COURSE CURRICULUM

Lehigh University’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) offers a range of graduate programs, including master’s degrees and a Ph.D., designed to prepare students for careers in academia, industry, and research. These programs provide flexibility for students to tailor their studies while leveraging ISE’s expertise in optimization, applied operations research, statistical modeling, machine learning, data science, quantum computing, and uncertainty quantification.The Master of Science (M.S.) in Optimization is intended for students pursuing research-oriented careers and emphasizes the design, analysis, and implementation of optimization algorithms. Students complete 12 credit hours in optimization, supplemented with 9 credit hours of ISE coursework and 9 additional relevant credit hours from any department. Similarly, the M.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IEOR) develops skills for careers in industry, business, health, and government, with 12 credit hours in IEOR, 9 credit hours in ISE, and 9 additional elective credit hours.The M.S. in Health Systems Engineering (HSE) prepares graduates for professional roles in healthcare management, process improvement, and efficiency enhancement. The 30-credit program includes 9 credit hours in health systems, 9 in ISE, 6 in the College of Engineering, and 6 elective credits from other departments, with courses available in-person or online. The M.S. in Financial Engineering integrates financial theory, mathematical finance, and engineering decision-making to equip students for innovative problem-solving in finance.The Ph.D. in ISE emphasizes individualized study for students pursuing teaching, consulting, or research careers. Doctoral students must demonstrate proficiency in ISE subfields and conduct independent research through a dissertation. Research areas include optimization, machine learning, stochastic modeling, energy and service systems, finance, healthcare, mobility and transportation, and supply chain management. The program requires completion of core and elective courses, advisor assignment, passing qualifying and performance exams, and successful defense of a dissertation. Additional requirements include annual progress reports and compliance with RCEAS guidelines.