This is a named option course-based program within the Industrial and Systems Engineering M.S.

The program in Systems Engineering and Analytics will train students to recognize, identify, analyze, and solve decision problems arising in the efficient operations of engineering systems. The program focuses on methods and models for data analytics and data-driven decision-making.

Is This Program Right for You?

Analytics, and the ability to effectively utilize data, is quickly becoming an important component in engineering decision making. There is a strong need in the marketplace for people who use analytical tools to transform data into insights for making better decisions. The Systems Engineering and Analytics option within the UW–Madison graduate program in Industrial and Systems Engineering offers students the opportunity to pursue graduate training in this important and emerging area, under the auspices of the foremost experts in their field, in one of the world’s top-ranked departments of industrial and systems engineering. (We were ranked 8th in the latest US News and World Report rankings). The flexible curricula in Systems Engineering and Analytics enable students to tailor their degree program to suit their particular needs and career objectives.

After completing your degree, you will be able to analyze, process, and build conclusions based on the data you collect in the design, testing, and operations phases of engineering and design processes.

The program includes training in optimization models and methods, applied industrial analytics, simulation modeling and analysis, and courses wherein these analytical and computational tools are applied in an engineering systems setting. These learned skills are now highly sought after in manufacturing, transportation, finance, healthcare, and other industrial sectors.

See the Learning Outcomes for this program.

If you have questions, please contact COE Grad Admissions at iegradadmission@engr.wisc.edu; Subject Line: IE Grad Admissions and I Sy E Seniors please contact Pam Peterson, prpeterson@wisc.edu.

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.

Fall Deadline December 15
Spring Deadline October 1
Summer Deadline The program does not admit in the summer.
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) Required.*
English Proficiency Test Every applicant whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English must provide an English proficiency test score and meet the Graduate School minimum requirements (https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/requirements/#english-proficiency).
Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) n/a
Letters of Recommendation Required 3
*

a) UW-Madison Industrial Engineering undergrads and applicants with prior institutional approval are waived from the GRE requirement.

b) GRE scores will not be required for admission through Fall 2023 due to challenges taking the exam during the COVID-19 pandemic.

application deadlines

  • Fall: Dec. 15th
  • Spring Admission: Oct. 1st

ADMISSIONS

Applicants must first meet all of the requirements of the Graduate School. 

  • Applicants must also meet department specific requirements as outlined below:
    • BS degree in engineering or related area or equivalent
    • Mathematical Statistics Course (for example, STAT 312 Introduction to Theory and Methods of Mathematical Statistics II or I SY E 210 Introduction to Industrial Statistics)
    • Introduction to Programming Course (for example, COMP SCI 220 Data Science Programming I)
    • Non-native English speakers must have a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 580 (written), 243 (computer-based test), or 92 (Internet version).
    • The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is *required for this masters programs in I Sy E. Information on taking the GRE exam can be found here. Please note: Applicants should plan to take their exam by December 1 to allow scores to be sent and processed.

*UW-Madison ISyE undergrads and applicants with prior institutional approval are waived from the GRE requirement.

FOR UW-Madison STUDENTS ONLY:

  1. UW–Madison undergraduate students applying to this program must submit a UW transcript, but it may be an unofficial transcript.

FOR UW-madison ISyE STUDENTS ONLY:

  1. Three letters of recommendation are NOT required for students completing their Industrial Engineering bachelor's degree at UW. Please note that the application system will still require you to list three individuals as recommenders. You are welcome to list Jim Luedtke, Pam Peterson, and Amanda Smith to bypass this requirement.
  2. ISyE undergrads and applicants with prior institutional approval are waived from the GRE requirement. 
  3. UW-Madison students completing their bachelor’s degree in the Industrial and Systems Engineering department may count up to 6 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above toward the degree with prior program approval. Coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

