Mission

Managing industrial, business, or service activities in the modern world is a complex task as engineering, the sciences, and the humanities have become much more interdependent. All organizations need individuals capable of designing, installing and operating systems that will function in a society made more complicated by the technological explosion. The orientation is "productivity through quality," and there is a need for people who can:

  • Direct, coordinate, and control the diverse components of the system
  • Utilize resources in an optimal manner
  • Translate discoveries into new products on a timely basis.

The Department of Industrial Engineering meets this challenge through an intensive educational program. Building upon a solid foundation in the basic sciences, engineering, and computers, the curriculum provides the student with a capability for systems analysis & design that crosses traditional disciplinary lines, and an awareness of and concern for the demands of today's dynamic social systems. Organizations employing industrial engineers include:

  • Manufacturers
  • Retail corporations
  • Transportation industries
  • Independent consultants
  • Banks
  • Hospitals
  • Energy suppliers
  • Government/military
  • Educational institutions

ABET Program Educational Objectives

The objectives of the Industrial Engineering Program at the University of Pittsburgh are for our graduates to be:

  • Successful, ethical professionals, who adapt to and drive innovations in technology and our global society in their desired career path;
  • Lifelong learners and pursuers of advanced knowledge;
  • Inclusive leaders who create value for their profession and/or community by utilizing their industrial engineering skills.

ABET Student Outcomes

At graduation, students must be able to demonstrate an ability to:

(1) Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics

(2) Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors

(3) Communicate effectively with a range of audiences

(4) Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts

(5) Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives

(6) Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions

(7) Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Enrollment Numbers

The Swanson School of Engineering enrollment numbers can be found here.

The Industrial Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Industrial Engineering and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.