Online Industrial Engineering Degrees

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 short list 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.

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 a number of 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 and 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.

1Oregon State University

At Oregon State University of Corvallis, professionals with a background in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics may pursue a distance-based master’s degree in industrial engineering with a focus in engineering management. This 100 percent online 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. It costs $528 per credit.

Dr. Javier Calvo-Amodio

Dr. Calvo-Amodio is an assistant professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering at Oregon State University, where he has worked since 2012. Previously a graduate instructor at Texas Tech University, Dr. Calvo-Amodio also served at the Tecnológico de Monterrey in Morelia, Mexico as an institutional effectiveness director. His research interests include reliable systems engineering and the applications to healthcare, sustainability, virtual teams, STEM education, and other areas.

Dr. Toni L. Doolen

Dr. Doolen is a professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering at Oregon State University, where she also serves as the dean of the University Honors College. Her research focuses on applying process improvement methodologies and innovation to optimize both the social and technical aspects of organizational performance. She’s the recipient of numerous prestigious awards and has held national leadership roles in several societies affiliated with the Institute of Industrial Engineers.

3North Carolina State University

At North Carolina State University of Raleigh, students may pursue a master’s degree in industrial engineering. 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 operations; and computer science, math, and statistics. Tuition costs $482.56 per credit-hour for residents, and $1,198.56 for non-residents.

DR. SHU-CHERNG FANG

Dr. Fang is the University Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor and Walter Clark Chair within the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina State University. His main research areas include linear and nonlinear programming, fuzzy optimization and decision making, soft computing and heuristic methods, logistics and supply chain management, telecommunication networks, and L1 splines. Professor Fang has published over two hundred refereed journal articles, authored three books, and serves on the editorial boards of several scientific journals. He is a fellow of both the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineering, as well as the Chinese Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

DR. DAVID KABER

Dr. Kaber is a Distinguished Professor in the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina State University, as well as the Director of Research for The Ergonomics Center of North Carolina. His main research areas include adaptive automation design, human-robot interaction in healthcare, virtual reality simulation for motor skill training, measuring and modeling driver distraction and situation awareness, and ergonomics-related risk factor identification and measurement in physical work tasks. He is a fellow of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineering and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

5Columbia University

Columbia University allows students to pursue either an online master of science (M.S.) degree in industrial engineering, or a certificate in the same field. Classes in the distance-based M.S. program include applied systems engineering; optimization models and methods; and stochastic methods, as well as electives in infrastructure and sustainability; mechanical, electrical, and computer systems; biological systems; and management. Tuition costs $1,858 per credit-hour (2016-17).

Dr. Daniel Bienstock

Dr. Bienstock is a professor within Columbia’s Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, where he has been working since 1989. His research focuses on high-performance computing and optimization. He was the 2013 recipient of the INFORM Fellows Award, and received both the Presidential Young Investigator Award and the IBM Faculty Award.

Dr. Guillermo Gallego

Dr. Gallego is the Liu Family Professor in Columbia University’s Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research. His research focuses on supply chain management, revenue management, and dynamic pricing. He was named an INFORMS Fellow in 2012, and received the INFORMS Revenue Management Section Prize in 2005; the Revenue Management Historical Prize in 2011; and the Revenue Management Practice Prize in 2012.