The MS in industrial engineering program supports two major paths: one focusing on courses and one on research and a thesis. The first path is intended primarily for students who wish to advance their technical knowledge and move toward a career in industry. The second path is also a good choice for students interested in industry, but it is targeted more toward developing independent research skills and writing, and it also can support future graduate work.
Both paths expect some diversity of technical skills in three major areas: systems, human factors, and analytics. The systems area emphasizes the design, construction, and analysis of complex systems with interdependent parts that include people and machines. The human factors area emphasizes the interaction of people with systems and includes the study and analysis of people's cognitive and physical limitations. The analytics area emphasizes the application of mathematical formulas, including statistical approaches, as well as algorithmic and computational approaches to deriving knowledge from data. Each area is supported by several faculty members and many faculty members support multiple areas; see Facilities in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering section of the catalog to learn more about each research lab and its activities.
Learning Outcomes
Without Thesis
Students will:
- demonstrate a broad knowledge of the field of industrial and systems engineering and deep knowledge in their specific area of study;
- identify and analyze problems of value to industry and society;
- apply contemporary methodologies for solving problems valued by industry and society;
- demonstrate project and team management skills and initiative; and
- demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
With Thesis
Students will:
- demonstrate a broad knowledge of the field of industrial and systems engineering and deep knowledge in their specific area of study;
- identify and analyze problems of value to industry and society;
- transform knowledge into applications valued by industry and society;
- demonstrate collaborative and communication skills;
- demonstrate project and team management skills; and
- demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
The Master of Science in industrial engineering requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must maintain a minimum Graduate College program grade-point average of 3.25 to earn the degree.
Required Coursework
All students complete a minimum of 21 s.h. in industrial and systems engineering (prefix ISE) courses numbered 3000 or above, excluding ISE:5000.
A minimum of 12 s.h. of this coursework must be numbered 5001 or above and taken on an A–F graded basis. Students completing a thesis may count a maximum of 3 s.h. of ISE:5999 Research: Industrial Engineering MS Thesis toward this 12 s.h. requirement.
Breadth Requirement Areas
As a part of the required ISE coursework, students complete at least one approved course in each of three breadth requirement areas: analytics, human factors, and systems. Students with a relevant academic background in one or more of these areas may be permitted to substitute a different course by permission of the director of graduate studies.
Analytics
Human Factors
Systems
Electives
Elective coursework must bring the total credit for the degree to 30 s.h. Students may select from industrial systems engineering (prefix ISE) courses numbered 3000 or above, excluding ISE:5000.
Students completing a thesis may count a total maximum of 9 s.h. of ISE:5999 Research: Industrial Engineering MS Thesis toward the degree. Students completing the MS without thesis may not count ISE:5999 toward degree requirements unless they are PhD students earning the MS en passant; see the section titled "En Passant Option" on the PhD in industrial engineering in this section of the catalog for more information.
Students may also select electives from courses numbered 3000 or above in the following engineering and engineering-related areas: biomedical engineering (prefix BME); chemical and biochemical engineering (prefix CBE); civil and environmental engineering (prefix CEE); core engineering courses (prefix ENGR), excluding ENGR:7270; electrical and computer engineering (prefix ECE); mechanical engineering (prefix ME); and statistics (prefix STAT).
Additional Requirements
Students must enroll in ENGR:7270 Engineering Ethics (1 s.h.), typically in the first fall semester of enrollment. ISE:5000 Graduate Seminar: Industrial Engineering (1 s.h.) must be taken in the first two consecutive semesters of enrollment and one semester (fall or spring) in each subsequent academic year. More information about graduate seminar requirements can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook on the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Graduate Program website. Credit in ISE:5000 and ENGR:7270 does not apply toward the 30 s.h. of required coursework.
Nonthesis students may petition for entry into the MS thesis program or the PhD program by requesting a change of status through the department. Typically, students make this request at the invitation of a faculty member who is ready to serve as a student's research advisor. The request is then reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee. The committee forwards approved requests to the department chair, who may authorize a change of status petition from the department to the Graduate College.
Students are encouraged to write their thesis as a publishable journal article and submit the article for publication.
Graduate education prepares students with advanced knowledge and skills in specialized fields. At the University of Iowa, the Graduate College advocates for student-centered graduate education and supports equitable application of rules and policies across graduate programs.
