The Doctor of Philosophy is the highest earned degree conferred by Purdue University. The program, as offered by the School of Industrial Engineering, is restricted to those students who have demonstrated superior ability both in their undergraduate and graduate studies. The degree is not awarded on the basis of time spent in residence, or following the completion of any specific number of formal courses, nor research effort. The entire Ph.D. program must be rationally related, should be research oriented, and should culminate in a dissertation of scholarly and literary merit which is indicative of the candidate's ability to conduct original research in industrial engineering.
Admission Requirements: The normal qualifications for admission to the Ph. D. program are completion of a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering with a thesis option, and scholastic performance that demonstrates potential excellence in graduate study. Admission to the Ph. D. program is based on the applicants total academic and professional achievements. Although a given Grade Point Average (GPA) is not specified, students are expected to have maintained a GPA of 3.4 or better on a 4.0 scale during their previous graduate work. Applicants are required to take the aptitude test sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE General Test). Successful applicants usually have GRE test scores of at least 470 Verbal, 700 Quantitative and 600 Analytical. Applicants whose native language is other than English, or who do not hold a baccalaureate degree from a college or university of recognized standing which is located in the USA, are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Written English (TWE). These tests can be taken on the same day at no additional cost. Successful applicants usually have scores of at least 570 (paper-based total) or 220 (computer-based total) in the TOEFL and at least 4.5 in the TWE.
It is a University policy that graduate teaching assistants whose native language is not English must demonstrate adequate oral English proficiency before being assigned duties involving direct instruction of students. A score of 50 or higher on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) will satisfy the requirement. Although not required for admission to the Industrial Engineering graduate program, this requirement must be satisfied prior to applying for a Teaching Assistantship.
The Graduate Admissions Committee will review the qualifications of applicants from other disciplines. Graduates with a master's degree in related curricula with a strong background in science and mathematics may be admitted directly into the program. Such students will be required to take the prerequisites deemed necessary to obtain the skills in industrial engineering expected of an individual with an M.S.I.E. degree. Other students may be advised to enter the regular master's degree program in order to demonstrate their capabilities for advanced work in industrial engineering.
In all cases, a student must possess a master's degree before formal acceptance into the program. In addition, the student who has not completed an acceptable master's thesis must submit proof of research capabilities by means of an independent design project, industrial experience in research, or other means considered satisfactory by the Graduate Admissions Committee.
Students who have obtained their master's degree from the Purdue School of Industrial Engineering must also apply formally for admission to the Ph.D. program. A special application, available in the IE Graduate Office, has to be filed by the student with letters of recommendation from members of the master's degree Advisory Committee. These are reviewed by the Graduate Admission Committee and a recommendation is made to the School Head regarding the acceptance of the applicant into the Ph.D. program after completion of the master's degree thesis.
Degree Requirements: In general, the program consists of (1) at least one full year of study beyond the requirements for the master's degree (usually at least 24 credit hours of course work), (2) satisfactory completion of the prerequisite and core course requirements, (3) submission of a formal research proposal, (4) passing a preliminary examination in the specific area of expertise, and (5) defense of an acceptable dissertation in a final examination. A minimum of 60 credit-hours of course work plus IE 699 thesis research must be completed beyond the master's degree along with at least two semesters of full-time study in continuous residency. Students should register for the maximum hours permissible in order to meet the minimum credit-hour requirements.
Registration for the First Semester: New Ph.D. students complete their registration for the first semester with the Graduate Advisor in the School of Industrial Engineering. The first semester's schedule should include the necessary prerequisite and core courses along with those courses leading to advance study in the specific area of interest to the student. In addition, all students must register every semester for the Graduate Seminar (IE 697). This course consists of a series of seminars on the current practice of industrial engineering and relevant research topics. Registration for subsequent semesters will be done in consultation with the student's major professor. Listed on the next page is a schedule for the timely completion of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.
English Proficiency Requirements: The English Proficiency requirements can be met by various means as described in the Graduate School Bulletin. All students should satisfy these requirements during their first semester of graduate study.
