The first bachelor of science in industrial engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison was awarded in 1972. Today, the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department (ISyE) at UW-Madison is consistently one of the nation’s top 10 IE programs.
The UW-Madison ISyE Department is a national leader in research funding. At the cutting-edge of industrial engineering and systems research, the department offers state of the art facilities in which faculty, staff and students can excel. Our faculty are leaders in their fields, respected nationally and internationally for their research. Learn more about our facilities, faculty and research here.
In the UW-Madison ISyE Department, you have the opportunity to gain the technical knowledge and people skills you need to succeed.
Program Overview
The industrial engineer applies problem-solving techniques in almost every kind of industry, business, or institution. Our course curriculum is set up to provide a diversified background and at the same time allow choices according to individual interests. Specialized coursework might be categorized in four main areas:
- Operations Research, Optimization and Analytics
- Healthcare Systems Engineering
- Human Factors and Ergonomics
- Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial AI
State-of-the-art lab facilities and world-class faculty enrich the academic experience and provide a broad range of options from which students can choose their academic path. Courses focusing on teams and design projects prepare students to succeed in the workplace.
Student Support
From the time you apply to the end of your stay, the VISP staff will be there to assist you. As a VISP participant you have full access to all academic and student support services, such as libraries, computer labs, clubs, and sports facilities; the opportunity to participate in VISP sponsored social and cultural events; and upon completion you will receive an official UW–Madison transcript.
Program Eligibility
Participants must meet the VISP eligibility criteria for admission into this program. This Thematic Track admits students at the Undergraduate, Graduate, or Dissertator level. Dissertator applicants accepted pending available faculty member in primary field of study.
Available Terms
Students can participate in the fall and/or spring semester as well as in the summer term.
Academics & Course Offerings
ISyE Faculty and staff will assist students in their course selection. Each semester, you’ll take the majority of your fulltime credit requirement (9 of 12 credits for undergraduate-level students) within ISyE, selecting from the many courses offered by our department. You can complete your fulltime course load either with additional ISyE courses — or we will help suggest relevant courses to seek out in a related discipline.
You can find detailed ISyE course descriptions on the Guide, but please note that not every course is offered every semester.
Cost of Attendance
Estimated cost of attendance information is available on the VISP website.
Application Instructions
Submit your VISP application and in your essay please include: “I am applying for the Industrial & Systems Engineering VISP track.”
Questions? Please contact the VISP coordinators.
Interested in learning more?
Fill out this form to learn more about our non-degree programs.