Academics
University of Iowa graduate credentials are regulated by policies and requirements found in the Graduate College Manual of Rules and Regulations. This includes minimum grade-point average (GPA) requirements for academic standing and degree conferral. The Graduate College sets the minimum requirement. Individual graduate programs may establish higher GPA requirements.
Admissions
Graduate student applicants must meet admission requirements for both the Graduate College and the program to which they have applied. University of Iowa graduate admission requirements are published by the Graduate College and on the Graduate Admissions website.
Financial Support
Graduate students might be eligible for financial support. Several contingencies apply, including degree program and award type, satisfactory progress toward degree, satisfactory completion of all duties related to an appointment, and availability of funding. Graduate students should inquire directly with their program for more information about funding availability. The Graduate Student Employment Standards govern the employment relationship between the University of Iowa and all graduate teaching and research assistants in all matters except wages, which are covered by an existing collective bargaining agreement or the conditions of an applicable federal grant.
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; for detailed information about Graduate College policies, see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.
Admission to the graduate program is competitive and based on an applicant’s previous coursework, research, and industrial experience. The general admission standards are intended to maintain the quality of the graduate program and to ensure the sufficient preparation required for timely degree completion. Specific admission standards may be waived by the Graduate Admissions Committee when other evidence of competence is compelling. These standards are minimum standards, and meeting these standards does not ensure admission to the program; admitted students typically exceed these standards.
Applicants are expected to have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale and have earned a BSE in industrial engineering degree or in a related science or engineering discipline. Applicants are not required to submit the results of their Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test.
Applicants must arrange to have three letters of recommendation sent to the department online through the University of Iowa Admissions website. The letters should be completed by persons who are well acquainted with the applicant and the ability of the applicant to undertake graduate work in industrial or systems engineering.
While the department considers applications at any time, first consideration is given to students who have their application materials, including their application, transcripts, English language test scores (DET, IELTS, or TOEFL), and the required letters of recommendation, completed by the admission priority deadline as found on the Graduate Admissions website. The director of graduate admissions is responsible for overseeing the graduate recruiting activities and the admissions procedures in the department. The director serves as the point of initial contact between prospective graduate students and the department and maintains a record of each qualified applicant in the departmental office. The director, in consultation with the Graduate Admissions Committee and the department chair, screens applicants and ultimately determines which applicants are extended offers of admission.
Applicants With Degrees Not in Industrial or Systems Engineering
The department encourages students with degrees in other scientific disciplines, such as computer science, mathematics, physics, or other engineering disciplines, to apply for admission. Some students may have already completed MS degrees; however, these students are expected to attain proficiency in specified core areas of industrial and systems engineering equivalent to entering graduate students who hold a BSE degree in industrial engineering. The background of each student admitted to the program with a degree other than in industrial or systems engineering is reviewed by the faculty members. These proficiencies are intended to ensure that each admitted graduate student is able to fully participate in all industrial and systems engineering discipline areas at some level, even while advanced courses in certain areas may not be immediately accessible to all graduate students. The director of graduate studies specifies in writing any remedial courses required of a student.
Degree Program Selection
Unless otherwise specified, graduate students in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering are enrolled in the MS nonthesis program. If a student and faculty member have jointly agreed a student may pursue the MS with thesis option, the student may be admitted into the thesis track.
Industrial and systems engineers have many opportunities for employment and service in industrial, government, research, and public service organizations such as airlines, banks, hospitals, health care groups, and consulting companies. 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.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Industrial Engineering, MS
Plan of Study Grid (Manual)
| Academic Career |
|---|
| Any Semester |
|---|
| a, b |
|
| c |
|
| | Hours | 0 |
| First Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| ENGR:7270 |
Engineering Ethics d |
1 |
| ISE:5000 |
Graduate Seminar: Industrial Engineering e |
1 |
| f |
3 |
| f |
3 |
| g |
3 |
| g |
3 |
| | Hours | 14 |
| Spring |
|---|
| ISE:5000 |
Graduate Seminar: Industrial Engineering e |
1 |
| f |
3 |
| g |
3 |
| g |
3 |
| g |
3 |
| | Hours | 13 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| ISE:5000 |
Graduate Seminar: Industrial Engineering e |
1 |
| g |
3 |
| g |
3 |
| | Hours | 7 |
| | Total Hours | 34 |
