Degrees and Requirements

The PhD program requires a minimum of 72 credit hours. 

Generally, coursework is completed in 2 to 3 years. Courses should be selected by the student with the approval of their advisor (or the graduate director for first year students) and vary based on the primary research interests of the student (operations research, human factors, or production systems/manufacturing), and student research interests. Students should insure they take an appropriate set of courses to prepare for the B-exam in one of three areas. 

A minimum of 12 and a maximum of 24 credit hours of dissertation research are required. The variable credit dissertation exists to allow students flexibility to take additional content courses. It does not impact the expectations for the scope and effort of the dissertation.

A maximum of 36 credit hours from a Master's degree(s) may be applied toward the 72 credit hour requirement for the PhD degree. Of these, no more than six credit hours may be derived from a master’s thesis. Students may apply transfer credits to waive the course requirements for the specialty area. However, students are still responsible for course content in those courses included on the PhD core examination (the B-exam). Please see the Graduate Director or your academic advisor to discuss transfer courses. 

This examination tests the candidate’s ability in the core courses and selected elective courses. It is required for formal acceptance into PhD candidacy, and is taken at the end of the first year of study (in May).

The B-exam consists of 5 questions focused on operations research, production systems/manufacturing, or human factors. 

The examination is closed-book. Each questions is allotted 45 minutes. Exam questions are set and graded by the faculty member who most recently offered the course. The department faculty determine a pass/fail/undecided grade for each student. Students in the undecided category are offered an oral exam (either overall, or focusing on specific courses) and a subsequent pass/fail decision is made based on their performance. Students who fail the exam have one opportunity to retake the exam, in August. 

After passing the B-exam, students should select an advisor based on their research interests. The student-advisor match is one of mutual choice: both the student, and the faculty member, must agree. Students work with their advisor to choose at least two additional faculty members to be a part of the student’s committee. The core committee members must be part of the UB Graduate Faculty. Additional committee members beyond three are possible and can be from outside of the University. It is possible to change committee members and advisors during the program. Please consult the Graduate Director for guidance.

The A-exam is scheduled sometime after the majority of course work is completed and the student has selected a dissertation topic (generally before the end of the 3^rd year). Content is based on the student’s dissertation topic to gauge the student’s capability for research in the chosen area. There is a written examination followed by an oral examination. The questions, timing, and format of the exam are determined by the advisor and committee but typically students have 2 to 3 weeks to complete the written portion of the exam. Students can pass, provisionally pass (with requirements for revisions, completion of additional coursework, or other measures set by the committee) or be asked to retake the exam at a later date (only one retake is allowed). 

Students should to complete their Application to Candidacy as soon as possible after forming a committee and completing a plan for finishing coursework and their dissertation. Students should seek assistance from the academic coordinator with this form and additional paperwork required.

Students should work closely with their advisor and committee to write a formal dissertation proposal prior to beginning research which the student intends to serve as the dissertation work. The proposal is presented to the committee and defended in through oral examination to determine preparedness and significance of the proposed topic and to insure agreement among the student and committee members regarding the plan of the ultimate dissertation research.

PhD students are required to defend their dissertation in a seminar attended by the PhD committee and which is open to department faculty, students and the public. Students must notify the academic coordinator a minimum of two weeks prior to schedule the defense and provide an abstract and title.

Master of Science and Master of Engineering Degree Requirements

The Master of Science (MS) and Master of Engineering (ME) degrees offered by the University at Buffalo (UB) Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) Department provide advanced study beyond the baccalaureate degree for those with initial bachelor’s (or equivalent) degrees in ISE as well as for those from other disciplines who wish to enter the field. Our MS and ME students can complete their degree by successfully completing 30 credits of courses plus a written exam, a portfolio presentation, a thesis defense or a project defense. Students obtain an MS degree by completing one of five separate tracks. There is one ME program concentration. Descriptions of the MS and ME program tracks and concentrations are given below.   

Master of Science in Industrial Engineering (MSIE) with Required Capstone Project

Students enrolled in the MSIE general track with a required capstone project take a total of 30 credits of coursework that includes 3 credits of IE 591/592 Project Guidance. Students take a minimum of seven IE courses, plus 3 additional courses which can be either in IE or from other departments such as Mathematics or Management (with academic advisor approval). Students can customize their degree by choosing IE courses which focus on quality, production systems, or ergonomics. The capstone final project requires the student to work at a company while receiving guidance from a faculty advisor. Projects center on the application of specific engineering principles and methodologies in real-world settings, leading to measurable improvements in quality, cost, efficiency, build-to-order flexibility, time-to-market, customer satisfaction, or other key performance indicators. Students are responsible for identifying the employer. Projects are completed at or near the end of the student’s program of study to allow the student to apply course materials in a real-world setting.  Projects typically require 3 to 6 months to complete, and each project requires a paper written by the student that introduces, analyzes and contextualizes the project, and demonstrates the student's familiarity with the relevant literature of the field. 

