Industrial Engineering, MS

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.

Students with baccalaureate degrees in engineering, the physical sciences, mathematics, or related majors with a strong mathematical background may be admitted into the program. Entering graduate students are assumed to have competence in calculus, probability and statistics, calculus-based physics, and computing. Students admitted without this background are required to complete successfully additional courses, some of which may not carry graduate credit.

Additional information can be found in our graduate handbook available at: https://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/ie/academics/graduate/index.html.

Undergraduates Involved in Graduate Programs

Undergraduate students majoring in Industrial Engineering at Clemson may take courses for graduate credit. Students should consult with their undergraduate advisor, the Graduate Coordinator and/or the Honors Coordinator before enrolling in graduate courses.

Summary of Degree Requirements

Thirty (30) credit hours must be taken to complete the degree, half at which should be at the 8000 level. MS students may select a thesis or non-thesis option.

Core Coursework

All MS students take the following courses:

• IE 8000 - Human Factors Engineering 3 Credits  
• IE 8030 - Engineering Optimization and Applications 3 Credits  
• IE 8090 - Model Systems Under Risk 3 Credits  

Thesis Option

For the thesis option, students must take six credits of research and 24 credits of coursework, at least 15 of which should be selected from IE courses. Each student who selects the thesis option forms a committee to assess their thesis as part of the MS program.

Non-Thesis Option

For the non-thesis option, students must take 30 credits of coursework, at least 18 of which should be selected from IE courses.

Non-Thesis Internship Option

For the non-thesis internship option, students must take 30 credits of coursework, at least 18 of which should be selected from IE courses. In addition, INT 8010  or an appropriate internship course must be on the GS-2 and completed successfully.

Before starting the internship course, the student must meet the following criteria: (1) be enrolled full-time for at least one academic year and (2) have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.