Advisory Committee: By the middle of the first semester of study (9 to 15 credit-hours of regular graduate course work), a major professor and an Advisory Committee of four members should be selected. The major professor and at least one other member of the committee must be from the School of Industrial Engineering. At least one member should be a representative of the related area in the plan of study which is outside the field of industrial engineering. The major professor/graduate student relationship must be a mutually acceptable one. The major professor will serve as the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee and direct the research study.
To facilitate the selection of an Advisory Committee, students should discuss their educational objectives with several members of the faculty within the first six weeks on campus. A list of the faculty with their interests can be obtained from the Graduate Office.
Plan of Study: After the selection of the Advisory Committee, the student should file a plan of study with the Graduate School through the Graduate Advisor as outlined in the Graduate School Bulletin. The plan of study should be worked out under the supervision of the major professor and members of the Advisory Committee. Changes in the plan of study can be made at a later date with the approval of the Advisory Committee, the School Head, and the Graduate School.
The purpose of the plan of study is to design an appropriate program to meet the specific needs of a given student in their chosen field of specialty as determined by the Advisory Committee. Ideally, a tentative plan should be formulated in advance of registration for the first semester of graduate work, and no later than at the time of registration for the second semester of study. The formal plan of study should be submitted to the Graduate School as early as possible and always at least one week prior to the start of the term in which the preliminary examination is taken. Minor changes in the formal plan can be made easily in case of course offering deletions or schedule conflicts. These changes must also be filed one week prior to the start of the final session of graduate study.
The course work must be selected to form a unified program of study. At least one related field of study outside the area of industrial engineering is required. Typical related areas are other branches of engineering, mathematics, statistics, computer sciences, psychology, sociology, biology, economics, or management. Every plan of study must include at least two 3 credit-hour 600 level industrial engineering courses taken at Purdue, excluding unlabeled IE 690 (individual project) courses and IE 699 (Ph.D. thesis research). Course work from one previous master's degree is included in the formal plan of study.
Prerequisite and Core Courses: The purpose of the core course requirements is to assure adequate breadth of knowledge in the field of industrial engineering outside the given area of specialization. Doctoral students are expected to have prerequisite course work in linear algebra and differential equations equivalent to MA 265 and 266 along with a course in applied probability and statistics equivalent to STAT 511. In addition, they must complete at least one course with a B grade or better in each of the following four areas: Engineering Economics/ Decisions (IE 545, IE 546); Human Factors/Cognitive Engineering (IE 556, IE 559, IE 577); Manufacturing Processes/Production (IE 566, IE 570, IE 575, IE 579); and Optimization/Stochastic Processes (IE 535, IE 536, IE 580, IE 581).
In certain cases, a student may have completed comparable core courses at another university or by taking similar courses at Purdue. These students must obtain a statement waiving the course requirement from the faculty member in charge of the course in question, and they must have the waiver approved by the Graduate Advisor.
Research Proposal: At least three weeks prior to the scheduled preliminary examination, a copy of the formal research proposal must be submitted to each member of the Preliminary Examination Committee. The proposal is to be type-written, double spaced, and bound in a softback binder. The proposal consists of a statement of the objectives of the study, a detailed description of the plan of action, and an extensive review of the literature. The format of the proposal must conform with the regulations outlined by the Graduate School in "A Manual for the Preparation of Graduate Thesis".
Preliminary Examination: The purpose of the preliminary examination is to test the adequacy of a student's background related to the general area of concentration, and to determine if the student is adequately prepared to formulate and undertake an acceptable dissertation topic. The examination will be based on a written dissertation proposal prepared by the student. At the discretion of the examining committee, the student can be tested on additional topics that are indirectly related to the broad aspects of the research. The Preliminary Examination may be oral. However, any member of the examining committee may require a written examination prior to the oral. It is the responsibility of the student to determine and satisfy written examination requirements of the individual committee members prior to scheduling the oral portion of the examination. The preliminary examination is conducted in accordance with Graduate School policies and procedures. It is open to all interested faculty members. The examination will be scheduled only after the student has successfully met the English proficiency and core course requirements, filed a formal plan of study with the Graduate School, and submitted the research proposal.
If the report of the examining committee is favorable, the student is admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. If the report is unfavorable, the student may repeat the examination at a later date if the examining committee so recommends. Students who fail the preliminary examination on a second try will not be permitted to continue in the program beyond the end of the semester in which they are registered at the time of the examination.