Master of Science in Industrial Engineering with Required Course Portfolio or Written Exam

Students enrolled in the MSIE general track with a required portfolio or written exam take a total of 30 credits of coursework. Students take a minimum of seven IE courses, plus 3 additional courses which can be either in IE or from other departments such as Mathematics or Management (with academic advisor approval). Students can customize their degree by choosing IE courses which focus on quality, production systems, or ergonomics. After completing the coursework, each student either completes a written comprehensive exam or submits a portfolio that includes exemplars of the student’s completed assignments and a reflective paper about how the student’s acquired skills and knowledge will be applied after graduation.   

Master of Engineering (ME) in Industrial Engineering with a Concentration in Engineering Management

Students enrolled in the Master of Engineering with a Concentration in Engineering Management take a total of 30 credits of coursework that includes 3 credits of IE 591/592 Project Guidance. Students take at least 6 formal IE or EAS courses related to engineering management, and other electives. The capstone final project is a culminating educational experience that requires the student to work at a company while receiving guidance from a faculty advisor. Projects center on the application of specific engineering principles and methodologies in real-world settings, leading to measurable improvements in quality, cost, efficiency, build-to-order flexibility, time-to-market, customer satisfaction, or other key performance indicators. Students are responsible for identifying the employer. Projects are completed at or near the end of the student’s program of study to allow the student to apply course materials in a real-world setting.  Projects typically require 3 to 6 months to complete, and each project requires a paper written by the student that introduces, analyzes and contextualizes the project, and demonstrates the student's familiarity with the relevant literature of the field.

Master of Science in Industrial Engineering with a Concentration in Operations Research

Students enrolled in the MSIE program with a Concentration in Operations Research take a total of 30 credits of coursework that can include up to 6 credits of IE 560 MS Research Guidance. Students enrolled in this concentration take at least 6 formal IE courses related to operations research, and other electives. Any student who does not complete an MS thesis fulfills the degree requirements by completing a written comprehensive exam, or by submitting a portfolio that includes exemplars of the student’s completed assignments and a reflective paper about how the student’s acquired skills and knowledge will be applied after graduation. 

Master of Science in Industrial Engineering with a Concentration in Human Factors

Engineering Students enrolled in the MSIE program with a Concentration in Human Factors and Ergonomics take a total of 30 credits of coursework that can include up to 6 credits of IE 560 MS Research Guidance. Students enrolled in this concentration take at least 5 formal IE courses related to human factors and ergonomics, and other electives. Any student who does not complete an MS thesis fulfills the degree requirements by completing a written comprehensive exam, or by submitting a portfolio that includes exemplars of the student’s completed assignments and a reflective paper about how the student’s acquired skills and knowledge will be applied after graduation.   

Master of Science in Industrial Engineering with a Concentration in Production Systems

Students enrolled in the MSIE program with a Concentration in Production Systems take a total of 30 credits of coursework that can include up to 6 credits of IE 560 MS Research Guidance. Students enrolled in this concentration take at least 6 formal IE courses related to production systems, and other electives. Any student who does not complete an MS thesis fulfills the degree requirements by completing a written comprehensive exam, or by submitting a portfolio that includes exemplars of the student’s completed assignments and a reflective paper about how the student’s acquired skills and knowledge will be applied after graduation.  Transferring between Degree Tracks and Concentrations Students who apply to the MS or ME program do so through UB Graduate Admissions. This process requires students to select the specific concentration or track for which they are to be considered. Students who are admitted and attend UB, but later desire to switch their track or concentration, must apply to the new track or concentration. In this case, the student will complete a departmental “Petition to Apply for UB ISE Track/Concentration Change” form that inquires about the reasons for the change in track or concentration.  The ISE Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) will consider the student’s petition and UB transcript when considering the application for the track or concentration change. The ISE DGS will inform the student and the UB Graduate School whenever an application is approved. 

The MS and ME program require a minimum of 30 credit hours. 

Generally, coursework is completed in 1 to 2 years. Courses should be selected by the student with the approval of their advisor (or the graduate director ) and vary based on the primary interests of the student (general IE, operations research, human factors, or production systems/manufacturing). and whether they will complete a thesis. 

A maximum of 6 MS thesis hours or 6 credits of ME project may be applied to the degree. Students must have the approval of an advisor to register for and conduct an MS thesis. 

The MS program may be completed in one of three ways:

1. By a formal research thesis representing 3 or 6 credits, satisfactory performance in an oral defense of thesis examination, and completion of 24 or 27 credits of nonthesis course work.
2. By passing a written comprehensive examination (C-exam) based on a degree program consisting of at least 30 hours of course work.
3. Students engage in a hands-on capstone projects with faculty, industry, and other partners that centers on the application of specific engineering principles and methodologies in real-world settings, leading to measurable improvements in quality, cost, efficiency, build-to-order flexibility, time-to-market, customer satisfaction, or other key performance indicators. The focus is on innovative application of engineering knowledge and leadership to add value; not on research.

The ME degree is completed through the ME project.