Industrial engineering and management (IE&M) focuses on production systems that provide products (goods and services) for customers throughout the world. Industrial engineers define, design, build, operate, and improve production processes that convert resources to products effectively (e.g., high quality), efficiently (e.g., high productivity), and safely.

People are the fundamental component of production systems–people provide the creativity and leadership essential  to make things happen. Hence, industrial engineering is the most people-oriented discipline within the engineering family. Industrial engineers are trained to think in both broad and specific terms. Practicing industrial engineers understand business parameters as well as physical and social parameters within production systems. This breadth allows industrial engineers to function effectively in a wide spectrum of activities ranging from strategic business planning to detailed task design. The wide-angle vision of industrial engineering provides career flexibility, leading to high-level leadership or specialized technical responsibilities. 

Industrial engineers are found in manufacturing organizations (e.g., automotive, electronics, medical, and food manufacturers), service enterprises (e.g., hospitals, banks, airlines, and consulting groups), and governmental organizations (e.g., public service and regulatory organizations). 

The School of Industrial Engineering and Management's vision is to be internationally recognized by industry and academia for excellence in education, research, extension and service. Its mission is to discover, verify, integrate and transfer knowledge and methodologies relating to enterprise design and management, information technology, and modeling and optimization for the benefit of students, research sponsors and the technical community. The faculty, students and staff work together to build and maintain a learning and mentoring environment where: 

• Innovative practices are developed, tested and validated.

• knowledge and practices are shared. 

• Each individual develops to his or her full potential.

• Professional ethics are practiced at all times.

Educational Objectives and Outcomes

The educational program emphasizes the application of technologies and tools in the short term, and the ability to discover, acquire, and adapt new knowledge and skills in the long term, such that graduates are prepared to: 

• Define, analyze and solve complex problems within and between enterprises.

• Discover, understand and incorporate appropriate new technologies in the design and operation of enterprises.

• Lead and manage design, development and improvement efforts that benefit customers, employees and stakeholders.

• Function in culturally diverse teams, communicate in a professional manner, and uphold the ethical standards of the engineering profession.

Graduating baccalaureate students possess an understanding of fundamental industrial engineering and management concepts, methodologies and technologies as demonstrated by:

• An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, probability and statistics, science, engineering, and engineering economy.

• An ability to design and conduct experiments involving risk and uncertainty, as well as to analyze and interpret data.

• An ability to design a system, component or process to meet desired needs.

• An ability to function on culturally diverse, multi-disciplinary teams. 

• An ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems involving physical, human and economic parameters.

• An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.

• An ability to communicate effectively.

• The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context.

• Recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning.

• knowledge of contemporary issues and the role of the human in enterprise activities.

• An ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for industrial engineering and management practice.

The curriculum consists of three primary parts: (1) general studies, (2) core engineering, and (3) professional school topics. General studies consist of courses such as math, statistics, chemistry, physics, English, behavioral science, history, humanities, and arts. Core engineering courses consist of engineering  sciences such as materials, static's, electrical circuits, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics. Professional school courses consist of topics such as systems thinking and analysis in engineering, economic analysis, manufacturing processes, computer-aided modeling, work analysis, operations research, quality control, experimental design, facility location and layout, management and leadership, production control, system simulation modeling, information systems and decision support, ergonomics and human factors, and energy and water management. A capstone design experience, working with a real-world organization, brings all of the classroom and lab work together in the senior year. Details regarding degree requirements are available in the Undergraduate Programs and Requirements publication. 

The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology under the criteria for industrial and similarly named engineering programs. 

Each IE&M student, along with the faculty advisor, works out an individual plan of study which guides them through the curriculum. The course work is sequenced and interrelated to provide theoretical and applied knowledge, along with hands-on laboratory and project experience. Students work as individuals and as teams to integrate and apply mathematical, scientific, and engineering knowledge and concepts in order to address both traditional academic questions as well as open-ended design and analysis challenges. Instruction in experimental methods is integrated in the curriculum through the design, execution, analysis, and interpretation of experiments. Project work is used to develop both technical and communications skills. Technical skills are used  to identify, formulate, and address engineering problems, both simple and complex. Communications skills are addressed and practiced in written, oral and team interaction formats. 

