<p>So, I've asked a few times before and haven't gotten a whole lot for answers. What makes IOE easier than all the other Engineering majors? Are the classes curved higher in IOE than other majors? Are people in IOE dumber than in other majors? I've heard an indirect yes, having been told that people who drop from other majors tend to go to IOE. The subject material may be easier to grasp but are grades? </p>
<p>Specificly, if someone can compare on those criteria to CompSci, that would be appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>Sorry - this is probably a dumb question, but what is IOE exactly?</p>
<p>There are several reasons:</p>
<p>1.
The main reason is because of the idiotic way most industrial engineering programs across the nation are set up.
IOE has 2 tracks, “Operations Research” and “Ergonomics”
Operations Research is basically an applied math degree on steroids with a lot of stochastic probability, markov chain and modelling. The difference between stochastic probability and deterministic probability (which is the type of probability most people know about) is that stochastic probability is usually used in a multi-step context, and the actual probability changes based on the previous step. This gives you billions of scenarios. The stuff can be really really hard. I am taking a 500 level stochastic class that is taken by most financial engineering masters and some engineering Phds from other disciplines cant handle it. The things that can be best modeled using a stochastic model is something like the financial markets or a highly unpredictable supply chain.</p>
<p>On the other hand ,there is lousy ass Ergonomics, which I dont understand why it is part of IOE or engineering at all. I mean it should be under industrial health or kinesiology or some lame ass degree. It’s basically the study of human movements in an industrial environment. This stuff is really easy and all you have to do is just memorize some BS.</p>
<p>The problem with the IOE program is that it forces you to take both ergonomics and operations research requirements, and then you can tailor your degree from then on. Some people take a lot of operations research classes and their “IOE major” can be really really difficult. Then some ■■■■■■■ take all ergonomics classes after the requirements and their “IOE major” is basically underwater basketweaving.</p>
<p>2.
“Are people in IOE dumber than in other majors?”
Let’s say the smartest are just as smart as any other engineering majors, and the dumbest are dumber than other engineering majors. There is a significant faction of pre-financial engineering people and consulting people who are really smart. COE places relatively well in those career paths than LSA. They do IOE because modeling is a very important skill in those careers. Plus if that’s your career choice there’s no point doing other engineering majors…I mean knowing how to build a car or make a complex program doesnt help you at all at MBB. IOE is the only degree the dumbest in the COE can do because all they have to do is take all ergonomics classes which has virtually no math involved.</p>
<p>3.
“Are the classes curved higher in IOE than other majors?”
If you look on ■■■■■■■ or myedu.com or any websites that do FOIA on U of M and force them to hand over grade distribution statistics, the average grades for IOE classes are identical to other engineering majors. However, one caveat is Ergonomics classes have really generous curves, while operations research classes have really tough curves.</p>
<p>Thanks bearcats…</p>
<p>Following up, how are the operations research classes curved (as those are the ones I thought sounded interesting, not the ergonomics), and is it reasonably possible for someone who’s not super smart to do well in those? (Specifically, how is that compared to CS if you know) I’m certainly not as smart as PHD candidates in engineering. And, when companies are looking to hire people for positions which want the operations research and not the ergonomics, do they look at what classes they took. Do people get these positions with all ergo classes boosting their GPA?</p>
<p>Edit: One more, how does the caliber of student in the Operations research side compare to other majors? And again, specifically CS, if you can compare. </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
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<p>Do employers still hire them for engineering jobs?</p>
<p>^There are a few Ergo jobs listed in the HireMe website, so there is some demand.</p>
<p>There’s also a number of jobs which seem to just want somebody who is atleast smart enough to get into Engineering, pass their classes, and graduate with whatever GPA and whatever (within Engineering) degree.</p>
<p>^what r those jobs?</p>
<p>Mostly non-technical jobs or light-technical jobs. Things like consulting and marketing.</p>
<p>^what r the job titles for those jobs?</p>
<p>Another reason IOE is easy is because all the prerequisites are a joke. The only thing that is extra from the normal engineering prereq’s (like engin101, engin100, phys140/240) is Math 214 (which is easier than 216). Compare that to say, BME or ChemE that require MSE classes and Orgo 1 or 2, or Aerospace that requires higher level math classes (level 300+)</p>
<p>How does Orgo 1 compare in difficulty to 214 and 216?</p>
<p>Stargazing, “Project Analyst” is one job title. There are lots of things with the word analyst in them, some seem very technical, some don’t.</p>
<p>Orgo 1 is definitely harder than both 214 and 216.</p>
<p>Hmmm… How about compared to math 450 or 451 (it’s called advanced calculus)?</p>