Major code BS7255

Russ College of Engineering and Technology  
Industrial and Systems Engineering  
270 Stocker Center
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.1539
Fax: 740.593.0778
http://www.ohio.edu/industrial/

Dale Masel, contact person
masel@ohio.edu

Program Overview

Industrial and systems engineers obtain a broad technical background with special attention to productivity, costs, quality, and the human factor in production and other systems. The systems to which industrial engineering techniques can be applied are quite diverse. Typically, industrial engineers have worked in manufacturing systems, but the methods have found applications in many other systems, including distribution centers, information systems, hospitals, transportation networks, and financial systems.

To prepare our graduates for their job responsibilities, the primary objective of the Industrial and Systems Engineering program is to produce engineers who are able to apply ISE tools and knowledge to support, improve, manage, develop, design, or implement a project, process, or system that has a positive impact on relevant key-performance indicators, such as financial results, productivity, quality or safety. We want our graduates to actively seek to be leaders among their peers by demonstrating a professional attitude; a commitment to integrity and ethical behavior; effective communication across stakeholders; and engagement in life-long learning.

For assessment of student capability, the ISE program uses a set of student outcomes that have been defined by ABET, the organization which accredits the BSISE degree:

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Courses in the first year of the program are similar to the curricula of the other engineering disciplines and include math, chemistry, and general education courses. Second year courses include additional math courses, physics, and several fundamental industrial and systems engineering topics. The third year includes advanced industrial and systems engineering topics.

An emphasis in the program is the development of good system design skills. In the senior year, all students complete a real-world project focusing on applied system design. Students work on a project related to the design or improvement of an actual system, such as a production system, an inventory control system, a distribution system, or a quality control system. The projects are provided by local companies who serve as project clients.

The senior year also contains courses in a professional concentration area (PCA). The goal of the PCA options is to provide students with a more specialized career preparation. The current options are Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Health Care, Information Systems, Human Factors, Facility Planning and Development, and Sustainability. For students who are unsure about their career path, there is also a general Industrial Engineering PCA. Additional concentration options can be developed to meet the interests of students who wish to pursue a career in a field not covered by one of the current PCAs.

All ISE students are strongly encouraged to participate in an internship during their sophomore and/or junior years in order to gain valuable career experience. Working in a real-world job for one or more semesters can enhance classroom instruction and also financially support college education. Students plan their internship in coordination with their academic advisor and the Russ College’s Office of Professional Experiences.

Admission Information

Freshman/First Year Admission

ACT and grade requirements are the same as the general University guidelines. Students should take four years of mathematics and a year of chemistry and physics if possible.

Change of Program Policy (Internal Transfer)

Students who wish to transfer into an engineering or computer science program must have earned a C or better in a math course and a science course. The math course must be equivalent to MATH 1200 (College Algebra) or higher. The science course must be required for the program or preparatory for a required course such as CHEM 1210, 1500, 1510, or PHYS 2051. Students must have a GPA greater than 2.0 (i) for all courses at Ohio University, (ii) for all courses in the Russ College, and (iii) for all courses in Industrial and Systems Engineering. Students must have succeeded in all required courses taken previously in three or fewer attempts. For some courses, success means a grade of at least a C or C-.

External Transfer Admission

In addition to the general university admission requirements, a transfer student must have earned a

• C (2.0) or better in a college mathematics course equivalent to MATH 1200 (College Algebra) or higher

and

• C (2.0) or better in college chemistry course equivalent to CHEM 1210 or higher or a college physics course equivalent to PHYS 2001 or higher

Opportunities Upon Graduation

Graduates of the industrial and systems engineering program find employment in a wide variety of industries. Fields include manufacturing, distribution, health care, transportation, and more. Due to their systems training and experience, many industrial and systems engineers move into management positions after a few years on the job.

Salaries are competitive, and, because of the increasing need for organizations to improve productivity to keep pace with competition, the need for industrial and systems engineers in manufacturing and other fields is projected to remain strong.

For more information, see the Department’s website: http://www.ohio.edu/industrial/.

If you wish to increase the breadth or depth of your knowledge, the Department offers courses leading to the M.S.I.S.E. and the Master of Engineering Management and also participates in the College’s Mechanical and Systems Ph.D. degree program. The engineering management degree is only offered in an online format. Graduates frequently pursue degrees beyond the bachelor’s degree (typically, M.S., M.E. or M.B.A.). Some students enter graduate school immediately after finishing their B.S. degree, and others begin classes after working for a few years.

Requirements