The means to define and design detailed solutions to address customer needs from a system-wide perspective is introduced in the sophomore year, and reinforced through the capstone senior design project. Additionally, global perspectives of production systems are introduced and emphasized in the sophomore year so that students understand the nature of global customer bases as well as global competition early in their studies. The curriculum is continually updated to assure that contemporary issues, thinking, and tools are integrated in course content as well as instructional delivery. Professional responsibility and ethical behavior are introduced and reinforced throughout the curriculum. Additionally, the need for lifelong learning after graduation is stressed. 

Students are offered opportunities to enhance their classroom and laboratory experiences through student organizations such as the student chapter of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and the Institute for Operation Research and the Management Sciences. Outstanding scholars are recognized by Alpha Pi Mu, the national honor society for industrial engineering students. Additionally, opportunities for internship and co-op experiences are offered to IE&M students so that they can gain professional experience during their collegiate program. Please visit our Internet site (http://www.okstate.edu/ceat/iem/) for more information.

1. Grades of "C" or better in all technical courses in the pre-engineering curriculum. 

2. Grades of "C" or better in all courses that are prerequisites for IEM courses.

3. 2.00 major (right hand side of requirement sheet) GPA.

Graduate Programs

The School of Industrial Engineering and Management offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Industrial Engineering and Management degree, the Master of Science degree, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

The Master of Industrial Engineering and Management degree is a graduate professional degree with increased emphasis on professional practice, incorporating an engineering design experience during the final year of study.

 The Master of Science degree is characterized by a higher degree of technical specialization in a particular field of study. This degree program is designed prepare students for professional practice that may include research or consulting components. 

The Master of Science degree is intended to be especially attractive to industrial engineering graduates, engineering graduates from other disciplines, and many science majors. The Master of Industrial Engineering and Management degree is intended for graduates from an ABET-accredited engineering or technology program. Both degree programs include a strong technical component and an orientation to business and management that is complementary to a technical background. 

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is designed to carry the student to the leading edge of knowledge in the profession industrial engineering and management. It is intended to prepare students highly specialized positions, such as research and consulting in industry, government and service organizations, and for teaching or research positions colleges and universities. 

The basic consideration in graduate education in industrial engineering and management is effective and efficient utilization of human, physical, and economic resources. Instruction in management embraces both qualitative and quantitative concepts, including analytical methodologies and social considerations pertinent to organizations. 

Advanced degree programs are designed with major emphasis in fields of interest such as management, manufacturing systems operations research, quality and reliability, facilities, energy, environmental management, and enterprise modeling and supply chains. Students may complement industrial engineering and management courses with work in other branches of engineering, as well as economics, business administration, computer science, statistics, mathematics, psychology, and sociology. 

Admission Requirements. Admission to the Graduate College is required of all students pursuing the M.I.E.&M., M.S. or Ph.D. degree. Graduation from an industrial engineering curriculum with scholastic performance distinctly above average, qualifies the student for admission to the School of Industrial Engineering and Management as a candidate for the master's and Ph.D. degrees. Graduates from disciplines other than industrial engineering may be admitted if an evaluation of their transcripts and other supporting materials by the School of Industrial Engineering and Management indicates that they are prepared to take graduate-level course work in industrial engineering, or can be expected to do so after a reasonable amount of prerequisite work. 

All international applicants must submit GRE scores. In addition, all international applicants must submit TOEFL scores, with two exceptions. Exceptions are made for international students whose native language is English and for applicants who hold at least one degree from a U.S. university. 

Degree Requirements. The Master of Science degree in industrial engineering and management requires the completion of at least 30 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree, including a research thesis of six semester credit hours. A 33 semester-credit-hour option is also permitted and must include a three credit-hour creative component. The creative component  requirement can be met by completing a three credit-hour independent study project or a three credit-hour course approved by the student's committee. 

The Doctor of Philosophy degree requires the completion of at least 90 semester credit hours of course work beyond the bachelor's degree or 60 semester credit hours of course work beyond the master's degree, normally including an 18 semester credit hour research thesis. In addition, the candidate must complete six semester credit hours of course work in an area such as mathematics, statistics, experimental techniques, or research methodology (as specified by the advisory committee). 

The School of Industrial Engineering and Management also participates in the health care administration specialization, offered through the natural and applied sciences masters degree program, and the Master of Science in Engineering and Technology Management. Current program information can be found on the World Wide Web (http://www.okstate.edu/ceat/iem/prospective). (See the "Graduate College" section of the Catalog.)