The first bachelor of science in industrial engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison was awarded in 1972. Since that time, the demand for industrial engineers has grown dramatically for one chief reason: the need for organizations to raise their level of productivity through thoughtful, systematic applications.
Becoming an industrial engineer (IE) places one in an exciting field of engineering that focuses on productivity improvement worldwide. It is a field that deals as much with human aspects of work as with today's sophisticated tools of work.
What sets industrial engineering apart from other engineering disciplines is its broader scope. An IE deals with people as well as things. The industrial engineer applies problem-solving techniques in almost every kind of industry, business, or institution. There are IEs in banks, hospitals, government at all levels, transportation, construction, processing, social services, electronics, facilities design, manufacturing, and warehousing.
An IE looks at the "big picture" of what makes society perform best — the right combination of human resources, natural resources, and human-made structures and equipment. An IE bridges the gap between management and operations, dealing with and motivating people as well as determining what tools should be used and how they should be used. Industrial engineering is concerned with performance measures and standards, research of new products and product applications, ways to improve use of scarce resources, and many other problem-solving adventures.
Because industrial engineering serves a broad cross-section of business, industry, and institutions, the IE's work environment varies from office to plant to field. Choices can be made even after the IE begins his or her career. Few other vocations offer a graduating student such a wide selection of places to work or kind of work to perform. Need for industrial engineers makes this profession particularly attractive from the financial standpoint. Beginning salaries rank in the top group of high-paying engineering disciplines, and fast advancement is not unusual.
In the industrial and systems engineering department at UW–Madison, the course curriculum is set up to provide a diversified background and at the same time allow choices according to individual interests. Specialized coursework might be categorized in four main areas:
- Industrial Data Analytics
- Optimization and Operations Research
- Human Factors and Ergonomics
- Applications of Industrial Engineering
Although there is no sub-major within IE, it is possible to achieve a degree of specialization through the choice of a focus area. Courses focusing on teams and design projects prepare students to succeed in the workplace.
How to Get in
Admission to the College as a First-Year Student
Students applying to UW–Madison need to indicate an engineering major as their first choice in order to be considered for direct admission to the College of Engineering. Being directly admitted to a major means students will start in the program of their choice in the College of Engineering and will need to meet progression requirements at the end of the first year to guarantee advancement in that program.
Cross-Campus Transfer to Engineering
UW–Madison students in other schools and colleges on campus must meet minimum admission requirements for admission consideration to engineering degree programs. Cross-campus admission is competitive and selective, and the grade point average expectations may increase as demand trends change. The student’s overall academic record at UW–Madison is also considered. Students apply to their intended engineering program by submitting the online application by stated deadlines for spring and fall. The College of Engineering offers an online information tutorial and drop-in advising for students to learn about the cross-campus transfer process.
Off-Campus Transfer to Engineering
With careful planning, students at other accredited institutions can transfer coursework that will apply toward engineering degree requirements at UW–Madison. Off-campus transfer applicants are considered for direct admission to the College of Engineering by applying to the Office of Admissions with an engineering major listed as their first choice. Those who are admitted to their intended engineering program must meet progression requirements at the point of transfer or within their first two semesters at UW–Madison to guarantee advancement in that program. A minimum of 30 credits in residence in the College of Engineering is required after transferring, and all students must meet all requirements for their major in the college. Transfer admission to the College of Engineering is competitive and selective, and students who have exceeded the 80 credit limit at the time of application are not eligible to apply.
The College of Engineering has dual degree programs with select four-year UW System campuses. Eligible dual degree applicants are not subject to the 80 credit limit.
Off-campus transfer students are encouraged to discuss their interests, academic background, and admission options with the Transfer & Academic Program Manager in the College of Engineering: ugtransfer@engr.wisc.edu or 608-262-2473.
Second Bachelor's Degree
The College of Engineering does not accept second undergraduate degree applications. Second degree students might explore the Biological Systems Engineering program at UW–Madison, an undergraduate engineering degree elsewhere, or a graduate program in the College of Engineering.
