Engineering (taken twice for 0 s.h. each)0

Capstone Design Course

This course:
ISE:4600Industrial Engineering Design Project4

Focus Area

Students must select focus area courses according to guidelines established by the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Focus areas include big data analytics, computer and information systems, design and manufacturing, entrepreneurship, human factors and ergonomics, management, and an option to tailor a focus area to an individual student's interests. For more information about focus area options and guidelines for tailored focus areas, see EFAs and Specialized Opportunities on the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering website.

Focus areas in the industrial engineering major include content area courses and electives, including a systems elective course; carefully selected elective courses may contribute to earning a minor and/or certificate.

Big Data Analytics

Students in the big data analytics focus area complete four required courses (12 s.h.), two focus area electives (6-7 s.h.), one math or science elective (3-4 s.h.), and one systems elective (3 s.h.).

Required Big Data Analytics Courses

One of these:
BAIS:3500Data Mining3
ECE:5450/IGPI:5450Machine Learning3
All of these:
ENGR:2730Computers in Engineering3
STAT:4540/BAIS:4540/IGPI:4540Statistical Learning3
STAT:4580/IGPI:4580Data Visualization and Data Technologies3

Big Data Analytics Electives

Two of these:
ISE:4172Big Data Analytics3
ISE:6380Deep Learning3
CS:2210Discrete Structures3
CS:2230Computer Science II: Data Structures4
CS:5110/IGPI:5110Introduction to Informatics3
ECE:3330/IGPI:3330Introduction to Software Design3
STAT:4740/CS:4740/IGPI:4740/MATH:4740Large Data Analysis3

Math or Science Elective

One of these:
BIOL:1411Foundations of Biology4
CHEM:1120Principles of Chemistry II4
MATH:3550Engineering Mathematics V: Vector Calculus3
MATH:3800/CS:3700Introduction to Numerical Methods3
PHYS:2704Physics IV3-4
STAT:3210Experimental Design and Analysis3

Systems Elective

One of these:
ISE:4172Big Data Analytics3
ISE:4175Safety Engineering3
ISE:4900Introduction to Six Sigma3
A course with prefix ISE numbered 5000 or above3

Computer and Information Systems

Students in the computer and information systems focus area complete five required courses (16 s.h.), two focus area electives (6-7 s.h.), and one systems elective (3 s.h.).

Required Computer and Information Systems Courses

All of these:
ECE:3330/IGPI:3330Introduction to Software Design3
CS:2210Discrete Structures3
CS:2230Computer Science II: Data Structures4
ENGR:2730Computers in Engineering3
MATH:3800/CS:3700Introduction to Numerical Methods3

Computer and Information Systems Electives

Two of these:
CS:2630Computer Organization4
CS:3330Algorithms3
CS:3820Programming Language Concepts3
CS:4400Database Systems3
CS:5800/ECE:5800Fundamentals of Software Engineering3

Systems Elective

One of these:
ISE:4172Big Data Analytics3
ISE:4175Safety Engineering3
ISE:4900Introduction to Six Sigma3
A course with prefix ISE numbered 5000 or above3

Design and Manufacturing

Students in the design and manufacturing focus area complete two required courses (6 s.h.), three focus area electives (9-12 s.h.), one math or science elective (3-4 s.h.), one advanced engineering elective (3-4 s.h.), and one systems elective (3 s.h.).

Required Design and Manufacturing Courses

Both of these:
ARTS:1020Elements of 3D Design3
TDSN:2240/CEE:2240Digital Drafting with AutoCAD3

Design and Manufacturing Electives

Three of these:
ISE:4116/ME:4116Manufacturing Processes Simulations and Automation3
ISE:4900Introduction to Six Sigma3
ISE:5310Advanced Computational Design and Manufacturing3
ISE:5620Design of Experiments3
ISE:5650Mechatronics Engineering for Smart Device Design3
BME:2500Biomaterials and Biomechanics4
BME:2710Engineering Drawing, Design, and Solid Modeling3
BME:5101Biomaterials and Implant Design3
ME:4112/CEE:4512Engineering Design Optimization3
ME:5167/CEE:5137Composite Materials3
MTLS:4910Mixed Media and Professional Practices3-4
TDSN:2250Digital Prototyping3
TDSN:3285Fabrication and Design: Hand-Built Bicycle4

