Master of Science in Industrial Engineering
Introduction
The Master of Science in Industrial Engineering program at UIC prepares students with the necessary expertise to create efficient, high-performing systems that bring together people, equipment, materials, power, and information to deliver products or services.
Students can either combine their courses with a research-based master’s thesis or complete their entire MS degree through coursework.
How to Apply
Admissions
In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements. The requirements listed below are current as of Spring 2026. To view the latest admission requirements, please visit the UIC Academic Catalog.
Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or related curriculum from an American Board of Engineering Technology (ABET) accredited college, university, or the equivalent.
- A minimum GPA of 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours of undergraduate study.
- Proof of English proficiency for international applicants (TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE meeting Graduate College criteria).
- Three letters of recommendation.
- A personal statement.
Curriculum
The curriculum consists of 36 semester credit hours including a combination of 400-level and 500-level courses, some of which must be in the industrial engineering rubric.
Degree Requirements
Students can choose a thesis-based degree option or complete their degree through coursework only.
The thesis-based degree option requires 12 credit hours of IE 598 with the approval of a thesis advisor. More details about the thesis and coursework-only options can be found on the UIC Academic Catalog.
Other Requirements
- No graduation credit will be given for Credit/No Credit courses.
- Students must get the director of graduate studies’ approval to take online courses.
- All courses must be approved first by the student’s advisor and then by the director of graduate studies.
- There is no comprehensive examination.
Program Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be prepared to become professional engineers in different sectors of industrial engineering, with the following specific learning outcomes:
- Acquired technical knowledge and skills in the specialized fields of industrial engineering.
- The ability to use technical knowledge and skills to analyze and design manufacturing and service systems.
- The capability of identifying and implementing new approaches to solving technical problems in industrial engineering.
- Effective communication of solutions to a problem or research project, in both oral and written form.
Top companies where our alumni have been hired:
- Uber Freight
- E80 Group
- Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A
- Gamma Technologies
- Oracle Robotics
- Walmart
- MAPEI USA
- The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
- Fetch
- Caterpillar
- Tesla
- Schneider Electric
- PayPal
- Airbus
Frequently Asked Questions
For answers to more frequently asked questions, please visit our Graduate Admissions FAQ page.
What is the application deadline if I want to be considered for funding?
The deadline for applicants who want to be considered for funding can be found on the Graduate College website.
Is admission to the PhD program guaranteed after completing an MS in Mechanical Engineering?
Admission to the PhD program is not automatic for students completing their MS degree in the department. Master’s students who desire to continue on to the PhD program must see the department’s graduate coordinator for more information.
Is there anything I should know as a non-degree applicant?
Non-degree applicants may be admitted for no more than 8 semester hours.
Hear From Our Students and Alumni
MIE professors were very supportive of us, even after graduating. For example, an assistant professor provided me with a volunteering opportunity after I graduated.
| Program Manager, Amazon
After graduation, my aspiration is to build a career that integrates both engineering and management disciplines.
As a project engineer, MIE is helping me strengthen my ability to design high-performance systems and lead projects with a strong emphasis on efficiency, productivity, and safety.
| Project Engineer, APEX Companies