HOW TO APPLY

  1. Fill out an online application through the Graduate School website.
  2. List three recommenders and their contact information as part of the online application. An email will be sent to the recommender, asking that they submit their letter online using the Graduate School's recommendation form. Applicants can log back into their online application to re-send the email request if the recommender loses the email. Letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically.
  3.  Submit a Statement of Purpose with your online application.  In this document, applicants should explain why they  want to pursue further education in ISyE and discuss which UW faculty members they would be interested in doing research with during their graduate study. 
  4. TOEFL Exam Information: Ask ETS to submit your GRE and/or TOEFL scores to the UW–Madison Graduate School (Institution Number 1846). If you have your scores sent to UW–Madison, they will be available online to all departments to which you have applied. The institution code, therefore, is the only number needed. For more information please visit the Graduate School Requirements page. Please note: Exam information must be valid at start date of the semester that you are applying for (nonexpired).
  5. GRE Exam Information: The IE graduate program requires the GRE exam be taken by prospective students as part of the application. Note there are no specific scoring guidelines for the exam as the GRE is only one part of consideration for admission into the program. Please note: Exam information must be valid at start date of the semester that you are applying for (nonexpired).
  6. Electronically submit one copy of your official transcript with your application.  Official transcripts of all undergraduate and previous graduate work are required. Unofficial copies of transcripts will be accepted for review, but official copies are required for admitted students. Please do not send transcripts or any other application materials to the Graduate School or gradadmission@engr.wisc.edu.
  7. Upload your resume in your application.
  8. Pay the Application Fee: Submission must be accompanied by the one-time application fee. It is non-refundable and can be paid by credit card (Master Card or VISA) or debit/ATM. By state law, this fee can only be waived or deferred through the conditions outlined here by the Graduate School.
NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT SEND MATERIALS/DOCUMENTS TO THE ISyE DEPARTMENT OR GRADUATE SCHOOL UNTIL YOU ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ADMISSIONS. ALL DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE UPLOADED WITH YOUR APPLICATION.

QUESTIONS?

Check out the Admissions FAQ or contact us at iegradadmission@engr.wisc.edu.

NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT SEND MATERIALS/DOCUMENTS TO THE ISyE DEPARTMENT OR GRADUATE SCHOOL UNTIL YOU ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ADMISSIONS. ALL DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE UPLOADED WITH YOUR APPLICATION.

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

Tuition information for this program is available here. Beginning in the fall semester of 2021, resident and resident reciprocity students are eligible for a tuition scholarship. Details here.

Students enrolled in this program are not eligible to receive tuition remission from graduate assistantship appointments at this institution.

On This Page

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Named Option Requirements

MODE OF INSTRUCTION

Face to Face Evening/Weekend Online Hybrid Accelerated
Yes No No No Yes

Mode of Instruction Definitions

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students are able to complete a program with minimal disruptions to careers and other commitments.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Credit Requirement 30 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement 16 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Details can be found in the Graduate School’s Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) policy (https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244).
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement 3.00 GPA required.
This program follows the Graduate School's GPA Requirement policy
(https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203).
Other Grade Requirements Grades of C and D received by a candidate in any graduate course will not be counted as credit toward the degree. These grades will be counted in the graduate GPA.
Assessments and Examinations None.
Language Requirements No language requirements.

Required Courses

Of the required credits, all must be at the 300 level or higher, at most 6 credits may be at the 300 level, at least 15 must be at the graduate level, at least 18 credits must be in the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department, and at least 16 credits must be taken as a graduate student in residence at UW-Madison. A total of at most 6 credits from independent study (e.g., I SY E 699), research (e.g., I SY E 790), and internship/co-op (I SY E 702) courses may be applied toward this degree.

Below is a typical curriculum for those pursuing an M.S. in Industrial Engineering with a course option in Systems Engineering and Analytics. Please note the Systems Engineering and Analytics program is a customizable program and students should work out other course options with their faculty advisor.

Fall Potential Courses:

I SY E 313 Engineering Economic Analysis3
I SY E 412 Fundamentals of Industrial Data Analytics3
I SY E/​COMP SCI/​MATH  425 Introduction to Combinatorial Optimization3
I SY E/​M E  510 Facilities Planning3
I SY E/​M E  512 Inspection, Quality Control and Reliability3
I SY E 515 Engineering Management of Continuous Process Improvement3
I SY E/​COMP SCI/​E C E  524 Introduction to Optimization3
I SY E/​COMP SCI/​MATH/​STAT  525 Linear Optimization3
I SY E 601 Special Topics in Industrial Engineering1-3
I SY E 603 Special Topics in Engineering Analytics and Operations Research1-3
I SY E 604 Special Topics in Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management1-3
I SY E 605 Computer Integrated Manufacturing3
I SY E 624 Stochastic Modeling Techniques3
I SY E/​MATH/​OTM/​STAT  632 Introduction to Stochastic Processes3
I SY E 645 Engineering Models for Supply Chains3
I SY E/​PSYCH  653 Organization and Job Design3
I SY E 699 Advanced Independent Study1-5
I SY E/​INFO SYS  722 Computer-Based Data Management3

Spring Potential Courses:

I SY E 313 Engineering Economic Analysis3
I SY E 412 Fundamentals of Industrial Data Analytics3
I SY E/​M E  512 Inspection, Quality Control and Reliability3
I SY E 516 Introduction to Decision Analysis3
I SY E 517 Decision Making in Health Care3
I SY E/​COMP SCI/​E C E  524 Introduction to Optimization3
I SY E/​COMP SCI/​MATH/​STAT  525 Linear Optimization3
I SY E 562 Human Factors of Data Science and Machine Learning3
I SY E 575 Introduction to Quality Engineering3
I SY E 601 Special Topics in Industrial Engineering1-3
I SY E 603 Special Topics in Engineering Analytics and Operations Research1-3
I SY E 604 Special Topics in Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management1-3
I SY E 612 Information Sensing and Analysis for Manufacturing Processes3
I SY E 615 Production Systems Control3
I SY E 620 Simulation Modeling and Analysis3
I SY E/​M E  641 Design and Analysis of Manufacturing Systems3
I SY E/​M E  643 Performance Analysis of Manufacturing Systems3
I SY E 699 Advanced Independent Study1-5

Summer Potential Courses:

I SY E 313 Engineering Economic Analysis3
I SY E 516 Introduction to Decision Analysis3
I SY E/​COMP SCI/​E C E  524 Introduction to Optimization3
I SY E 575 Introduction to Quality Engineering3
I SY E 601 Special Topics in Industrial Engineering1-3
I SY E 603 Special Topics in Engineering Analytics and Operations Research1-3
I SY E 604 Special Topics in Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management1-3
I SY E/​MATH/​OTM/​STAT  632 Introduction to Stochastic Processes3
I SY E 699 Advanced Independent Study1-5
I SY E 702 Graduate Cooperative Education Program1-2

Students in this program may not take courses outside the prescribed curriculum without faculty advisor and program director approval. Students in this program cannot enroll concurrently in other undergraduate, graduate or certificate programs.

Graduate School Policies

The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Named Option-Specific Policies

Prior Coursework

Graduate Work from Other Institutions

With program approval, students are allowed to count no more than 9 credits of graduate course work from other institutions. Coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

UW–Madison Undergraduate

UW-Madison students completing their bachelor’s degree in the Industrial and Systems Engineering department may count up to 6 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above toward the degree with prior program approval. Coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

UW–Madison University Special

This program follows the Graduate School's policy for Transfer from UW–Madison University Special Student Career at UW–Madison.

Probation

This program follows the Graduate School's Probation policy.

ADVISOR / COMMITTEE

Per Graduate School policy, every graduate student MUST have a faculty advisor. A faculty advisor provides the graduate student with academic guidance regarding their course selection and research oversight in their thesis or project. Graduate students should always seek advice from their advisor and other faculty in their interest area prior to enrolling for courses.

CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED

Enrollment of 12 credits is highly recommended.

Time Limits

This program is designed to be completed in 16 months. Students who have an undergraduate degree from UW-Madison can typically complete the program in 12 months. Internship and co-operative (co-op) work experiences are an optional component to this degree. The program must be completed within 24 months for students who plan to include internship or co-op work. The ISyE department does not guarantee availability of internship or co-op positions.

To ensure timely progress, the students in this program will be provided a list of courses they can select from at the beginning of each regular semester. The student is required to meet their academic advisor during their first semester to discuss and obtain approval of the course plan for the remainder of their program. In situations that the student cannot finish the program in 24 months due to exceptional circumstances, the exception must be requested by the student and approved by the student’s academic advisor and the academic affairs committee.

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

Grievance Procedures: Industrial and Systems Engineering

If a graduate student feels unfairly treated or aggrieved by faculty, staff, or another student, the University offers several avenues to resolve the grievance. Student’s concerns about unfair treatment are best handled directly with the person responsible for the objectionable action. If the student is uncomfortable making direct contact with the individual(s) involved, they should contact the advisor or the person in charge of the unit where the action occurred (program or department chair, section chair, lab manager, etc). Many departments and schools/colleges have established specific procedures for handling such situations; check their web pages and published handbooks for information. If such procedures exist at the local level, these should be investigated first. For more information, see the College of Engineering Policies and Procedures. The Assistant Dean for Graduate Affairs provides overall leadership for graduate education in the College of Engineering (CoE), and is a point of contact for graduate students who have concerns about education, mentoring, research, or other difficulties.

Procedures for handling graduate student grievances against ISyE faculty, staff, or students:

  1. The student is encouraged to speak first with the person toward whom the grievance is directed to see if a situation can be resolved at this level.

  2. Should a satisfactory resolution not be achieved, the student should contact the Associate Chair for Graduate Affairs, to discuss the grievance. The Associate Chair will facilitate problem resolution through informal channels and facilitate any complaints or issues of students. The first attempt is to help students informally address the grievance prior to any formal complaint. Students are also encouraged to talk with their faculty advisors regarding concerns or difficulties, if necessary. University resources for sexual harassment, discrimination, disability accommodations, and other related concerns can be found on the UW Office of Compliance website.

  3. If the issue is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student can submit the grievance to the Grievance Advisor, which may be either the Associate Chair for Graduate Affairs or the Department Chair, as chosen by the student. The grievance should be submitted in writing, within 60 calendar days of the alleged unfair treatment.

  4. On receipt of a written complaint, the Grievance Advisor will form a faculty committee that will review the complaint and gather further information as necessary from the filer of the complaint and other parties involved (including the party toward whom the complaint is directed).

  5. The faculty committee will determine a decision regarding the grievance. The Grievance Advisor will report on the action taken by the committee in writing to both the student and the party toward whom the complaint was directed within 15 working days from the date the complaint was received. 

  6. At this point, if either party (the student or the person toward whom the grievance is directed) is unsatisfied with the decision of the faculty committee, the party may file a written appeal to the College of Engineering Assistant Dean for Graduate Affairs. Either party has 10 working days to file a written appeal to the School/College.

  7. Documentation of the grievance will be stored for at least 7 years. Significant grievances that set a precedent will be stored indefinitely.

  8. The Graduate School has procedures for students wishing to appeal a grievance decision made at the school/college level. These policies are described in the Graduate School Academic Policies and Procedures - Grievances & Appeals.

Other

Graduate Assistant Positions

 Students are strongly discouraged to pursue positions as Project Assistants, Teaching Assistants or Research Assistants during their time in this program, as the rigor and accelerated nature of this program may not accommodate those work time commitments. Students in this program will not receive the tuition remission that is typically part of the compensation package for a graduate assistantship.

Policies on Program Transfer

  • It is not allowed to transfer between the SEA and MSIE research-option programs.
  • Students in this MSIE program can apply to the PhD program in ISyE. Students should follow the general application requirements of the ISyE PhD along with submitting an Add/Change of Program, Plan or Named Option Request online through the Graduate School.
  • If a student currently in another graduate program wants to transfer to the course option MSIE they should follow the general application procedure for the course option MSIE program along with submitting an Add/Change of Program, Plan or Named Option Request online through the Graduate School.

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

An Individual Development Plan helps with self-assessment, planning, and communication:

  • An IDP can help you communicate your professional development and career planning needs and intentions to others including your mentor, which can lead to helpful advice and resources.
  • You can use the IDP to make sure you and your mentor’s expectations are clearly outlined and in agreement so that there are no big surprises, particularly at the end of your training.
  • The current job market is challenging and research has shown that individuals who perform structured career planning achieve greater career success and satisfaction.

The onus to engage in the IDP process is on you – although your mentor, PI, or others may encourage and support you in doing so. The IDP itself remains private to you, and you choose which parts to share with which mentors. Through the IDP process, you may decide to identify various mentors to whom you can go for expertise and advice. 

ENGINEERING CAREER SERVICES  

Julie Rae, Assistant Director for Graduate Student Career Services

GRADUATE students in all Engineering programs

Employer Recruitment List for Industrial Engineering Students:  https://ecs.wiscweb.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/86/2017/03/IE-Employer-Recruitment-List-17-18.pdf

UW WRITING CENTER

Location: 6171 Helen C. White Hall

Tel: (608) 263-1992

The UW Writing Center provides free of charge face-to-face and online consultations that focus on a number of different writing scenarios (i.e. drafts of course papers, resumes, reports, application essays, cover letters, theses, etc). Writing Center instructors will not edit or proofread papers. Instead, their goal is to teach students to edit and proofread on their own in order to become a better, more confident writer.

Professors

Laura Albert (Chair)
Oguzhan Alagoz
John D. Lee
Jeffrey Linderoth
James Luedtke
Robert Radwin
Leyuan Shi
Raj Veeramani
Shiyu Zhou

Associate Professors

Alberto Del Pia
Kaibo Liu
Douglas A. Wiegmann

Assistant Professors

Justin J. Boutilier
Tony McDonald
Carla Michini
Yonatan Mintz
Xin Wang
Qiaomin Xie
Gabriel Zayas-Caban

Teaching Faculty

Amanda G. Smith
Sinan Tas
Charlene Yauch

Lecturers

Terry Mann
Hannah Silber
Tina Xu

Undergraduate Advisors

Francisca Jofre

Graduate Program Coordinator

Pam Peterson

See also Industrial and Systems Engineering Faculty Directory.