Online Industrial Engineering Master's Degree Programs

Admissions Requirements for Online Industrial Engineering Degree Programs

While admissions materials for online programs vary by university, they generally are similar to their on-campus counterparts. Here’s a shortlist of typical admissions requirements for online schools in industrial engineering:

• Online application(s) and fee (NOTE: Some master’s programs require separate applications to the graduate school and the engineering department)
• Official transcripts from highest degree achieved (e.g., high school diploma, bachelor’s degree)
• Proof of prerequisite classes (e.g., calculus, geometry, physics, biology, chemistry)
• Competitive GPA (e.g., >2.5 for bachelor’s level, >3.0 for master’s level)
• Test scores (SAT/ACT for bachelor’s degree programs; GRE for master’s programs; TOEFL for ESL students)
• Personal statement (500-600 words)
• Letters of recommendation from teachers, managers, employers, or others
• Resume or CV (typically graduate-level programs only)

Some programs have additional requirements including candidate interviews or proof of publication.

Industrial Engineering Curriculum & Specialization

In undergraduate programs in industrial engineering, typical courses include calculus, chemistry, linear algebra, materials, engineering economics, and economic analysis, design production, physics, engineering and communication, operations research, quality assurance, engineering statistics, work analysis, and facilities planning. Undergraduate students may be required to take several other, non-engineering-related electives as well to fulfill breadth requirements.

Graduate students, by contrast, take more advanced coursework in areas including systems engineering, project risk management, operations management, product development, the legal aspects of engineering management, strategic planning, lean manufacturing systems engineering, professional responsibility and ethics, simulation modeling & analysis, cost estimation, large-scale optimization, and other topics. They also may be required to write a thesis or dissertation.

Finally, students within graduate-level industrial engineering programs may also have the option to pursue a specialty such as human factors, operations research, manufacturing, financial engineering, healthcare engineering, or other areas.

1Arizona State University

Arizona State University offers an online master of science (MS) in an industrial engineering program that prepares students to understand, analyze, and then ultimately solve problems within large organizations. The faculty of the program includes renowned professionals who consistently receive awards for research and teaching excellence. The U.S. News & World Report ranks this program among the top 50 programs in the nation.

This 30 credit program includes courses such as web-enabled decision support systems, information systems engineering, simulating stochastic systems, production systems, design engineering experiments, regression analysis, reliability engineering, applied deterministic operations research, and applied stochastic operations research models.

Applicants to the program must have a bachelor's or master's degree in software engineering, computer engineering, or a related field from an accredited institution and a minimum grade point average of 3.0. They must submit a completed graduate admission application, official transcripts, a statement of purpose, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and proof of English language proficiency (for applicants with English as a second language).

Graduates of the program have career opportunities in areas such as electronic and computer product manufacturing, engineering services, aerospace product manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and motor vehicle parts manufacturing.

• Location: Tempe, AZ
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• Expected Time to Completion: 7.5 to 15 weeks per class (two years total)
• Estimated Tuition: $1,022 per credit

3Oregon State University

At Oregon State University in Corvallis, professionals who have a background in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics may pursue a distance-based master’s degree (MEng) in industrial engineering with a focus in engineering management. This master's degree program combines financial, management, and business knowledge with engineering-specific skills that are necessary to effectively lead organizations. Offered completely online, this program is taught by renowned faculty members known for their expertise, innovation, and research.

The program includes 45 credits of instruction in areas such as project management in engineering, operations management, advanced engineering economic analysis, systems engineering, the legal aspects of engineering and engineering management, and lean manufacturing systems engineering, among others.

Admission requirements include a bachelor's degree in any of the STEM fields, GRE scores (only required if bachelor's degree is not from an ABET-accredited institution), statement of your professional objectives, letters of reference, and undergraduate transcripts.

Upon graduation, students in this online program receive the same degree as the on-campus students. Graduates of the program can move into management and leadership roles. They develop management skills focused on engineering, soft skills for successfully leading teams, and the credibility for influencing executive decision-makers.

• Location: Corvallis, OR
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
• Estimated Tuition: $619 per credit

5North Carolina State University

At the North Carolina State University in Raleigh, students may pursue an online master’s degree in industrial engineering, which does not require any on-campus residency. This program is ideal for practitioner-oriented professionals seeking graduate-level knowledge in this field. This program also doesn't have any final oral examination or thesis requirements.

To be eligible for the program, students must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related discipline from an accredited university or college, a minimum grade point average of 3.0, GRE, three letters of recommendation, and TOEFL or IELTS scores (for international applicants only).

This 33-credit degree includes instruction in six broad-based areas: economic and decision analysis; human factors and ergonomics; manufacturing; production systems; systems analysis and optimization; and computer science, math, and statistics. Sample some of the courses in the curriculum: applied engineering economy, human factors in systems design, manufacturing process engineering, automated systems engineering, quality engineering, linear programming, and computer networks.

Graduates of the program are prepared for a wide variety of positions such as advanced manufacturing engineer, industrial engineer, industrial quality or plant engineer, manufacturing engineer, manufacturing process engineer, packaging designer, process industrial engineer, and many more.

• Location: Raleigh, NC
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 18 months
• Estimated Tuition: North Carolina residents ($505.28 per credit); non-residents ($1,504.56 per credit)

7Columbia University

Columbia University allows students to pursue either an online master of science (MS) degree in industrial engineering or a certificate in the same field. This online master's degree focuses on how complex engineering projects should be managed, designed, and operated.

To get accepted into the program, applicants must have a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field from an accredited academic institution, GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, transcripts, a current resume, a personal-professional statement, and TOEFL/ or IELTS scores for students whose native language is not English.

Classes in this 30-credit distance-based M.S. program include applied systems engineering, optimization models and methods, introduction to probability and statistics, systems engineering: tools and methods, stochastic methods, as well as electives in infrastructure and sustainability, mechanical, electrical, and computer systems, biological systems, and management.

• Location: New York, NY
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 18 months
• Estimated Tuition: $2,272 per credit

9University of Michigan

The University of Michigan offers an online master’s degree (MSE) in industrial and systems engineering designed for engineers and related professionals who design, install, improve, and evaluate complex integrated systems. The program offers concentrations such as human factors and ergonomics, operations research and management science, quality systems and manufacturing, information systems, and program management and product development.

The program comprises 30 credits, out of which nine credit credits are for required courses such as design and analysis of experiments, human factors and ergonomics, and production and operations engineering. Students can then complete 12 credits from their chosen concentration.

Admission requirements include a bachelor's degree in engineering, physical science, computer science, or applied mathematics, a course in probability and statistics, a course in operations research, two official transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. GRE scores are not required for admission.

Students will develop knowledge and skills to help them design, manage, and install large integrated engineering systems.

• Location: Dearborn, MI
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 18 months
• Estimated Tuition: Michigan resident ($810 per credit); non resident ($1,437 per credit); Non-resident in online program ($1,012 per credit)

Influential Industrial Engineering Professors