Math or Science Elective

One of these:
BIOL:1411Foundations of Biology4
CHEM:1120Principles of Chemistry II4
MATH:3550Engineering Mathematics V: Vector Calculus3
MATH:3800/CS:3700Introduction to Numerical Methods3
PHYS:2704Physics IV3-4

Advanced Engineering Elective

Students select one course numbered 3000 or above from any department in the College of Engineering (prefix BME, CBE, CEE, ECE, ISE, or ME).

Systems Elective

One of these:
ISE:4172Big Data Analytics3
ISE:4175Safety Engineering3
ISE:4900Introduction to Six Sigma3
ENGR:2730Computers in Engineering3
A course with prefix ISE numbered 5000 or above3

Entrepreneurship

Students in the entrepreneurship focus area complete three required courses (9 s.h.), two technological entrepreneurship courses (6 s.h.), one advanced entrepreneurship elective (3 s.h.), one math or science elective (3-4 s.h.), and one systems elective (3 s.h.).

Required Entrepreneurship Courses

All of these:
ISE:4900Introduction to Six Sigma3
ENTR:2000Entrepreneurship and Innovation3
ENTR:3100Entrepreneurial Finance3

Technological Entrepreneurship Certificate Courses

Students select two courses that count toward the Certificate in Technological Entrepreneurship for a total of 6 s.h.

Advanced Entrepreneurship Elective

One of these:
A course numbered 3000 or above with prefix BME, CBE, CEE, ECE, ISE, or ME3
A course numbered 3000 or above with prefix ACCT, BAIS, BUS, ECON, ENTR, FIN, MGMT, or MKTG3

Math or Science Elective

One of these:
BIOL:1411Foundations of Biology4
CHEM:1120Principles of Chemistry II4
MATH:3550Engineering Mathematics V: Vector Calculus3
MATH:3800/CS:3700Introduction to Numerical Methods3
PHYS:2704Physics IV3-4
STAT:3210Experimental Design and Analysis3

Systems Elective

One of these:
ISE:4172Big Data Analytics3
ISE:4175Safety Engineering3
ENGR:2730Computers in Engineering3
A course with prefix ISE numbered 5000 or above3

Human Factors and Ergonomics

Students in the human factors and ergonomics focus area complete three required courses (10 s.h.), one math or science elective (3 s.h.), one engineering elective (3-4 s.h.), two general electives (6-7 s.h.), and one systems elective (3 s.h.).

Required Human Factors and Ergonomics Courses

All of these:
PSY:2601Introduction to Cognitive Psychology3
PSY:2701Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience4
PSY:2811Research Methods and Data Analysis in Psychology I3

Math or Science Elective

One of these:
STAT:3200Applied Linear Regression3
STAT:3210Experimental Design and Analysis3
STAT:4143/PSQF:4143Introduction to Statistical Methods3

Engineering Elective

One of these:
ISE:4175Safety Engineering3
ISE:5420Automated Vehicle Systems3
ISE:5460User Experience Design3
ISE:6220Cognitive Engineering3
ISE:6410Research Methods in Human Factors Engineering3
ISE:6450Human Factors in Aviation3
ISE:6460The Design of Virtual Environments3
BME:2500Biomaterials and Biomechanics4
BME:5640Ergonomics of Occupational Injuries3

General Electives

Two of these:
PSY:3040Psychology of Learning3
PSY:3620Human Memory3
PSY:4020Laboratory in Psychology4
OEH:4310Occupational Ergonomics: Principles3

Systems Elective

One of these:
ISE:4172Big Data Analytics3
ISE:4175Safety Engineering3
ISE:4900Introduction to Six Sigma3
ENGR:2730Computers in Engineering3
A course with prefix ISE numbered 5000 or above3

Management

Students in the management focus area complete five required courses (15 s.h.), one math or science elective (3-4 s.h.), one advanced engineering elective (3 s.h.), and one systems elective (3 s.h.).

