What Are the Math Requirements for Industrial Engineering?

Industrial engineering is a field of engineering focused on the optimization of complex processes, systems, or organizations by developing, improving, and implementing integrated systems.

This is a very math-heavy field, and there are often several industrial engineering math requirements that students need to fulfill. Keep reading to learn about the math requirements for industrial engineering.

What Are the Industrial Engineering Math Requirements?

Industrial engineering requires quite a bit of math. This is because math often serves as the foundation for many engineering concepts.

Additionally, these math courses help engineers to think analytically and hone their problem-solving skills, which are often required in industrial engineering.

The math required for an industrial engineering degree may vary between programs, but there are some constants.

Many programs require students to have completed the bulk of their math courses before beginning their industrial engineering courses, as the industrial engineering courses build off of the math courses.

The most common type of math course required for a degree in industrial engineering is calculus. Calculus is the branch of mathematics that studies continuous change.

Most programs require students to have completed at least a general calculus course, but many also require advanced calculus as well. This may include:

• differential calculus- differential calculus is used to find the rate of change of a variable compared to another variable
• integral calculus- integral calculus is the study of integrals and their properties and is used to calculate the area underneath a graph of a function
• multivariable calculus- the extension of calculus in one variable to calculus with functions of several variables, used in optimization

Other types of math you may need to take before or as part of your industrial engineering courses include:

• analytical geometry: Analytical geometry is the study of geometry using a coordinate system, which is a system that uses one or more coordinates to determine the position of geometric points.
• discrete mathematics: Discrete mathematics is the study of mathematical structures that are countable or otherwise distinct and separable, as opposed to continuous.
• linear algebra: Linear algebra is the branch of mathematics concerned with linear equations.
• statistics: Statistics is a branch of applied mathematics that involves the collection, description, analysis, and inference of conclusions from quantitative data.

While in your major, you may also find courses that are math-based but specifically for industrial engineering. Some examples include:

• Georgia Tech's industrial engineering program includes a course called 'Basic Statistical Methods'
• Northwestern University's industrial engineering program includes a course called 'Discrete Event Computer Simulation'
• Purdue University's industrial engineering program includes a course called 'Probability and Statistics in Engineering'
• UC Berkeley's industrial engineering program includes a course called 'Nonlinear and Discrete Optimization'

Again, the specific math courses you'll need to take vary between programs. You can usually find program requirements on the college or university's website, but if you're having trouble, contact your advisor.

Other Requirements for Industrial Engineering

Math is a big part of the foundation for industrial engineering, but it's far from the only type of course needed for an industrial engineering degree.

All bachelor's degree students must take their school's general education courses. These are courses in a variety of topics so students get a well-rounded education.

There are also prerequisite courses or courses that must be taken before you can begin your industrial engineering major. In addition to math courses, your prerequisites may include foundational chemistry, computer science, engineering, and physics courses.

Within your core major courses, or the courses specific to your major, you may cover industrial engineering topics like:

• computing
• data analysis
• engineering economics
• operations research
• production planning
• project management
• quality control
• supply chains
• risk analysis

Industrial engineering programs often require labs and may also include a capstone course or project to complete the program.

How Long Does It Take to Earn a Degree in Industrial Engineering?

The length of time it takes to earn a degree in industrial engineering depends primarily on the type of degree you're earning and how many credits you take each semester.

Bachelor's degree programs usually require around 120 credit hours, while master's degree programs usually require between 30 and 40.

Students studying full-time can often complete a bachelor's degree in four years. Master's degrees can take anywhere between one and three years, but two years is average for full-time students.

Full-time is usually considered a credit load of at least 12 credit hours per 16-week semester. Some students prefer to study part-time, especially if they have busy lives outside of school, but a part-time schedule will take longer to complete.

Find an Industrial Engineering Degree Program Today

Industrial engineering programs usually have several math requirements, primarily calculus but other math as well. For more information on industrial engineering math requirements or for help finding a program, reach out to Learn.org today.