Industrial and systems engineering is one of the fastest growing areas of engineering. It looks at the "big picture" of what makes organizations work best—the right combination of human and natural resources, technology and equipment, and information and finance. Industrial and systems engineering is vital to solving today's critical and complex problems in manufacturing, distribution of goods and services, health care, utilities, transportation, entertainment, and the environment. Industrial and systems engineers design and refine processes and systems to improve quality, safety and productivity.
Auburn University's Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering has been awarding degrees since 1931 and has over 4,000 living alumni. In 2008, U.S. News and World Reports ranked the graduate program 21st in the nation. The department offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in industrial and systems engineering, as well as a special program that allows students to obtain both a master's of industrial and systems engineering and master's of business administration degree in under two years.
Faculty and students are actively engaged in research and outreach activities. The department has numerous laboratories including ones dedicated to computing, occupational safety and ergonomics, logistics, electronics manufacturing, and machining and metrology. Annual research expenditures are over $1.5 million.
