Online Industrial Engineering Degrees

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Industrial engineers are central to creating the most effective operations of factories and businesses. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that these scientific-minded professionals “find ways to eliminate wastefulness in production processes” by designing “efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.”

They take on varied responsibilities, including optimizing management and financial planning; organizing production schedules, deliveries, and process flows; designing and implementing quality control solutions; and coordinating the actions of clients, vendors, and other staff. Their services can benefit all sectors of the economy from manufacturing to healthcare, and through their meticulous modeling, they irrevocably improve the world’s production and services.

Prior to seeking work, these invaluable professionals generally need at least a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or a related field, although others pursue a master’s degree to enhance their salary prospects and leadership opportunities. For their services, these engineers receive relatively generous wages. According to the BLS (May 2016), the 256,550 industrial engineers nationwide earned an average annual salary of $88,530—nearly double the average wage of all American workers ($49,630)—and enjoyed the following wage percentiles:

United States (256,550 industrial engineers)

10th percentile: $54,070
25th percentile: $67,330
50th percentile (median): $84,310
75th percentile: $105,230
90th percentile: $129,390

Additionally, there’s an abundance of societies and professional associations around the country to assist these workers in their important work. These groups include the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE); INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences); the International Federation of Operational Research Societies (IFORS); the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE); the Manufacturing and Service Operations Management Society; and the Production and Operation Management Society, among others.

This guide explores the wealth of online industrial engineering programs in the U.S., including discussions of expected coursework, costs, and some exceptional professors.

Influential Industrial Engineering Professors Who Teach Online

While distance-based programs in engineering are relatively new, there’s an abundance of world-class educators and researchers who lead online coursework. Here are five standout educators from universities with excellent online industrial engineering programs.

Dr. George Runger

Dr. Runger is a professor of industrial engineering in the School of Computing, Informatics & Decision Systems Engineering at Arizona State University, where he also serves as the interim chair of the department. He has received a number of honors and awards, including the 2007 Best Application Paper Award from IIE Transactions, and an IBM Outstanding Achievement Award. His research interests include statistical learning and data mining for massive, multivariate sets. Additionally, he’s the department editor for the Journal of Quality Technology and associate editor of the Journal of Mathematical and Management Sciences.

Dr. Brian Craig

Dr. Craig is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Texas, a certified professional ergonomist, and a professor at Lamar University, where he also serves as the industrial engineering department chair and director of the maritime safety research initiative. His research interests include safety culture and leading safety indicators, habitability, and ergonomics in design/redesign. He’s the recipient of many honors, including Lamar's University Scholar Award.

Dr. Abhijit Deshmukh

Dr. Deshmukh is the James J. Solberg head and professor of industrial engineering at Purdue University. His areas of interest include manufacturing and operations research, mechanism design, cyberinfrastructure for engineering applications, system complexity, and healthcare policy.

Dr. Mark De Lessio

Dr. De Lessio is an assistant professor of industrial engineering at New York University, where he also serves as the program director. He has extensive experience in the field, including serving as a member of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology and at the National University of Singapore. Additionally, he worked at NYNEX (now Verizon), Tomen, and several startups dealing with voice-over IP (VOIP). He holds an MBA from NYU and and a PhD from the University of Cambridge.

Dr. Gary Mirka

Dr. Mirka is the John Ryder professor of engineering in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering at Iowa State University, as well as the associate dean of undergraduate and graduate education in the College of Engineering. He was the recipient of the 1993 Volvo Award for Low Back Pain Research for his groundbreaking work in spine biomechanics. He teaches applied ergonomics and work design and occupational biomechanics, among other courses.

