Program Coordinator: M. Ali Montazer, Ph.D.
Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE), as a formal engineering discipline, traces its history to the 1950s but is playing an even greater role in the 21st century given the advances in information technology, engineering technologies, and the trend in globalization. It is one of the most broad-based disciplines in engineering and its application results in balanced solutions to diverse and complex problems primarily related to product development and commercialization processes. Given the global marketplace, the ever-shrinking levels of both natural and human resources, and increasing product and system complexities, industrial and systems engineering is becoming a major engineering function in business, industry, government, service, and non-profit organizations.
Industrial and systems engineers design, develop, facilitate and monitor the process of creating a product or service with the needs and concerns of the various constituencies in mind. This process incorporates critical consideration of a multitude of factors with special emphasis on quality, cost, and time to market. The factor of quality encompasses considerations such as manufacturability, re-configurability, reliability, maintainability, safety, ergonomics and aesthetics, the environment, and the eventual disposal of the product. The factors of cost and time to market translate into procedures that are prerequisite to creating a product or service that can compete in the global marketplace.
Industrial and systems engineering is the integration of all the disciplines and specialty groups into a team effort forming a structured development process that proceeds from product concept through production, service, and all lifecycle phases, considering all the needs of the customer. Industrial and systems engineers are specialists and experts in applying the system engineering method to complex product and system development.
Mission and Educational Objectives
The mission of the Industrial and System Engineering bachelor program is to prepare our students for growth and career opportunities in the field and/or advanced studies. The mission also includes recruiting a diverse student body; providing state-of-the-art education; and interacting with employers to ensure that graduates are prepared to contribute to their chosen professions in various sectors of the economy. The program objectives are to prepare graduates who:
- Apply system thinking to problems
- Achieve academic and technical competence to pursue professional careers in engineering and technology fields
- Acquire and sustain gainful employment in the field commensurate with their education and career goals
- Excel at working on system engineering and related projects and jobs
- Pursue advanced and graduate studies and engage in career-long education
- Contribute to the profession and the society at large through professional societies, community service, and civic activities
- Act as ethical and responsible citizens
The highly interdisciplinary Industrial and Systems Engineering program at the University of New Haven has been designed and developed as a team effort encompassing the various constituencies including future employers of program graduates, students, alumni, industry professionals, and the faculty.
In addition to the University Core Curriculum requirements (explained earlier in this catalog), the program combines strong theoretical foundations in science, mathematics, engineering through the Multidisciplinary Engineering Foundation Spiral Curriculum, and ISE course work. The ISE students learn system engineering principles using modern and advanced computer tools and applications that prepare a graduate to enter the workforce in virtually all industries and economic sectors, including high-tech manufacturing, engineered-products companies, consultancy, transportation, services including healthcare, and government.
The program consists of 128 credits, including a required internship. The credits include the year-long 6-credit industry-sponsored and team-based senior design project. Students are expected to work with their academic adviser to plan their course work and project well in advance in order to experience an optimal final project assignment. Students are required to earn a cumulative quality point ratio of no less than 2.0 in all industrial and systems engineering courses and technical electives. The curriculum is as follows: