Online feature of Wright State’s industrial and systems engineering degree expected to boost enrollment

Subhashini Ganapathy, associate professor of biomedical, industrial and human factors engineering, right, and Samuel Adelman, graduate student.

Wright State University has modified its bachelor’s degree program in industrial and systems engineering (ISE) with an online component that promises to increase enrollment and meet growing job demand.

Beginning in the fall 2020 semester, students will be able to complete the final two years of the ISE program offered by the College of Engineering and Computer Science completely online.

Subhashini Ganapathy, associate professor of biomedical, industrial and human factors engineering, said the decision to modify the curriculum comes as more older, nontraditional students are enrolling in the program.

“So having this flexibility of doing it online will help propel the program and attract even more students,” she said. “And companies will be more interested in sponsoring employees for this program because they won’t lose them for four years.”

Engineering students at Lake Campus will also have the option of completing the final two years of the bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering entirely online. The online feature will also enable students with associate degrees to transfer to Wright State and complete their ISE degree completely online.

“This is a truly progressive and cost-effective approach to delivering in-demand engineering degrees to another population of Wright State students,” said Brian Rigling, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “Our Industrial and Systems Engineering faculty are helping to lead the way for other programs to offer their first two years at the Lake Campus followed by completion at the Dayton Campus through in-person or online delivery.”

Industrial and systems engineers have their hand in virtually every kind of business, from designing products to getting them to market through the creative application of mathematics, science, business and human factors skills. They analyze, improve and make more efficient complex systems in manufacturing, health care, supply chain and other areas, keeping in mind the role humans play in such systems.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 8% increase in employment for industrial engineers by 2028, higher than the national average in both engineering and all occupations. Starting salaries average between $55,000 and $65,000.

“Industrial and systems engineering is a very employable field, there is high demand for it, and we have a very good program,” said Ganapathy.