List of Online Industrial Engineering Degree Programs

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School	City	State	Grads (2013)
Bemidji State University	Bemidji	MN	7
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus	Bowling Green	OH	13
California State University-Northridge	Northridge	CA	88
Clarkson University	Potsdam	NY	77
Drexel University	Philadelphia	PA	85
Eastern Michigan University	Ypsilanti	MI	71
Gannon University	Erie	PA	11
Grantham University	Kansas City	MO	49
Illinois Institute of Technology	Chicago	IL	41
Indiana Institute of Technology	Fort Wayne	IN	5
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis	Indianapolis	IN	33
Kansas State University	Manhattan	KS	48
Lawrence Technological University	Southfield	MI	17
Louisiana Tech University	Ruston	LA	26
Missouri State University-Springfield	Springfield	MO	63
Missouri University of Science and Technology	Rolla	MO	399
Morehead State University	Morehead	KY	14
National University	La Jolla	CA	37
New Jersey Institute of Technology	Newark	NJ	80
Oakland University	Rochester Hills	MI	9
Pittsburg State University	Pittsburg	KS	3
Polytechnic Institute of New York University	Brooklyn	NY	131
Purdue University-Calumet Campus	Hammond	IN	67
Purdue University-Main Campus	West Lafayette	IN	111
Robert Morris University	Moon Township	PA	32
Rowan University	Glassboro	NJ	14
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology	Rapid City	SD	13
Southern Methodist University	Dallas	TX	44
Stanford University	Stanford	CA	240
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga	Chattanooga	TN	74
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	Knoxville	TN	2
The University of Texas at Austin	Austin	TX	30
The University of Texas at Tyler	Tyler	TX	17
Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses	Fort Wayne	IN	1
Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico	Hato Rey	PR	72
University of Arizona	Tucson	AZ	40
University of Arkansas	Fayetteville	AR	233
University of Houston-Clear Lake	Houston	TX	21
University of Louisville	Louisville	KY	4
University of Management and Technology	Arlington	VA	5
University of Michigan-Dearborn	Dearborn	MI	31
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Charlotte	NC	7
University of South Carolina-Columbia	Columbia	SC	Not Reported
University of South Carolina-Upstate	Spartanburg	SC	7
Washburn University	Topeka	KS	11
Washington State University	Pullman	WA	59
Western Kentucky University	Bowling Green	KY	6
Western New England University	Springfield	MA	22

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.

Program Accreditation

Prior to applying to an online industrial engineering program, aspiring students are encouraged to verify their school’s or program’s accreditation status. In general, accreditation is a proxy for quality since this voluntary process weighs factors such as student outcomes, facilities, faculty, curricular standards, finance administration, and other relevant variables.

There are many organizations which offer accreditation, but they aren’t all created equal. For online industrial engineering programs, the predominant approval entities include the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET); notably, the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers assists schools for upcoming ABET evaluations. Other entities of note include organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) such as:

Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC-NCA)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Commission on Colleges for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Distance Education Accreditation Commission (DEAC)

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.

Featured Online Industrial Engineering Schools

Here are five renowned institutions that offer online programs in industrial engineering and the standout professors at those schools.

Oregon State University

University of Arizona

North Carolina State University

University of Southern California

Columbia University

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.

2University of Arizona

Students can pursue an online master’s of science (M.S.) degree in industrial engineering at the University of Arizona of Tucson. This program offers a comprehensive exploration of areas such as traffic modeling, computer-integrated modeling (CIM), and automation. Classes include quality engineering; reliability engineering; statistics; a survey of optimization; simulation modeling and analysis; and law for engineers and scientists, among other subjects. The program costs $1,149 per credit.

Dr. Jeffrey B. Goldberg

Dr. Goldberg is a professor of systems and industrial engineering at the University of Arizona, where he also serves as the dean of the College of Engineering. His research interests include spatial queue system modeling; effective educational delivery systems; and mathematical modeling for optimal production design and operations. Notably, he’s the co-author of the textbook titled The Design and Analysis of Lean Production Systems (2002).

Dr. Young Jun Son

Dr. Son is a professor of systems and industrial engineering at the University of Arizona, where he also serves as the department head. He has taught numerous courses, including simulation modeling and analysis; computer-integrated manufacturing systems; and distributed multi-paradigm simulation systems. He has authored or co-authored over 75 journal papers and 100 conference papers. He is a fellow of IISE, and received the SME 2004 Outstanding Young ME Award; the IIE 2005 Outstanding Young IE Award; and several IISE Annual Meeting Best Paper Awards (2005, 2008, 2009, 2016). Additionally, he is a department editor for IISE Transactions.

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.

4University of Southern California

Through the University of Southern California in LA, students can pursue an several unique online master’s degrees in industrial engineering, including an M.S. in engineering management; an M.S. in industrial and systems (ISE) engineering; an M.S. in operations research manufacturing; and an M.S. in product development engineering. Courses in the 30-credit ISE program include advanced production planning and scheduling; engineering project management; and electives in systems design, production, systems performance, information systems, and quantitative methods. Both on-campus and online students pay $1,937 per unit as of fall 2017.

Dr. Randolph W. Hall

Dr. Hall is a professor within USC’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, where he also serves as the vice president for research. His scholarly interests lie in queuing analysis and delay reduction, as well as the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery. Notably, he’s the author of Queueing Methods for Services and Manufacturing and the editor of the Handbook of Transportation Science; Patient Flow: Reducing Delay in Healthcare Delivery; and the Handbook of Healthcare System Scheduling.

Dr. Maged M. Dessouky

Dr. Dessouky is a professor within the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Caltrans, FTA, and the Department of Defense. He’s the recipient of several honors and awards, including the 2007 Transportation Science & Logistics Best Paper Prize; the IIE Operations Research Division Excellence in Teaching Award; and the Alpha Pi Mu/Omega Rho Outstanding Teacher of the Year in Industrial Systems Engineering, among others.

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.