Many students take one and a half or two years to complete the degree.
The master of science degree in industrial engineering is intended to prepare students to design, develop and implement solutions to industrial engineering problems. Work at the master's level can be considered more pragmatic and applied than work at the PhD level. PhD work focuses on research and is quite flexible, allowing faculty to guide students in directions that keep the department and students at the forefront of research. Between 24 and 30 credits of graduate work are required for the MSIE, depending on the area of specialization. Prospective students should contact the department for current curricula in the specialization of their choice.