The Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering offers an M.S. degree with a major in industrial and systems engineering. Students may choose to pursue the degree culminating in a thesis (to develop research abilities in industrial and systems engineering), or in a project (to prepare for advanced practice in industrial and systems engineering). Industrial and systems engineers are employed in a broad variety of organizations, including manufacturing industries, utilities, transportation, health care systems, financial institutions, and all levels of government agencies. Students with a baccalaureate degree in engineering or science or other disciplines are encouraged to consider graduate study in industrial and systems engineering.At the discretion of the department, a maximum of 9 semester hours of graduate-level credit from other accredited institutions may be accepted for graduate credit towards the requirements of the degree.Educational ObjectivesThe department’s graduate program is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and tools to become proficient in the application of advanced industrial and systems engineering concepts and techniques to design, analyze and improve manufacturing, as well as service systems; become capable of conducting in-depth, independent research/projects and reporting the results of that research in both written reports and formal presentations; and to recognize the need for engaging in life-long learning.Program OutcomesThe department’s graduate program is designed to provide graduates with the ability to use math and scientific tools to design, describe, predict, improve, and optimize the performance of human-technology systems; the ability to independently research and learn new topics; and the ability to effectively communicate ideas/concepts and research findings through technical reports and professional presentations.