Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

 

 
At ISE, you’ll be part of a department that is nationally ranked for its academic programs and research opportunities. We have over a 95% employment rate at graduation with many students having found a job BEFORE the start of their final semester. NC State University is consistently ranked one of the top values in higher education. Value is where quality and affordability meet.
 

Undergraduate Admissions

We invite the best and the brightest to apply and we mentor each student individually through graduation. Our students have many opportunities for professional growth, including:

• Undergraduate research
• Co-op work experience
• Study abroad
• Membership in professional societies

Application for admission to NC State is handled at the university level. Once admitted and enrolled, students apply to join the ISE department by meeting the College of Engineering’s Change of Degree Application (CODA) requirements.
 
Got Questions? Contact our Undergraduate Services Coordinator | ise-undergradoffice@ncsu.edu | 919.513.2189.
 

 

Graduate Admissions

We accept applications from undergraduate majors in engineering. Degrees in the behavioral, physical and mathematical sciences are also welcomed. You will need to have some experience in:

• Mathematics (calculus and matrix/linear algebra)
• Computer science
• And statistics for most entry-level graduate courses

Also, physical, behavioral and management sciences (economics, business, accounting) experience is desirable.

Application to NC State is handled at the university level by The Graduate School. Please follow our procedures to be considered for admission into one of our master’s or Ph.D. programs.
 

 

Prerequisites

Students admitted without an undergraduate industrial engineering degree may have to take extra course work to learn some needed skills. We assume that new students will have some undergrad-level experience in statistics and operations research. At NC State that would include:

• ST 371 Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory
• ST 372 Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression
• ISE 361 Deterministic Models in Industrial Engineering

Note: The entry-level courses ST 507, ST 511, ST 513 and ST 515 will not meet the credit-hour requirements for industrial engineering graduate degrees.

Criteria for Admission

1. Grade Point Average (GPA) in previous academic programs: 3.0/4.0
2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores:
   • Verbal: 450 (=150)
   • Quantitative: 680 (=153)
   • Analytical: 3.0
   • NC State Institution Code for GRE is 5496
   • ISE Department Code for GRE is 1301 or 1399
3. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score:
   Internet-based Test (iBT) with a total score of at least 80. Minimum test scores for each section:
   • Listening: 18 points
   • Reading: 18 points
   • Writing: 18 points
   • Speaking: 18 points – for admission to the Graduate School
4. Computer-based TOEFL scores must be 213 or higher (with at least 17 on three sections and no section score below 13)
5. The paper-based test requires a score of 550 or higher (with scores of 50 on at least two of the three sections and no section score below 45)
6. Have you completed one year of full-time study in a degree program at a four-year US college or university? If Yes, then you are not required to submit the TOEFL scores. But, you still may want to as these scores can be helpful in the review and evaluation of your application
7. TOEFL or IELTS test date must be no older than two years (24 months) prior to the beginning of the requested entry term
8. NC State Institution Code for TOEFL is 5496
9. ISE Department Code for TOEFL is 67
10. Or provide International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores with an overall band score of at least 6.5. Minimum test scores for each section:
    • Listening: 6.5
    • Reading: 6.5
    • Writing: 6.5
    • Speaking: 6.5 – for admission to the Graduate School
11. Letters of recommendation from three individuals; and some of these letters should be from the applicant’s former professors

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 60 students: GPA=3.45; GRE-Verbal = 500 (154); GRE-Quantitative = 750 (160); GRE-Analytical= 3.5; and for international students, the average TOEFL = 101 (607 paper-based, 253 computer-based).

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 Jan. 15th (for Fall) and June 15th (for Spring).

Application Procedures

1. Read through the NC State Graduate Catalog for important Graduate School information such as:
   • Graduate School Application and Admissions
   • Admissions Deadlines
   • Admitting International Students
   • Immunization Requirements
   • Transcript Requirements
2. Apply online at NC State Graduate School Online Application

Please upload your (a) Personal Statement (2 pages max, no word limit) and (b) unofficial transcripts along with your application.

Once you have uploaded your documents, it isn’t necessary to mail or email the duplicates to the ISE Department. If you need help updating your documents after you have submitted your application, please email graduate_applications@ncsu.edu. The Graduate School will assist you with your documents.

Admissions Checklist

1. Statement of Purpose
2. Official transcript or transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended (after admission is approved)
3. Submit residence form if claiming NC residence for tuition purposes (for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents only)
4. Submit online references from at least three people who know the academic record and potential for graduate study of the prospective student
5. Submit official GRE test scores from ETS
6. Submit official TOEFL test scores (International Students) from ETS
7. A non-refundable application fee ($75 U.S. dollars for U.S. citizens and permanent residents; $85 for internationals)

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

Got Questions? Please contact our Graduate Services Coordinator | ise-gradoffice@ncsu.edu | 919.515.6410.