Requirements
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
Summary of Requirements
The following curriculum applies to students admitted to the Industrial Engineering, BS, degree program. Required courses and electives satisfying the Mathematics and Basic Science, Computer Sciences, IE Focus Area, and General Education Communication requirements are indicated. For Liberal Studies Electives refer to the College of Engineering Liberal Studies Guidelines.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics and Basic Science | 30-31 | |
| Probability and Statistics | 6 | |
| Computer Sciences | 7-8 | |
| Required I SY E Courses | 28 | |
| I SY E Focus Area Technical Electives | 18 | |
| Professional Electives, Communication Skills, and Liberal Studies | 27 | |
| Free Electives | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 120-122 | |
Mathematics and Basic Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 221 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 | 5 |
| MATH 222 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2 | 4 |
| MATH 234 | Calculus--Functions of Several Variables | 4 |
| MATH 340 | Elementary Matrix and Linear Algebra | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 5-6 | |
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| Statics and Dynamics | ||
| Choose 9 credits from the following list: 1 | 9 | |
| Basic Science | ||
| Physiology | ||
| Introductory Biology | ||
or ZOOLOGY 153 | Introductory Biology | |
| Introductory Biology | ||
| General Chemistry I 2 | ||
or CHEM 109 | Advanced General Chemistry | |
or CHEM 115 | Chemical Principles I | |
| General Chemistry II | ||
| Chemical Principles II | ||
| Chemistry Across the Periodic Table | ||
| Fundamentals of Analytical Science | ||
or CHEM 329 | Fundamentals of Analytical Science | |
| Elementary Organic Chemistry | ||
| Elementary Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Intermediate Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| General Microbiology | ||
| General Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| General Physics | ||
or PHYSICS 208 | General Physics | |
or PHYSICS 248 | A Modern Introduction to Physics | |
| Modern Physics for Engineers | ||
or PHYSICS 241 | Introduction to Modern Physics | |
or PHYSICS 249 | A Modern Introduction to Physics | |
| Mathematics | ||
| Introduction to Discrete Mathematics | ||
| Techniques in Ordinary Differential Equations | ||
| The Theory of Single Variable Calculus | ||
| Introduction to Modern Algebra | ||
| Applied Linear Algebra | ||
| Introduction to Combinatorics | ||
| Analysis I | ||
| Analysis II | ||
| Total Credits | 30-31 | |
- 1
If E M A 201 and E M A 202 are used to fulfill the PHYSICS requirement, additional credits of math or basic science will be required
- 2
Credit will not be given for both CHEM 103 and CHEM 109 to fulfill Mathematics and Basic Science requirements.
Probability and Statistics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| I SY E 210 | Introduction to Industrial Statistics | 3 |
| or STAT/MATH 310 | Introduction to Probability and Mathematical Statistics II | |
| or STAT 312 | Introduction to Theory and Methods of Mathematical Statistics II | |
| STAT 311 | Introduction to Theory and Methods of Mathematical Statistics I | 3 |
| or STAT/MATH 309 | Introduction to Probability and Mathematical Statistics I | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Computer Sciences
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMP SCI 220 | Data Science Programming I | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Programming I | ||
| Programming II | ||
| Data Science Programming II | ||
| Programming III | ||
| Introduction to Numerical Methods | ||
| Total Credits | 7-8 | |
Required I SY E Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| I SY E 191 | The Practice of Industrial Engineering | 2 |
| I SY E 312 | Data Management and Analysis for Industrial Engineers | 3 |
| I SY E 313 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 |
| I SY E 315 | Production Planning and Control | 3 |
| I SY E 320 | Simulation and Probabilistic Modeling | 3 |
| I SY E 321 | Simulation Modeling Laboratory | 1 |
| I SY E 323 | Operations Research-Deterministic Modeling | 3 |
| I SY E 348 | Introduction to Human Factors Engineering Laboratory | 1 |
| I SY E/PSYCH 349 | Introduction to Human Factors | 3 |
| I SY E 350 | Industrial Engineering Design I | 3 |
| I SY E 450 | Industrial Engineering Design II | 3 |
| Total Credits | 28 | |
I Sy E Focus Area Technical Electives
Choose 1 of the following 6 focus areas.
