Industrial and Systems Engineering, MS

School/College:  College of Engineering
Degree(s) Offered:  Master of Science, Doctoral
Graduate Coordinator:  Eui H. Park Email:  park@ncat.edu      Phone: 336-285-3732
Department Chair:  Paul Stanfield  Email:  stanfiel@ncat.edu  Phone: 336-285-3735

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) program prepares students for successful careers in industry and continuation to doctoral study.   The program emphasizes the systems engineering, collaboration and engagement skills critical to addressing the complex societal problems of tomorrow.  ISE graduate students tackle these problems in a supportive environment working with nationally-recognized faculty. 

ISE programs are inclusive of many undergraduate majors.  Any engineering major may choose graduate education in ISE to expand systems skills.  Many related non-engineering majors might choose ISE with some background courses to expand technical capability.

Program Outcomes:

The Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering program will prepare graduates to:

• Decompose systems into component parts and logically model and evaluate using mathematical, statistical and computational tools.
• Construct and improve integrated systems or processes consisting of people, materials, information, equipment and energy considering life cycle factors.
• Formulate and solve multi-objective problems using industrial and systems engineering methods and tools.
• Apply systems analysis, synthesis, and problem-solving to real world settings to reduce cost and improve productivity and quality.
• Perform presentable research under the supervision of a faculty member.
• Communicate Industrial and Systems technical information a professional level in written, oral, and business graphics formats.

Degree Requirements:

The MS graduation requirements are given below:

1.  Credit Hour Requirements:

The student must complete the following credit hour requirements:

• Project Option:       30 credit hours of course work and 3 credit hours of project
• Thesis Option:       24 credit hours of course work and 6 credit hours of thesis
• Course Option:      33 credit hours of course work and 1 credit hour of an M.S. comprehensive exam

2.  700-Level/800-Level Course Requirements:

The student is strongly encouraged to meet the following 700-level/800-level course requirements:  Project Option: 12 credit hours; Thesis Option:  9 credit hours; Course Option:  12 credit hours.  The student's advisor and the Graduate Program Committee must approve any exception. INEN 792, INEN793, INEN 794, INEN 796, and INEN 797 may not be counted towards completion of the 700-level/800-level course requirements.

3.  Seminar Course

The student must register and attend the INEN 792 course during two semesters of his or her graduate study.  This course does not count towards credit hour requirements.       

Subject Core Course(s)(12 Credit Hours)

•           INEN 625(3 credit hours)

•           INEN 655(3 credit hours)

•           INEN 665(3 credit hours)

•           INEN 675(3 credit hours)

Course subject area(s) (9 Credit Hours)

Course subject areas are dependent on the selected student specialization.  M.S.I.E. specializations are Human-Machine Systems Engineering, Manufacturing and Service Enterprise Engineering, and Operations Research and Systems Analysis.  Elective options are available in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Graduate Handbook.

Electives (9-13 hours required) As shown below:

The student must complete the following elective credit hour requirements:

(i)         Project Option: 9 credit hours of course work and 3 credit hours of project

(ii)        Thesis Option:             3 credit hours of course work and 6 credit hours of thesis

(iii)       Course Option:            12 credit hours of course work and 1 credit hour of an M.S. comprehensive exam

Seminar Courses (if applicable) (2 credit hours)

•           INEN 792(1 credit hours)

•           INEN 792(1 credit hours)

Requirements specific to specializations/program options/tracks:

Project Option:        30   Coursework Hours          3   Project Hours

Thesis Option:         24  Coursework Hours          6   Project Hours     

Comprehensive Exam, if appropriate:       Required

Assistantships

Limited financial support is available from the department for positions as Graduate Teaching Assistants or Graduate Research Assistants.  The number of assistantships available varies from semester to semester as the research and other needs of the department and the operating budget changes.  Students should make known their financial needs to their major professor or to the Graduate Program Coordinator.  The major professor may have support available for his/her students.  The final decision on the award of an assistantship to any student is made by the Department Chairperson.  In addition, there are other financial supports for African-American students interested in the Ph.D. programs through two types of fellowships:  Title III and Sloan.

Students should not depend on assistance from North Carolina A&T State University in making their financial plans.  Assistantships are strictly dependent on the availability of funds.

Advising

All students enrolled in the graduate program must have an academic advisor.  Upon admission to the program, the Graduate Program Coordinator acts as the student's advisor on a temporary basis.  Ph.D. students must choose a major professor by the end of the second semester. Thereafter, the major professor also serves as the student's Academic Advisor. The major professor must be a graduate faculty as designated by the School of Graduate Studies.

Committees

The MS committee consists of a major professor and two committee members, and the major professor acts as the chair of the committee. Students may select a non-ISE faculty for his/her committee, but the student may not have more than one outside member on this committee. If a student would like to have a non-ISE faculty member as a major advisor, he/she must select another ISE faculty member as a co-advisor. Any outside member for a student's committee must be approved in advance by the departmental Graduate Program Committee.

Research Opportunities/Experiences

Limited financial support is available from the department for positions as Graduate Research Assistants.

Directory of Faculty

• Davis, Lauren, Associate Professor, BS, Computational Mathematics, Rochester Institute of Technology; MSIME, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; PhD, North Carolina State University
• Desai, Salil, L., Associate Professor, BSME, University of Bombay; MSIE, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
• Jiang, Steven, Associate Professor, MSME, East China Institute of Technology; MS, Nanjing University of Science & Technology; PhD, Clemson University
• Jiang, Zongliang, Assistant Professor, BS, Shanghai Jiao Tong  University ; MS, PhD, North Carolina State University
• Li, Zhichao, Assistant Professor, BS, MS, Tianjin University of Technology and Education ; Ph.D., Kansas State University
• McBride, Maranda, Assistant Professor (Joint with Business Administration), BS, MS, PhD, North Carolina A&T State University
• Ntuen, Celestine A., Distinguished University Professor, NCE, College of Education, Uyo, Nigeria;  BSISE, MSIE, PhD, West Virginia University
• Park, Eui H., Professor, BS, Yonsei University;  MBA, City University; MSIE, PhD, Mississippi State University
• Qu, Xiuli, Assistant Professor, BEEE, MSEE, University of Science and Technology Beijing; MSIE, PhD, Purdue University
• Ram, Bala, Professor and Interim Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research, BSME, MSIE, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras;  PhD, State University of New York at Buffalo
• Sarin, Sanjiv, Professor and Vice Provost for Research, Graduate Programs and Extended Learning and Dean, Graduate School, BSChE, MSIE, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi; PhD, State University of New York at Buffalo
• Seong, Younho, Associate Professor, BSISE, MSIE, Incheon University; PhD, State University of New York at Buffalo
• Smith-Jackson, Tonya, Professor and Chair, BS, UNC-Chapel Hill; MS, PhD, North Carolina State University
• Stanfield, Paul, Associate Professor, BSEE, MSIE, Ph.D., North Carolina State University; MBA, University of North Carolina at Greensboro