Industrial and Systems Engineering MS | College of Engineering

An industrial engineering master’s degree that offers an in-depth look at contemporary solutions to challenges in services, manufacturing, product development, and data-driven decision-making.

100^%

Outcomes Rate of RIT Graduates from this degree

^$72K

Median First-Year Salary of RIT Graduates from this degree

Overview for Industrial and Systems Engineering MS

Why Pursue an Industrial and Systems Engineering Master's at RIT?

STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows full-time, on-campus international students on an F-1 student visa to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.
Flexible Curriculum: Become an innovative problem solver through an exciting, flexible program that weaves research and optional co-op opportunities together.
Hands-on Experience: Learn to design, improve, and control complex systems to make them more profitable, practical, and flexible.
Top-Notch Faculty: Work side-by-side with experienced industrial and systems engineering faculty conducting research on contemporary problems.

Industrial engineering is a multi-disciplinary engineering field at the intersection of mathematics, computer science, and business. The program teaches you how to design the systems behind products and services that affect our everyday lives.

The industrial engineering master’s offers you hands-on experiences designing, improving, and controlling complex systems to make them more profitable, practical, controllable, and flexible. As a result, you will become a problem-solver through a flexible program that leverages skills in advanced manufacturing processes, operations research, data analytics, human computer interaction and augmented reality, product development, ergonomics and human factors, health care, logistics and supply chain management, and sustainable design and development.

You also will have the opportunity to explore different domain areas while working closely with faculty doing research on contemporary problems. We encourage all of our students to participate in cooperative education, which enables you to apply your skills in the real world before you graduate, and helps to enhance your classroom learning once you return from co-op.

What is an Industrial Engineer?

An industrial engineer uses their knowledge of manufacturing and production systems, work efficiencies, energy, and natural resources and materials to develop, improve, and optimize integrated systems to become more efficient and sustainable. An industrial engineer improves how an organization integrates work processes, manufactures products, or provides services while also taking into account ergonomic analysis, logistics and supply chain management, and sustainable design and development with an overall systems approach.

RIT’s Master’s in Industrial and Systems Engineering

Our industrial engineering master’s degree allows you to customize your coursework while working closely with industrial and systems engineering faculty in a contemporary, applied research area. Faculty members are currently conducting applied project and research work in the areas of contemporary and advanced manufacturing processes/systems, ergonomic/biomedical analysis, human computer interaction and augmented reality, logistics and supply chain management, health systems, energy systems, sustainable design and development, systems engineering/product development, and systems simulation.

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Start Your Graduate Program this Spring

This program offers a spring start, which means you can jumpstart your graduate journey and begin your studies this January.

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30% Tuition Scholarship for NY Residents and Graduates

Now is the perfect time to earn your Master’s degree. If you’re a New York state resident with a bachelor’s degree or have/will graduate from a college or university in New York state, you are eligible to receive a 30% tuition scholarship.

Learn more about Master Up NY

Careers and Experiential Learning

Typical Job Titles

Continuous Improvement Engineer	Operations Leadership Development Associate	Safety Specialist/Engineer
Vice President of Manufacturing	Industrial Engineer	Quality Engineer
Technology Energy Analyst	Sustainability Engineer	Human Factors Engineer
Systems Engineer

Post-Graduation Salary and Career Info

Cooperative Education and Internships

What makes an RIT education exceptional? It’s the opportunity to complete relevant, hands-on engineering co-ops and internships with top companies in every single industry. At the graduate level, and paired with an advanced degree, cooperative education and internships give you the unparalleled credentials that truly set you apart. Learn more about graduate co-op and how it provides you with the career experience employers look for in their next top hires.

Cooperative education is strongly encouraged for graduate students in the industrial engineering master's program.

Featured Work and Profiles

RIT Professor Explores the Future of Immersive Tech

Yunbo Zhang Assistant Professor Will Zhang joins Peggy Smedley to delve into the world of immersive technologies like AR, VR, and the metaverse, discussing their evolving role in manufacturing, long-term impacts,...
Read More about RIT Professor Explores the Future of Immersive Tech

Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Industrial and Systems Engineering MS

Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements

View Printable Curriculum

Industrial and Systems Engineering, MS degree, typical course sequence

Course		Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
ISEE-601	Systems Modeling and Optimization An introductory course in operations research focusing on modeling and optimization techniques used in solving problems encountered in industrial and service systems. Topics include deterministic and stochastic modeling methodologies (e.g., linear and integer programming, Markov chains, and queuing models) in addition to decision analysis and optimization tools. These techniques will be applied to application areas such as production systems, supply chains, logistics, scheduling, healthcare, and service systems. Note: Students required to take ISEE-301 for credit may not take ISEE-601 for credit. (This course is restricted to students in ISEE-MS, ENGMGT-MS, MIE-PHD, AI-MS, or BIME-BS students with a BIMEISEE-U subplan.) Lecture 3 (Fall).	3
ISEE-760	Design of Experiments This course presents an in-depth study of the primary concepts of experimental design. Its applied approach uses theoretical tools acquired in other mathematics and statistics courses. Emphasis is placed on the role of replication and randomization in experimentation. Numerous designs and design strategies are reviewed and implications on data analysis are discussed. Topics include: consideration of type 1 and type 2 errors in experimentation, sample size determination, completely randomized designs, randomized complete block designs, blocking and confounding in experiments, Latin square and Graeco Latin square designs, general factorial designs, the 2k factorial design system, the 3k factorial design system, fractional factorial designs, Taguchi experimentation. (Prerequisites: ISEE-325 or STAT-257 or MATH-252 or MCEE-205 or STAT-205 or equivalent course or students in ISEE-MS, ENGMGT-MS, or MIE-PHD programs.) Lecture 3 (Spring).	3
ISEE-771	Engineering of Systems I The engineering of a system is focused on the identification of value and the value chain, requirements management and engineering, understanding the limitations of current systems, the development of the overall concept, and continually improving the robustness of the defined solution. EOS I & II is a 2-semester course sequence focused on the creation of systems that generate value for both the customer and the enterprise. Through systematic analysis and synthesis methods, novel solutions to problems are proposed and selected. This first course in the sequence focuses on the definition of the system requirements by systematic analysis of the existing problems, issues and solutions, to create an improved vision for a new system. Based on this new vision, new high-level solutions will be identified and selected for (hypothetical) further development. The focus is to learn systems engineering through a focus on an actual artifact (This course is restricted to students in ISEE-MS, PRODDEV-MS, MFLEAD-MS, ENGMGT-MS, MIE-PHD, BIME-BS students with a BIMEISEE-U subplan, ISEE-BS students with a ISEEMS-U or ISEEEGMT-U subplan, or those with 5th year standing in ISEE-BS or ISEEDU-BS.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).	3
ISEE-795	Graduate Seminar* This class introduces students to state of the art research and research methods in industrial and systems engineering. Presentations include off campus speakers and students/faculty presentations on current research under way in the department. (This course is restricted to students in ISEE-MS, ENGMGT-MS, BIME-BS students with a BIMEISEE-U subplan, or ISEE-BS students with a ISEEMS-U or ISEEEGMT-U subplan.) Seminar 1 (Fall, Spring).	0
	ISEE Electives	9
Second Year
	Graduate Electives	6
Choose one of the following:		6
ISEE-788	Project with Paper, plus one ISEE Elective This course is used by students as a capstone experience. The student must demonstrate an acquired competence in a topic that is chosen in conference with a faculty advisor. The work may involve a research and/or design project with demonstration of acquired knowledge. A written paper and an oral presentation of the work are required. Project 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
ISEE-790	Thesis In conference with a faculty adviser, an independent engineering project or research problem is selected. The work may be of a theoretical and/or computational nature. A state-of-the-art literature search in the area is normally expected. A formal written thesis and an oral defense with a faculty thesis committee are required. Submission of bound copies of the thesis to the library and to the department and preparation of a written paper in a short format suitable for submission for publication in a refereed journal are also required. Approval of department head and faculty adviser needed to enroll. (Enrollment in this course requires permission from the department offering the course.) Thesis (Fall, Spring, Summer).
ISEE-792	Engineering Capstone, plus one ISEE Elective Students must investigate a discipline-related topic in industrial and systems engineering. The general intent of the engineering capstone is to demonstrate the students' knowledge of the integrative aspects of a particular area. The capstone should draw upon skills and knowledge acquired in the program. (This course is restricted to students in ISEE-MS, ENGMGT-MS, PRODDEV-MS, MFLEAD-MS, BIME-BS students with a BIMEISEE-U subplan, or ISEE-BS students with a ISEEMS-U or ISEEEGMT-U subplan.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
Total Semester Credit Hours		30

* Graduate Seminar (ISEE-795) must be completed twice in the first year of study.

Admissions and Financial Aid

This program is available on-campus only.

Offered	Admit Term(s)	Application Deadline	STEM Designated
Full‑time	Fall or Spring	Rolling	Yes
Part‑time	Fall or Spring	Rolling	No

Full-time study is 9+ semester credit hours. Part-time study is 1‑8 semester credit hours. International students requiring a visa to study at the RIT Rochester campus must study full‑time.

Application Details

To be considered for admission to the Industrial and Systems Engineering MS program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

Complete an online graduate application.
Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college in engineering, mathematics, or science. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) is recommended.
Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
Submit a personal statement of educational objectives.
Submit two letters of recommendation.
Entrance exam requirements: GRE required. No minimum score requirement.
Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required. Details are below.

English Language Test Scores

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver.

TOEFL	IELTS	PTE Academic
88	6.5	60

International students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.

How to Apply Start or Manage Your Application

Cost and Financial Aid

An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Graduate tuition varies by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, and delivery method. View the general cost of attendance or estimate the cost of your graduate degree.

A combination of sources can help fund your graduate degree. Learn how to fund your degree

Faculty

Research

The faculty and students in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering are engaging in numerous areas of research, which takes place across all of our engineering disciplines and often involves other colleges at RIT, local health care institutions, and major industry partners. Explore the college's key research initiatives to learn more about our research in:

Facilities

November 26, 2024

Ruben Proano invited to join World Health Organization’s technical advisory group

RIT researcher Rubén Proaño has joined the World Health Organization’s Technical Advisory Group on Market Access for Vaccines. He began his service during the advisory group’s November meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
August 28, 2024

Faculty-researchers Katie McConky and Amanda Bao named ELATES Fellows

Two faculty-researchers at RIT have been selected to the Class of 2024-2025 of Drexel University’s Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) program, designed to promote women in academic STEM fields and faculty allies of all genders into institutional leadership roles.
May 3, 2024

Two graduates bring new meaning to legacy family

Two RIT students graduating next week continue their family legacies while pioneering unique paths in their fields.