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School of Engineering and Computer Science

Engineering Center, Room 301
115 Library Drive
Rochester , MI 48309-4479
(location map)
Dean's Office: (248) 370-2217
Academic Advising: (248) 370-2201
secsadvising@oakland.edu

School of Engineering and Computer Science

Engineering Center, Room 301
115 Library Drive
Rochester , MI 48309-4479
(location map)
Dean's Office: (248) 370-2217
Academic Advising: (248) 370-2201
secsadvising@oakland.edu

woman showing a screen with colorful images and P L M - Robotics on it to a student

Industrial and Systems Engineering

The profession of Industrial and Systems Engineering is about choices. Other engineering disciplines apply skills to very specific areas. ISE gives you the opportunity to work in a variety of businesses. Whether it's distributing products worldwide, manufacturing superior automobiles, or streamlining the procedures in an operating room, all of these situations share the common goal of increasing efficiencies and saving companies money.

The most distinctive aspect of Industrial and Systems Engineering is the career and job flexibility it offers. Industrial and Systems Engineers are the "engineers for the 21st century."

The BSE in Industrial and Systems Engineering program is accredited in both Industrial Engineering and in Systems Engineering by the  Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org.

Program Overview Major Requirements Apply Now

Contact Us
Vijitashawa Pandey, Associate Professor and Chair
Engineering Center 502
(248) 370-4044
pandey2@oakland.edu

overview

Students in the ISE bachelor's program take a variety of courses to prepare for their career. They include:

  • General education courses such as writing, formal reasoning and global perspectives.
  • Math and sciences courses in calculus and physics.
  • Engineering core courses such as Introduction to Industrial and Systems Engineering, CAD and computer problem solving.
  • ISE professional courses in simulation, ergonomics and human factors, quality control, operations research, PLM, lean, Industry 4.0, data analytics, ERP, robotics, production systems and leadership.
  • A team-based senior design experience that is conducted at a local company.  Companies that hosted senior design projects include General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Rayconnect, Brose, JR Automation, McLaren Oakland Hospital, Comerica Bank, Mirari, DTE Energy, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital and Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital.

ISE jobs by the numbers

  • Comparing the number of ISE jobs in the U.S. with other engineering fields:
Industrial and Systems Engineering313,980
Electrical Engineering307,540
Civil Engineering300,850
Mechanical Engineering293,960
  • Comparing the number of ISE jobs in Michigan with other engineering fields:
Mechanical Engineering40,340
Industrial and Systems Engineering25,380
Electrical Engineering12,390
Civil Engineering5,740

2020 Data from U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

what is ise

Industrial and Systems Engineers focus on solving problems from a system-level perspective, which includes people, machines, materials, energy, technology, information and software. Industrial and Systems Engineers must design solutions that consider all of a system’s components so that everything works together to improve overall system performance.

As companies adopt management philosophies of continuous productivity and quality improvement to survive in the increasingly competitive world market, the need for Industrial and Systems Engineers is growing. Why? Industrial and Systems Engineers are the only engineering professionals who are trained as productivity and quality improvement specialists. They are leaders in six sigma and lean systems initiatives. The Industrial and Systems Engineer is synonymous with systems integrator – a big-picture thinker who takes what exists today and conceptualizes what should exist in the future.

A lot of engineers become disillusioned with the engineering profession because they get involved in minutiae or they end up on a CAD machine all the time and they never get out in the operating environment. ISE provides an opportunity for a challenging career working with people where you can have a direct impact on the success of an organization.
 
What others are saying about ISE
objectives & outcomes

The ISE B.S.E. Program Educational Objectives are a set of skills that are necessary to function successfully in modern engineering practice. It is expected that ISE graduates have been prepared in each of these areas and will exhibit each of these characteristics as they pursue their professional careers:

The objectives of the Industrial and Systems Engineering program are to produce graduates who will:
  • design, develop, implement, sustain and improve systems which integrate people, materials, equipment, information and energy
  • operate effectively in dynamic and diverse organizations
  • demonstrate a professional attitude, integrity and commitment to life-long learning in their work
Student Outcomes are a set of skills that assure the achievement of the ISE program educational objectives. Before graduating, ISE students will demonstrate their skills in the following key areas:
  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
  5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
student resources
Scheduling - what semesters ISE courses are offered

X = on-campus and O = online

CourseFallWinterSum ISum II
Required
ISE 3318X
ISE 3330X
ISE 4469X
ISE 4483X
ISE 4484X or OX or O
ISE 4485XO
ISE 4487X
ISE 4491XX
Elective
ISE 4410O
ISE 4421X
ISE 4422X
ISE 4423X
ISE 4431X or O
ISE 4435X or O
ISE 4441X or O
ISE 4450X or O
ISE 4455X or O
IDE 4456X or O
ISE 4461X
ISE 4462X
ISE 4463X
ISE 4464X or O
ISE 4466X
ISE 4467X
ISE 4480X
ISE 4482
ISE 4488X
ISE 4900X or OX or OX or OX or O

Notes:

  • Courses left blank are offered occasionally
  • ISE 4900 will offer several different topics - may of may not be offered any given semester
Computer account access and information for SECS students
Full-time Job Opportunities, Summer Internships and Co-op Positions