Dissertation: The Ph.D. dissertation must meet all the requirements of the Graduate School. The research must be a significant, unique contribution to the field of industrial engineering, and should provide an important creative experience for the student. The subject matter of the thesis should lead to a referred journal publication.
Dissertation Seminar: As part of the Ph.D. requirements, each student must present a one-hour seminar on his/her research results. The seminar must be given prior to the final examination period and a memorandum must be sent to each member of the industrial engineering faculty along with an abstract of the dissertation.
Final Examination: After admission to candidacy, the student must devote at least two terms to research before being eligible for the final examination. The appointment of the Final Examination Committee will follow the procedures set forth by the Graduate School. The time and place of the examination must be announced at least two weeks in advance and a memorandum will be sent to the industrial engineering faculty indicating the student's name, committee members, time/place/date of the examination, title of the dissertation, and an abstract of the dissertation. The candidate shall be given an oral examination in defense of the dissertation and must demonstrate to the examining committee all the capabilities for which the Doctor of Philosophy degree is awarded. The entire university community is invited to hear the oral defense of the dissertation. However, questions are only permitted from the members of the examination committee.
Timely Completion of Degree Requirements: The total elapsed time of a Ph.D. program from admission to passing the final examination shall be no more than eight calendar years. A doctoral candidate who has not completed all requirements for the degree by the end of the semester occurring five calendar years from the time of passing the preliminary examination must be re-admitted to candidacy by re-taking and passing another preliminary examination.
Policy on Financial Aid: Graduate student support by the School of Industrial Engineering including fellowships, assistantships, and instructorships shall be terminated after the doctoral student has been enrolled in the Ph.D. program for three years. The student will be considered enrolled in the program that semester in which he or she began taking courses to apply toward the Ph.D. degree objective. In the case of a student obtaining both the master's and doctoral degree from Purdue, the three year limit will apply when he or she begins taking course work for the Ph.D. plan of study should this be earlier than the graduation date for the master's degree.
Financing Graduate Study: Graduate study is financed from graduate appointments, special fellowships, loans, personal funds, and combinations of these sources. Detailed information on financing graduate study can be obtained from The Graduate School. Ask for their publication entitled "Financing Graduate Study". Some specific information relative to the School of Industrial Engineering follows.
Furthermore, in order to obtain a significant level of effectiveness with the limited amount of available support funds, no student shall be supported by the School of Industrial Engineering to an extent greater than a one-half time appointment within the university, including Residence Hall Councelorships.. Students are expected to enroll each term for the maximum number of credit hours of appropriate graduate study (course work and research) compatible with the Graduate School regulations in order to make a deliberate attempt to complete the degree requirements within the three year time span.
Listed below are a few sample plans of study in various areas of specialization. These are intended merely as guidelines for consideration during registration for the first semester. Doctoral students formulate their own unique plan of study with the assistance of their Advisory Committee to meet their specific research objectives. At least six hours of course work should be selected from a related area outside the field of industrial engineering.
1 or more
IE 559
IE 659
1 or more
STAT 512
STAT 522
STAT 524
Plus a three-credit hour design course (IE 690), if desired.
1 or more
IE 670
IE 672
IE 675
IE 676
1 or more
IE 530
IE 532
IE 533
1 or more
IE 535
IE 536
IE 580
IE 581
1 or more
IE 582
IE 583
Plus a three-credit hour design course (IE 690), if desired.
1 or more
IE 632
IE 674
IE 676
1 or more
IE 545
IE 546
IE 548
IE 566
IE 646
IE 666
1 or more
IE 530
IE 535
IE 580
IE 581
Plus a three-credit hour design course (IE 690), if desired.
Plus a three-credit hour design course (IE 690), if desired.
1 or more
IE 630
IE 631
IE 633
IE 634
IE 635
IE 639
MA 511
Plus a three-credit hour design course (IE 690), if desired.
1 or more
IE 640
IE 680
IE 681
1 or more
IE 539
IE 636
IE 637
IE 638
1 or more
MA 519
STAT 519
STAT 517
Plus a three-credit hour design course (IE 690), if desired.
