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Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

Applications are accepted from undergraduate majors in engineering and in the behavioral, physical, and mathematical sciences. Some preparation in mathematics (calculus and matrix/linear algebra), computer science, and statistics is prerequisite to most entry-level graduate courses. Exposure to the physical, behavioral, and management sciences (e.g. economics, business, accounting) is also deemed desirable.

Prerequisites

Students admitted without an undergraduate IE degree may be required to undertake remedial course work to rectify background deficiencies. The program assumes that entering students will have had a coursework background in statistics and operations research comparable to that found in the typical undergraduate curriculum in Industrial Engineering (at NCSU this would include ST 371, ST 372, IE 361, and IE 401). Accordingly the entry-level courses ST 507, ST 511, ST 513, ST 515, and OR 501 cannot be used to satisfy the credit-hour requirements for graduate degrees in the Department of Industrial Engineering.

Criteria for Admission to Industrial and Systems Engineering Graduate Programs

  1. Grade Point Average (GPA) in previous academic programs: 3.0/4.0
  2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores:
    • Verbal: 450
    • Quantitative: 680
    • Analytical: 4.5 (550)
    • NCSU Institution Code for GRE is 5496
    • ISE Department Code for GRE is 1301
  4. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score:
    • Internet-based Test (iBT). Minimum test scores for each section:
      • Listening 15 points
      • Reading 20 points
      • Writing 20 points
      • Speaking 20 points - for admission to the Graduate School
    • Computer-based TOEFL scores must be 233 or higher (with at least 17 on three sections and no section score below 13).
    • Paper-based test requires a score of 575 or higher (with scores of 50 on at least two of the three sections and no section score below 45)
    • NCSU Institution Code for TOEFL is 5496
    • ISE Department Code for TOEFL is 67
  6. Letters of recommendation from three individuals; and some of these letters should be from the applicant’s former professors.

  7. Successful applicants exceed these minimums in most cases. Prospective applicants should be guided by the following average scores of a recent entering class consisting of approximately 30 students: GPA=3.45; GRE-Verbal = 510; GRE-Quantitative = 755; GRE-Analytical= 662; and for international students, the average TOEFL = 624 [245].

    Note: Admission requirements of the Industrial Engineering Department are more strict than those of the Graduate School.

    Application Deadlines

    • US students
      • Fall deadline: June 25
      • Spring deadline: November 25
    • International students
      • Fall deadline: March 1
      • Spring deadline: July 15

Priority for financial awards goes to students who apply before Feb. 1st (for Fall) and Sept. 1st (for Spring).

Application Procedures

  1. Download the following Industrial Engineering Graduate Program's Supplemental Application as a Word document or pdf file.
  3. Fill out the form and follow the directions on the form for submitting it to the department.
  4. Read through the NCSU Graduate Catalog for important Graduate School information such as:
  6. Apply online and download the NC State Graduate School Application Form or request the form by mail.
  7. Fill out and return the NC State Graduate School Application Form with the application fees and all supporting documents directly to the Graduate School. All application forms must be accompanied by the following supporting documents:
    • Statement of Purpose
    • One official transcript from all post-secondary institutions attended
    • Residence form if claiming NC residence for tuition purposes
    • References from at least three people who know of the prospective student's academic record and potential for graduate study
    • A non-refundable application fee ($65 U.S. dollars for U.S. citizens and permanent residents; $75 for internationals).
    • Official GRE test scores
    • Official TOFEL test scores (International Students)
    • IE supplemental application form (see 1 above)

Note: The application fee cannot be waived under any circumstances for foreign applicants.

Contact Information: For more information please contact Ms. Cecilia Chen, Graduate Administrative Assistant.