Industrial Data Analytics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose at least 3: | 9 | |
| Fundamentals of Industrial Data Analytics | ||
| Inspection, Quality Control and Reliability | ||
| Machine Learning in Action for Industrial Engineers | ||
| Human Factors of Data Science and Machine Learning | ||
| Ethics of Data for Engineers | ||
| Special Topics in Engineering Analytics and Operations Research 1 | ||
| Information Sensing and Analysis for Manufacturing Processes | ||
| Interactive Data Analytics | ||
| One elective I SY E course other than those listed in the Industrial Data Analytics area | 3 | |
| Additional elective I SY E courses in any area | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Applications of Industrial Engineering
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose at least 3 courses from the following applications: | 9 | |
| Manufacturing | ||
| Introduction to Manufacturing Systems, Design and Analysis | ||
| Facilities Planning | ||
| Engineering Management of Continuous Process Improvement | ||
| Special Topics in Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management | ||
| Computer Integrated Manufacturing | ||
| Design and Analysis of Manufacturing Systems | ||
| Engineering Models for Supply Chains | ||
| Health Systems | ||
| Health Systems Engineering | ||
| Decision Making in Health Care | ||
| Special Topics in Healthcare Systems Engineering | ||
| Quality Engineering | ||
| Quality Assurance Systems | ||
| Introduction to Quality Engineering | ||
| One elective I SY E course other than those listed in the Applications of Industrial Engineering area | 3 | |
| Additional elective I SY E courses in any area | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Human Factors and Ergonomics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose at least 3: | 9 | |
| Wearable Technology | ||
| Human Factors Engineering | ||
| Human Performance and Accident Causation | ||
| Human Factors of Data Science and Machine Learning | ||
| Occupational Ergonomics and Biomechanics | ||
| Special Topics in Human Factors | ||
| Design and Human Disability and Aging | ||
| One elective I SY E course other than those listed in the Human Factors and Ergonomics area | 3 | |
| Additional elective I SY E courses in any area | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Optimization and Operations Research
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose at least 3: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Combinatorial Optimization | ||
| Introduction to Decision Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Optimization | ||
| Linear Optimization | ||
| Special Topics in Engineering Analytics and Operations Research 1 | ||
| Simulation Modeling and Analysis | ||
| Stochastic Modeling Techniques | ||
| Introduction to Stochastic Processes | ||
| One elective I SY E course other than those listed in the Optimization and Operations Research area | 3 | |
| Additional elective I SY E courses in any area | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Distributed Focus Area
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Total credits in Distributed Focus Area: | 18 | |
| Choose 6 courses in at least 3 of the 4 areas listed above (Industrial Data Analytics, Applications of Industrial Engineering, Human Factors and Ergonomics, and Optimization and Operations Research) | ||
Honors in Research Focus Area
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Total credits in Honors in Research Focus Area: | 20 | |
| I SY E 468 | Introduction to Industrial Engineering Research | 1 |
| I SY E 478 | Research and Beyond in Industrial Engineering | 1 |
| I SY E 489 | Honors in Research | 3 |
| Choose 5 courses in at least 2 of the 4 areas listed above (Industrial Data Analytics, Applications of Industrial Engineering, Human Factors and Ergonomics, and Optimization and Operations Research) | ||
- 1
The area to which I SY E 603 Special Topics in Engineering Analytics and Operations Research will count is dependent on course topic. Please consult your advisor for details.
Professional Electives, Communication Skills, and Liberal Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Electives 1 | 6 | |
| Choose 6 credits from: | ||
College of Engineering courses numbered 200 or higher | ||
Biological, natural, social, or physical sciences; humanities; or literature at the Intermediate or Advanced level | ||
At most 5 credits of I SY E 699 and/or I SY E 1 (independent study courses from other engineering subject areas can also be used) | ||
School of Business courses numbered 200 or higher (as well as ACCT I S 100) | ||
| Communication Skills | 6 | |
| ENGL 100 | Introduction to College Composition | 3 |
| or COM ARTS 100 | Introduction to Speech Composition | |
| or LSC 100 | Science and Storytelling | |
| or ESL 118 | Academic Writing II | |
| INTEREGR 397 | Engineering Communication | 3 |
| Liberal Studies | 15 | |
| Liberal Studies Electives (according to CoE requirements) 2 | 11 | |
| ECON 101 | Principles of Microeconomics | 4 |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
- 1
Professional electives may not include STAT 301 Introduction to Statistical Methods or transfer/test math elective credits for calculus.
