Why add an industrial and systems engineering minor?
An ISE minor helps students understand how complex systems made up of people, processes, data, and technology work together. These skills are transferable and valuable in nearly every field.
Students in the ISE minor develop skills in:
- Process improvement and systems analysis
- Operations and quality control
- Data‑informed optimization and decision making
- Designing efficient, human‑centered systems
The ISE minor pairs well with majors in business, analytics, economics, computer science, health sciences, and the social sciences.
Go further, faster with an accelerated master’s pathway
Qualified students can earn progress toward a master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering while completing their minor.
Program overview
Minor at a glance
The ISE minor introduces students to core concepts in industrial and systems engineering through a combination of required and elective coursework. Classes emphasize practical applications and real‑world problem solving.
Many students are able to complete the minor with minimal additional coursework, depending on their major and elective choices.
Total credits: 15 s.h.
Prerequisite: One statistics course (STAT:2020, STAT:3510, STAT:1030, or equivalent). Most quantitatively oriented majors already meet the statistics prerequisite.
Core courses: 6 s.h.
Electives: 9 s.h. (choose three)
Required core courses (6 s.h.)
Students complete foundational coursework that introduces key ISE concepts such as systems modeling, operations, and quality.
ISE:2500 Engineering Economy 3 s.h.
Evaluate tradeoffs and financial decisions within engineering and operational systems. Learn cost analysis, project evaluation, and decision-making under economic constraints. Corequisite: STAT:2020 (waived for students pursuing an ISE or HSE minor).
ISE:3600 Quality Control 3 s.h.
Apply statistical methods to monitor and improve system performance. Topics include process control, reliability, and data-driven quality improvement. Prerequisites: STAT:2020 or STAT:1030 or STAT:3510 or BIOS:4120 or PSY:2812.
Elective courses (9 s.h.)
Elective courses allow students to tailor the minor to their academic interests.
Data & Analytics
- ISE:3610 Stochastic Modeling
- ISE:3660 Data Analytics with R
- ISE:3700 Operations Research
- ISE:3750 Digital Systems Simulation
- ISE:5380 Deep Learning
- ISE:6790 Advanced Data Analytics & Informatics
Best for students interested in modeling, analytics, optimization, or graduate study.
Manufacturing & Production Systems
- ISE:2360 Design for Manufacturing
- ISE:3300 Manufacturing Systems
- ISE:3350 Process Engineering
Strong fit for mechanical, civil, biomedical, and industry-oriented students.
Human Factors & Systems Design
- ISE:3400 Human Factors
- ISE:3450 Ergonomics
- ISE:6420 Human/Computer Interaction
Ideal for students interested in usability, safety, and human-centered system design.
Can this fit into your degree plan?
Yes — the minor is designed to integrate efficiently into most four-year plans. Students do not need to be industrial engineering majors to pursue this minor.
Example Two-Year Integration Plan
Junior Year
- ISE:2500 (Engineering Economy)
- Elective 1
Senior Year
- ISE:3600 (Quality Control)
- Elective 2
- Elective 3
Engineering students may incorporate electives into technical elective slots, depending on department policies.
Students are encouraged to meet with an ISE advisor early to confirm sequencing.
Eligibility and policies
- Minimum GPA of 2.00 in minor coursework
- No course taken Pass/Nonpass may count toward the minor
- Up to 6 s.h. of approved transfer credit may apply
- Students enrolled in the BSE Industrial & Systems Engineering major may not earn the minor
- Courses numbered 5000+ require instructor and department approval
Students may self-declare the minor through MyUI.
Careers and next steps
An ISE minor supports careers and graduate study in areas such as:
- Operations and process analysis
- Business and analytics roles
- Healthcare and service systems
- Consulting, logistics, and supply chain management
Students interested in adding the ISE minor should consult with their academic advisor and the ISE undergraduate advising office to determine how it fits within their degree plan.
