I will be going to Iowa in the fall and I’m pretty sure I’m going to major in industrial engineering. I was wondering if IEs take different classes then, say, MEs. Also, why is IE considered easier than the other branches of engineering?
Googling “Iowa industrial engineering curriculum” got me this :http://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/sites/default/files/mie/IECurriculum_UG2014-2015%2004_27_2015.pdf
Looks like you’ll have little to no overlap with ME courses.
IE is considered easier because there is a perception that IEs do less higher level math. Doesn’t mean it is true however. Also, who cares?
IE is more math and statistics based but less physics based than other kinds of engineering.
What are the “weed-out” classes for this major or engineering majors in general?
For engineering majors in general I think your biggest weed out classes are going to be Calc I, Calc II, Physics I, and Physics II. You could also throw Chem I and/or O Chem in there for good measure. Those courses are pre-requisites for almost every other math, hard science, and engineering course you will ever take, so students who really struggle in those classes don’t tend to stick with the engineering major.
Someone else might be able to speak more specifically about weed out classes for IEs.
The general coursework is:
The engineering math series (calculus I, II, III and linear algebra and differential equations)
The engineering physics series (Mechanics and E&M)
A sequence of basic engineering classes (1-2 classes for coding, circuits, statics/dynamics, materials science, and maybe a few more “breadth” courses in engineering)
A long list of classes in economics, statistics, and performing tests/simulations (economics, statistics, business, specific classes on designing and testing ideas, and maybe a few in-depth classes on stochastic systems)
The stochastic optimization you do for IE is the only part that is actually tricky. Everything else is pretty basic, and a far cry from the depth and tedium you will find in any of the traditional engineering disciplines. I’d say that makes it significantly easier than most engineering majors, but unless your main goal is bragging rights for having worked the hardest in school, don’t pay it too much heed. Though I would say that it is more of an engineering-oriented business major than strictly an engineering major.
“engineering-oriented business major” perfect definition for Industrial Engineering
^ that “definition” is exactly why my son chose the major.
A better “definition” might be an engineering major with business oriented applications.
^ I like that one even better
Not that this really matters, but do the industrial engineering students take econ/ stats courses with business majors? Just wondering.
Economics, probably. Statistics, less likely so. Most business students (and most students in general, really) have an irrational fear of math.
My son’s curriculum includes an engineering economics course and lots of stats - 2 semesters of regular stats plus additional engineering stats courses, and one more math than other engineering majors. He has no required business-type courses - just all engineering. At his university, the only thing that might make it an “easier” engineering degree is that there are a couple of upper level business classes that count as technical electives, which is not the case in other engineering majors. Unfortunately, rarely does an IE have the prereq business courses required to take the upper level electives.
Yes, Industrial engineers have to take all the engineering courses for the first year or two that any engineer does (multivariable calculus, differential equations, physics,etc). It is not a “business major” despite the fact that an occasional poster seems to want to peg it as such.
Personally, I think the difference is trivial and that this is another one of those “is computer science an engineering discipline” debates.
No, it is not “trivial.” Industrial engineering may have some overlap with some business-oriented disciplines like operations management, but it is misleading and false to call it a “business major.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_engineering
“Business schools may offer programs with some overlapping relevance to IE, but the engineering programs are distinguished by a more intensely quantitative focus as well as the core math and science courses required of all engineering programs.”
Here is a typical IE curriculum (from VT). It does not look like a “business major” to me. http://www.ise.vt.edu/UndergradProgram/ImportantDocuments/2016_BSISE_Checksheet.pdf
Don’t let the anecdotes bother you. For years, IE has been the butt of jokes such as calling it “Imaginary Engineering” because it is a little unique in that it does not focus on “stuff” - machines, circuits, fluid flow, material, etc. But the world is full of such jokes such as “can’t spell geek without a EE” etc. A really good IE is a valuable thing when it comes to optimizing systems.
Some of that IS pretty humorous. As Chardo has noted , IE can also stand for “Instant Employment.”
Yes, some of the jokes are pretty funny. When I was at VT “last century”, the ISE department was IEOR - Industrial Engineering and Operational Research, or more commonly “Imaginary Engineering with Outdoor Recreation”
Well, Outdoor Recreation is great near Blacksburg! So, that was a good one. As you say, it’s ISE now so I guess they can’t use that one anymore.