The MS in Industrial & Systems Engineering (MSISE) program is designed for engineers and related technical professionals aspiring to achieve the highest levels of responsibility and leadership in the workplace. As an MSISE student, you will be broadly educated in all aspects of technical enterprises.
The MSISE program is excellent preparation for industrial engineering program graduates who want to acquire substantial depth with respect to industrial engineering methods and the theory of the firm. This degree is also relevant if you are a graduate from another technical area and intend to leverage your existing skills toward the pursuit of responsibility for the profitability and growth of your organization.
International Students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
- This program requires completion of 28 units of coursework
- Thesis option and Directed Research (research without thesis) may be requested after completing first semester. Thesis option is not guaranteed
- USC Catalogue
- USC Schedule of Classes
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
| Spring | September 1 (extended to October 1) |
| Fall | December 15 (Scholarship consideration)
January 15 (Final deadline) |
Visit our Ready to Apply page for more information
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants to the Master of Science program in Industrial and Systems Engineering must have a bachelor’s degree or be in the process of completing a bachelor's degree. Most applicants have degrees in engineering or closely related fields, such as Math or Hard Science.
Applicants without a bachelor's degree in a directly related field may still be considered if they have completed and demonstrated strong proficiency in the following coursework (or equivalent):
This is not an exhaustive list. Applications are reviewed holistically; simply taking these courses does not guarantee admission.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The following materials are required to be included with your online application:
- Transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement
- Letter of Recommendation (3 highly recommended)
NOTE: The GRE is not required for 2026 applications.
The following link will take you to an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students, including payment information. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition
TUITION AND FEES OVERVIEW
Use the link below to download the Cost of Attendance to see a summary of tuition and fees by semester. The document is a typical example and the number of courses, and time to complete the program, will vary by student.
Estimated Cost of Attendance - 28 Unit Program
Xueer Zhuang
.Tell us a little bit about yourself — where are you from, where did you study before USC?
I am an international student from China, and I did my undergrad in Tianjin, China, where my major was engineering mechanics. Then for grad school, I was thinking about going into something different, which could give me a more holistic view of enterprise and engineering altogether. So that’s why I chose to study industrial and systems engineering.
What sparked your interest in industrial and systems engineering?
Before coming to USC, I studied Engineering Mechanics, but realized it didn’t align with my interests. I like to interact with people and enjoy viewing companies’ problems from a bigger picture. I realized that sitting in front of my desk, digging into engineering problems, wasn’t really 100% my thing. So I talked to some of the professors from my undergrad and also people I know who studied industrial engineering, and they suggested I try this field. They gave me a brief introduction about this field and I realized that this was probably what I wanted to do, and I was excited to try it out.
What attracted you to choose USC for your graduate studies?
Location was a big factor. And also, USC is a really prestigious academic institute. I had a lot of friends who attended USC before, so according to what they told me about the environment and its inclusive community, and all the benefits at USC — that all kind of drew me here. I got other admissions offers from other universities, but I realized this was the place I always wanted to be. USC has a wonderful program, it’s a high ranking program — so I thought, why not?
Tell us about some exciting and unforgettable incidents from your time at USC.
I think tailgating is definitely an unforgettable experience. Especially games against UCLA. I remember seeing many UCLA students on our campus last semester for the tailgate. Even though we are on opposing teams, there’s an inclusive environment of kindness, friendship, and welcome. Also, the tradition of guarding the statues all night long for weeks shows a certain care and pride that people take in our school.
Another remarkable thing about USC is our powerful networking system. I remember traveling to Texas while wearing a USC t-shirt. As I walked down the street, a woman stopped her car and shouted “Fight on girl! You fight on!” in my direction. This gives me the inkling that the trojan family has my back even in a place that I’m not familiar with.
2024 First Destinations Survey - Outcomes*
Alumni Employment - 2024*
Companies & Job Titles (multiple positions may be listed)
Average Reported Salary: $96,600
- 1st Mars Logistics, Inc. - Supply Chain Analyst Intern
- Amazon - Operations Manager
- Boeing - Industrial Engineer
- Boeing EnCore Interiors LLC - Quality Engineer
- Easley-Dunn Productions, Inc. - Analyst
- Holy Spirit STEM Academy - STEM Teacher, 6-8th Grade
- Hyve Solutions - Process Engineer III
- Intel - Industrial Engineer
- Los Angeles Dodgers - Cybersecurity Analyst
- Quanta Manufacturing Fremont - Information Technology Engineer
- QuidelOrtho - Manufacturing Engineer
- Siemens - Project Manager
- Smart Vend - Data Analyst
- Tesla - Staff Sales Operations Analyst
- University of Southern California - Research Assistant
- Vitamin World - Supply Chain Associate
Previous Years
- Amazon - Transportation Associate
- Amazon Web Services - Supply Chain Manager
- Aptar - Management Trainee Operation
- Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy - Lecturer
- Deloitte - Consultant
- EY - Consultant
- FOCA US Sanitary Ware LLC - Project Manager
- Hewlett-Packard - Procurement Specialist
- K1 Investment Management, LLC - Software Investor
- Oakley Inc. by Luxottica - Associate Supplier Quality Engineer
- rPlanet Earth - Operations and Supply Chain Analyst
- Saia Inc. - Industrial Engineer
- Schneider Electric - Digital Logistics Method Engineer
- SprintRay - Product Quality Engineer Associate
- Therabody - Supply Chain Analyst
- United States Navy - Operations Officer
.
Internships (Summer 2023)**
Kohler, Panasonic Energy
.
* Information is based on a voluntary survey and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive view of the 2024 graduating class.
** Internship data is from CPT internships done by our international student population.
This program is also available online to professional engineers through DEN@Viterbi. Because the DEN@Viterbi program provides a fully equivalent academic experience, the degree a USC engineering student earns is the same whether they are on-campus or online.
If you are interested in beginning classes as a DEN@Viterbi student next semester, explore the requirements and steps to enrolling as a Limited Status Student.
Learn More About DEN@Viterbi
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
DEN@VITERBI ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS
The following courses and program requirements serve as program planning for DEN@Viterbi students. Course offerings and availability are subject to change. Please consult with advisor if you have any questions.
Required Courses
|
| All Courses Required - 12 Units Total. |
| ISE 513 | Logistics and Inventory Systems (4 units) |
| ISE 514 | Advanced Production Planning and Scheduling (4 units) |
| ISE 515 | Engineering Project Management (4 units) |
| Group A Quantitative Techniques Courses |
| One Course Required - 4 Units Total. |
| ISE 536 | Linear Programming and Extensions (4 units) |
| ISE 538 | Markov Models For Performance Analysis (4 units) |
| ISE 580 | Performance Analysis with Simulation (4 units) |
| Group B Quality and Operations Courses |
| One Course Required - 4 Units Total. |
| ISE 506 | Lean Operations (4 units) |
| ISE 525 | Design of Experiments (4 units) |
| ISE 527 | Quality Management for Engineers (4 units) |
| ISE 583 | Enterprise Wide Information Systems (4 units) |
| Group C Engineering Management Courses |
| One Course Required - 4 Units Total. |
| ISE 561 | Economic Analysis of Engineering Projects (4 units) |
| ISE 562 | Decision Analysis (4 units) |
| Advisor Approved Elective Courses |
| 4 Units Total. |
| Courses must be selected with approval from the department advisor. |
Please complete the following form for more information.
