Program Overview

Introduction to the Industrial and Management Engineering Program

The Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) Department at Rensselaer began in 1987 with the name Decision Sciences and Engineering Systems. The name was changed in 2009, but the goal of developing and deploying mathematical, statistical, and computational models to better understand and support engineering, managerial, operational, and physical processes continues. The integration of disciplinary perspectives yields a well-rounded professional with graduates placed in leading positions in their field.

The Master's in Industrial and Management Engineering

ISE offers the Master of Science and Master of Engineering degrees in Industrial and Management Engineering. Both degrees require a minimum of 30 credit hours. The Master of Science degree requires a thesis, while the Master of Engineering degree is a non-thesis option. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is optional for both master's programs. Both masters are not restricted to applicants with an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering.

Preparation for the Program

Applicants with strong quantitative foundation bachelor degrees are considered favorably for admission. This foundation includes a sequence of calculus-based mathematics courses. Applicants are better prepared for graduate study if courses in the bachelors include courses in probability, statistics, linear algebra, and mathematical optimization. Applicants who have also completed courses in operations management find that topics in graduate courses are grasped quicker.

Program Duration and Courses

The M.E. degree in IME can be completed in one academic year spanning 10 months starting in late August with a finish by graduation in May of the following year. This requires students to complete 9 to 10 courses in two semesters. For students who wish to complete a thesis (M.S.) as part of the master's, the completion time often takes 3 or more academic semesters.

Number of Students and Financial Aid

The master's degree has approximately 10 graduates every year for the one-year program of 30 credit hours typically completed through courses and projects. About 80 percent of the master's students are Rensselaer undergraduates who stay an extra year and earn a master's. The IME master's degree does not have university-based student financial aid in the form of teaching or research assistantships. Students are responsible for the full cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses.

Admission Deadlines and Requirements

Rensselaer has a rolling admissions process, so admission decisions are made often once a complete application is received. The desired minimum grade point average (GPA) using a 4-point scale is 3.5, but an applicant with outstanding credentials in other areas of academic performance with GPAs above 3.2 is considered for admission. The GPA is confirmed through review of transcript(s) (English translation transcripts required from non-US colleges).

Course Requirements

The master's degree is focused on the needs and interests of the student with the requirement that a sequence of courses form an application focus. The courses selected with the advice of an academic advisor are formalized on a Plan of Study which acts like a contract for the master's degree. To complete the Master's degree requirements, students must include a minimum of 24 credits from the list of approved Industrial and Management Engineering courses for the master's program.

• The following courses are required prerequisites:
  • ISYE 4140 - Statistical Analysis
  • ISYE 6610 - Systems Modeling in Decision Sciences
• The following courses may be included among the restricted electives:
  • ISYE 4200 - Design and Analysis of Work Systems
  • ISYE 4230 - Quality Control
  • ISYE 4240 - Engineering Project Management
  • ISYE 4250 - Facilities Design and Industrial Logistics
  • ISYE 4260 - Human Performance Modeling and Support
  • ISYE 4300 - Complex Systems Models for Industrial and Systems Engineering
  • ISYE 4310 - Ethics of Modeling for Industrial and System Engineering
  • ISYE 4760 - Mathematical Statistics
  • ISYE 4810 - Computational Intelligence
  • ISYE 6010 - Applied Regression Analysis
  • ISYE 6020 - Design of Experiments
  • ISYE 6180 - Knowledge Discovery with Data Mining
  • ISYE 6210 - Theory of Production Scheduling
  • ISYE 6600 - Design of Manufacturing System Supply Chains
  • ISYE 6620 – Discrete Event Simulation
  • ISYE 6760 - Integer and Combinatorial Optimization
  • ISYE 6770 - Linear and Conic Optimization
  • ISYE 6870 - Introduction to Neural Networks
  • ISYE 6960 - Topics in ISYE

Prerequisite Course Details

The two courses listed as prerequisites are desired in the undergraduate preparation of master's applicants. These courses include the following topics:

• ISYE 4140 - Statistical Analysis: A course covering topics of probability, statistics, and data analysis requiring application of these methods to data using computer-based analysis packages.
• ISYE 6610 - Systems Modeling in Decision Sciences: A course in operations research methods covering queueing models, linear programming, mixed integer linear programming, simplex algorithm, Markov models, and formal decision analysis in probabilistic settings.

Cost and Financial Considerations

The cost of the program includes tuition charges and fees. Aid in the form of teaching or research assistantships is reserved for Industrial and Systems Engineering doctoral students only, so no such aid is available to master's degree students. Work opportunities for master's students are very limited on campus and should not be assumed when planning attendance.