Contact: Graduate Program Director
MASTER OF SCIENCE
For the Master of Science Degree in industrial engineering, there are four areas of concentration; systems optimization, manufacturing engineering design, enterprise and production control, and quality engineering. Core courses are offered in the areas of engineering optimization, quality control, production planning, and manufacturing design. The core courses are offered annually; other courses are generally offered once every two years.
ADMISSION
In addition to meeting the Graduate School requirements for admission, applicants must have an undergraduate grade-point average of at least 2.75 (A = 4.0) in engineering, mathematics, and physical science courses. Applicants should have a baccalaureate degree in an engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited program. Applicants who completed a non-ABET accredited program or whose undergraduate studies were in a country other than the United States must have a baccalaureate degree in an engineering discipline which is comparable to the United States' bachelor's degree equivalent, and must take the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) (verbal, quantitative, and analytical portions) to support their application. Applicants from selected areas of mathematical and physical science will be considered for admission on an individual basis. In cases where the applicant has not completed the pre-requisites for core or elective courses, the applicant may be required to complete those courses as "not for graduate credit".
In exceptional cases, the graduate admissions committee may consider applicants who meet all of the Graduate School admission standards but who do not meet certain specified program admission requirements. The committee may consider other evidence that indicates high promise of the applicant's success in the program. Such supportive evidence may include high scores on the GRE, professional registration, extensive professional experience, professional publications, or satisfactory graduate level work.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
The program offers both thesis and non-thesis options. The thesis option requires 30 credit hours while the non-thesis option requires 33 credit hours. Of the 30 credit hours required, at least 15 credit hours must be at the IME 500 level. At least 21 credit hours must be in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering courses, and up to six hours may be thesis credit.
The specific program of study is selected by the student in consultation with, and approved by the student's adviser. All students are required to complete the program's core courses: IME 465 - Design and Control of Quality Systems, IME 482-Manufacturing Engineering Design, IME 483 - Production Planning and Control, and IME 515 - Engineering Optimization Models. Students having completed these or similar courses as part of a baccalaureate degree may choose other courses in the same core area with the approval of their adviser.
Students will be guided in thesis work by a thesis adviser with the assistance and concurrence of an advisory committee. The thesis topic will be selected from an area in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and approved by the student's adviser. Writing a thesis involves an intensive research effort and students are encouraged to initiate their thesis work early in the program, even before registering for any thesis credit. Upon the completion of the student's research, a thesis defense will be conducted. In the non-thesis option, students must pass a program-comprehensive examination during the final semester of study.
EXIT REQUIREMENTS
After all other program requirements are satisfied, a final examination on the course work and related material on the thesis (where applicable) will be given. This examination is conducted by the advisory committee. In the thesis option, the final examination is an oral examination directed primarily at the material in the thesis. In the non-thesis option, the final examination will be administered in the form of a two hour program-comprehensive examination.