Required Management Courses

All of these:
ACCT:2100Introduction to Financial Accounting3
ACCT:2200Managerial Accounting3
MGMT:2000Introduction to Law3
MGMT:2100Introduction to Management3
MKTG:3000Introduction to Marketing Strategy3

Math or Science Elective

One of these:
BIOL:1411Foundations of Biology4
CHEM:1120Principles of Chemistry II4
MATH:3550Engineering Mathematics V: Vector Calculus3
MATH:3800/CS:3700Introduction to Numerical Methods3
PHYS:2704Physics IV3-4
STAT:3210Experimental Design and Analysis3

Advanced Engineering Elective

Students select one course numbered 3000 or above from any department in the College of Engineering (prefix BME, CBE, CEE, ECE, ISE, or ME).

Systems Elective

One of these:
ISE:4172Big Data Analytics3
ISE:4175Safety Engineering3
ISE:4900Introduction to Six Sigma3
ENGR:2730Computers in Engineering3
A course with prefix ISE numbered 5000 or above3

Tailored

Students work with their advisor to tailor a program that is specific to their individual needs.

B.S.E./M.S. in Industrial Engineering

The College of Engineering offers a combined Bachelor of Science in Engineering/Master of Science program for industrial engineering undergraduate students who intend to earn a M.S. in industrial engineering.

Undergraduate students at the University of Iowa who have completed more than 80 s.h. and have a g.p.a. higher than 3.25 may apply for admission to the Undergraduate to Graduate (U2G) program designed to accelerate the attainment of an M.S. in industrial engineering degree. Students typically complete their M.S. degree within one year of their B.S.E. degree.

Students meet with their academic advisor, complete a plan, and submit an application for the M.S. program of study to the Graduate College. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores are not required for University of Iowa students. Students continue to follow the industrial and systems engineering curriculum as planned with their advisor.

Students may take up to 15 s.h. of graduate coursework and count 12 s.h. toward both degrees, attend the program's graduate seminar, and optionally work with a faculty member on a master's thesis project while they are still undergraduates.

Interested students should discuss the Undergraduate to Graduate (U2G) program with their advisor during their third year of study. Applications should be submitted to the department before the start of their fourth year.

Industrial and systems engineers have many opportunities for employment and service in industrial, government, research, and public service organizations. Employment opportunities are among the most varied in the engineering field. Industrial and systems engineers hold positions as advisors to management or may participate directly in management decisions. Representative job titles include industrial engineer, manufacturing engineer, systems analyst, quality specialist, operations research analyst, internal consultant, human factors specialist, supervisor, and manager. Industrial and systems engineers are employed by manufacturing and energy firms, wind turbine manufacturers, government agencies, and service organizations such as airlines, banks, hospitals, health care groups, and consulting companies.

People are often surprised to learn the impact and breadth of the industrial engineering profession, which is one of the three largest areas of engineering employment, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Yet, less than five percent of all engineers are trained specifically for this specialty, according to the American Society of Engineering Educators. It is one of the more gender diverse engineering degrees: 31.3 percent of industrial engineering degrees are awarded to women, compared to 21.7 percent of all engineering degrees.

Engineering Career Services develops and promotes experiential education and professional opportunities for students in the College of Engineering. Professional staff coordinate the college's co-op and internship program, engage in employer outreach, and provide opportunities for students to network with employers, including engineering career fairs and other programming related to career development.

Engineering Career Services offers individual advising and class presentations on résumé and cover letter preparation, job and internship search strategies, interviewing skills, job offer evaluation, and much more. Engineering Career Services partners with the Pomerantz Career Center to facilitate on-campus interviewing, postgraduation outcome collection, and the University's online recruiting system, Handshake.