The specific courses offered during a given term vary from year to year depending upon student demand and faculty availability. Listed below are the courses currently being offered. However, you should consult the most recent schedule for any changes.
| Item | Deadline |
|---|---|
| 1.Satisfy Written English Proficiency Requirement if needed | Mid-term of first semester of study |
| 2.Selection of Major Professor and Appointment of Advisory Committee | During first semester of study |
| 3. File Tentative Plan of Study | During first semester of study |
| 4. Complete Prerequisite and Core Course Requirements | During second semester of study |
| 5. File Final Plan of Study | As early as possible and no later than one week prior to the start of the last term of study |
| 6. Request Appointment of Preliminary Examining Committee | Three weeks prior to final examination |
| 7. Deliver Research Proposal and satisfy Written Examinations, if required | Three weeks prior to preliminary examination |
| 8. Request Appointment of Final Examination Committee (at least two terms must elapse between the preliminary examination and the final examination. The summer session is viewed as a term.) | Three weeks prior to the final examination |
| 9. Deliver Copies of the Dissertation to Members of the Final Examination Committee and the School Head | Two weeks prior to examination |
| 10. Present Research Seminar | During final term but no later than two weeks prior to the final examination |
| 11. Defend Dissertation and Obtain Approval Signature of School Head | One week prior to the end of classes |
| 12. Deliver One Bound Plus One Unbound Copy of the Dissertation to the Library Thesis Deposit Office | Last day of classes |
| 13. Deliver Two Copies of the Dissertation and Two Copies of the Abstract to IE School | Last day of classes |
| 14. Pay Ph.D. Dissertation Microfilm Charges to Bursar | Last day of classes |
| 15. Attend Commencement and Receive Congratulations from the Faculty, Family, and Friends! | Scheduled Engineering Commencement Exercises |
| Courses | Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Control | IE 530 | IE 530 |
| Reliability | IE 532 | |
| Industrial Applications of Statistics | IE 533 | |
| Linear Programming | IE 535 | |
| Stochastic Models in Operation Research I | IE 536 | |
| Discrete Optimization Models | IE 537 | |
| Nonlinear Optimization Models | IE 538 | |
| Stochastic Service Systems | IE 539 | |
| Engineering Economic Analysis | IE 545 | |
| Economic Decisions in Engineering | IE 546 | |
| Knowledge-Based Systems | IE 548 | |
| Job Design | IE 556 | |
| Safety Engineering | IE 558 | |
| Cognitive Engineering of Interactive Software | IE 559 | |
| Production Management Control | IE 566 | IE 566 |
| Manufacturing Process Engineering | IE 570 | IE 570 |
| Precision Manufacturing Systems | IE 572 | |
| Industrial Robotics | IE 574 | |
| Computer Aided Manufacturing I | IE 575 | IE 575 |
| Human Factors | IE 577 | IE 577 |
| Advanced Production Control | IE 579 | |
| Systems Simulation | IE 580 | |
| Simulation Design and Analysis | IE 581 | |
| Advanced Facilities Design | IE 582 | |
| Design and Evaluation of Material Handling Sys. | IE 583 | |
| Multiple Objective Optimization | IE 630 | |
| Heuristic Optimization (Alternate Years) | IE 631 | |
| Scheduling Models | IE 632 | |
| Dynamic Programming | IE 633 | |
| Integer Programming | IE 634 | |
| Theoretical Foundations of Optimization | IE 635 | |
| Stochastic Models in Operations Research II (Alternate Years) | IE 636 | |
| Computational Methods for Queueing Networks | IE 637 | |
| Engineering and Technological Forecasting Methods | IE 638 | |
| Combinatorial Optimization | IE 639 | |
| Network Simulation Languages | IE 640 | |
| Advanced Decision Theory | IE 646 | |
| Research Seminar in Human Factors | IE 656 | |
| Human Aspects in Computing | IE 659 | |
| Production Management Analysis | IE 666 | |
| Advanced Topics in Manufacturing Engineering | IE 670 | |
| Automatic Manufacturing Systems (Alternate Years) | IE 672 | |
| Computer and Communication Methods for Production Control | IE 674 | |
| Computer Aided Manufacturing II | IE 675 | |
| Flexible Manufacturing Systems | IE 676 | |
| Advanced Simulation Design and Analysis | IE 680 | |
| Theory of Modeling and Simulation (Alternate Years) | IE 681 | |