- 2
Free Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 4 credits of Free Electives | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 4 | |
Minimum Required Credits: 120
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
Learning Outcomes
- Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- 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
- Communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- 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
- Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
- Recognize, describe, predict and analyze systems behavior
- Understand physiological, cognitive, and sociotechnical aspects of humans as components in complex systems design
- Apply the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice, such as quality engineering, optimization, simulation, and project management
Four-Year Plan
Sample Four-Year Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 221 | 5 | I SY E 191 | 2 |
| ECON 101 | 4 | MATH 222 | 4 |
| COMP SCI 220 | 4 | PHYSICS 201 | 5 |
| Communications A | 3 | Liberal Studies Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| I SY E 313 | 3 | I SY E 315 | 3 |
| MATH 234 | 4 | I SY E 348 | 1 |
| Liberal Studies Elective | 2 | I SY E/PSYCH 349 | 3 |
| Computer Sciences Elective | 3-4 | MATH 340 | 3 |
| Math and Basic Science Elective | 3 | Math and Basic Science Elective | 3 |
| I SY E 210 | 3 | ||
| 15-16 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| I SY E 312 | 3 | I SY E 320 | 3 |
| I SY E 323 | 3 | I SY E 321 | 1 |
| Professional Elective | 3 | I SY E 350 | 3 |
| STAT 311 | 3 | INTEREGR 397 | 3 |
| Liberal Studies Elective | 3 | I SY E Focus Area Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 1 | ||
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| I SY E Focus Area Elective | 3 | I SY E 450 | 3 |
| I SY E Focus Area Elective | 3 | I SY E Focus Area Elective | 3 |
| Professional Elective | 3 | I SY E Focus Area Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | I SY E Focus Area Elective | 3 |
| Math and Basic Science Elective | 3 | Liberal Studies Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120-121 | |||
Advising and Careers
Advising
Every College of Engineering undergraduate has an assigned academic advisor. Academic advisors support and coach students through their transition to college and their academic program all the way through graduation.
Advisors help students navigate the highly structured engineering curricula and course sequencing, working with them to select courses each semester.
When facing a challenge or making a plan toward a goal, students can start with their academic advisor. There are many outstanding resources at UW–Madison, and academic advisors are trained to help students navigate these resources. Advisors not only inform students about the various resources, but they help reduce the barriers between students and campus resources to help students feel empowered to pursue their goals and communicate their needs.
Students can find their assigned advisor in their MyUW Student Center.
Engineering Career Services
Engineering Career Services (ECS) assists students in finding work-based learning experiences such as co-ops and summer internships, exploring and applying to graduate or professional school, and finding full-time professional employment.
ECS offers two large career fairs per year, assists students with resume building and developing interviewing skills, hosts skill-building workshops, and meets one-on-one with students to discuss offer negotiations.
Students are encouraged to engage with the ECS office early in their academic careers. For more information on ECS programs and workshops, visit: https://ecs.wisc.edu.
People
Professors
Laura Albert Oguzhan Alagoz John D. Lee Jeffrey Linderoth Kaibo Liu James Luedtke Ranjana Mehta Robert Radwin Raj Veeramani
Doug Wiegmann
Shiyu Zhou (Chair)
Associate Professors
Alberto Del Pia
Tony McDonald
Gabriel Zayas-Cabán
Assistant Professors
Dan Li Carla Michini Yonatan Mintz Hantang Qin Andi Wang Qiaomin Xie
Teaching Professors
Amanda Smith
Teaching Faculty
Hannah Silber Sinan Tas Tina Xu
Lecturers
Terry Mann
Undergraduate Advisors
Michele Crandell Missy Moreau
Jamie Utphall
Graduate Program Coordinator
Pam Peterson
See also Industrial and Systems Engineering Faculty Directory.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission's General Criteria and Program Criteria for Industrial and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
Program Educational Objectives for the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
We recognize that our graduates will choose to use the knowledge and skills that they have acquired during their undergraduate years to pursue a wide variety of career and life goals, and we encourage this diversity of paths. Whatever path our graduates may choose, we expect them to be meeting the following objectives at least three to five years after graduation:
-
Demonstrate competence in the professional practice of industrial engineering.
-
Demonstrate industrial engineering skills needed as a foundation for leadership in a career and the profession.
-
Act with professional and ethical responsibility, fostering an inclusive work environment, and appreciate the impact of proposed solutions to a global and/or societal context.
Note: Undergraduate Student Outcomes, number of degrees conferred, and enrollment data are made publicly available at the Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Program website. (In this Guide, the program's Student Outcomes are available through the "Learning Outcomes" tab.)