Industrial Engineering, PhD

Program Description

Industrial engineers design, develop and improve integrated systems that include people, materials, information, equipment and energy. In addition to these issues, graduates learn to address communications throughout the organization while completing their specialized education. Work at the doctoral level includes independent research, dissemination of findings and preparation for research and teaching careers.

Overall, the PhD program provides the student with a comprehensive knowledge of the field of industrial engineering and a mastery of the methods of research. PhD students gain a breadth of knowledge across both Operations Research (OR) and Human Factors (HF). They gain depth in their chosen research area by specializing in either OR or HF through advanced coursework.

Additional information is available at http://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/ie/.

Summary of Degree Requirements

Students must take 60 credit hours beyond their bachelor’s program or 30 credit hours beyond their master’s program as they pursue the PhD. Students are expected to take at least 18 credits of research and at least 12 credits of coursework. Each PhD student forms a dissertation committee responsible for assessing the student’s comprehensive exam, which is a demonstration of the student’s research ability, and, ultimately, the PhD dissertation of the student. Students also must pass a qualifying exam in their specialization.  More information is available in the graduate handbook available at https://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/ie/academics/graduate/index.html.

Outcomes, Learning Objectives, and Graduation Requirements

Successful graduates understand how to conduct and present cutting-edge research in Industrial Engineering.