Graduate Student

Handbook

 

2008 – 2009

(revised 5/29/2008)

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF

SYSTEMS AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

1.  GENERAL INFORMATION.............................................................................................................. 2

1.2  Academic Advising.......................................................................................................................... 3

1.3  Other Resources.............................................................................................................................. 3

2.  MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAM................................................................................................. 4

2.1  Undergraduate Preparation and Admission Requirements............................................................ 4

2.2  Graduate Status................................................................................................................................ 4

2.2.1  Regular Graduate Status.......................................................................................................................................................... 4

2.2.2  Provisional Status...................................................................................................................................................................... 4

2.2.3  Non-Degree Status.................................................................................................................................................................... 5

2.3  Degree Requirements..................................................................................................................... 5

2.4  MS Degree Options......................................................................................................................... 6

2.5  Preparing the MS Plan of Study....................................................................................................... 7

2.6  Typical Plans of Study for the MS Degree....................................................................................... 8

3.  MASTER OF ENGINEERING PROGRAM.................................................................................... 10

4.  PHD PROGRAM................................................................................................................................ 10

4.1  Entrance Requirements................................................................................................................. 10

4.2  Preparing the PhD Plan of Study.................................................................................................... 11

4.3  Minor Area and Foreign Language Requirement......................................................................... 11

4.4  Examinations and Performance Requirements............................................................................. 11

4.4.1  Doctoral Qualifying Examination (DQE)............................................................................................................................. 12

4.4.2  Comprehensive Examination.................................................................................................................................................. 12

4.4.3  Final Oral Defense.................................................................................................................................................................. 13

4.5  Residence, Completion Time, and Dissertation Submission Requirements................................ 13

5.  THESES AND DISSERTATIONS.................................................................................................... 13

6.  CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS........................................................................................................... 14

6.1  Systems Engineering..................................................................................................................... 14

6.2  Reliability and Quality Engineering............................................................................................... 14

7.  MINOR IN SIE................................................................................................................................... 15

8.  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.............................................................................................................. 15

8.1  Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships......................................................................... 15

8.2  Graduate Registration and Tuition Scholarships........................................................................... 16

8.3  Graduate Fellowships..................................................................................................................... 1616

10. FACULTY MEMBERS  2004/2005.................................................................................................. 18

1.  GENERAL INFORMATION

            The University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona, a picturesque community surrounded by mountains and home to almost one million residents.  The Systems and Industrial Engineering (SIE) Department at the University of Arizona was established in 1961 as the nation's first department of systems engineering.  Since then, the SIE Department has achieved international prestige for its contributions to the inter-disciplinary design of large-scale complex systems involving people, technology, and information.  With the introduction of a modern industrial engineering curriculum in 1972 and a reliability and quality engineering degree in 1987, the department offers a truly diverse and successful graduate program.  Career opportunities for graduates of the Systems and Industrial Engineering programs are outstanding.  Over the years, graduates from these programs have found employment in the nation's leading corporations, research institutes, and universities.

            The SIE Department offers opportunities for study leading to the Master of Engineering (MEng), the Master of Science (MS), and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.  For the MS degree, a student may major in Systems Engineering (SYE), Industrial Engineering (INE), or Reliability and Quality Engineering (RQE).  At the doctoral level, the department offers a PhD in Systems and Industrial Engineering.  The PhD degree requires a high level of achievement in scholarly and independent research culminating in a written dissertation.  In addition, the department offers Professional Certificates in Systems Engineering and in Reliability and Quality Engineering.

            This handbook informs graduate students of the requirements for completing various graduate degree programs within the SIE Department.  It complements the official Graduate Catalog of the University of Arizona.  This handbook is further intended to provide prospective applicants with information to enable them to assess the opportunities for graduate studies in this department and to assist students in preparing their programs of study.

1.1  Application Guidelines

            For regular admissions, applicants should have a Bachelor's degree in engineering, mathematics, or physics.  Students with Bachelor's degrees in other disciplines may also apply to the graduate program and receive regular admission after successfully completing required remedial coursework.

            Application for admission is made by submitting an Application for Admission form to the Graduate College.  On that form, MS applicants should indicate Systems, Industrial, or Reliability and Quality Engineering as the major area.  MEng students should indicate Engineering as the major, and PhD students should indicate Systems and Industrial Engineering as the major.  In addition to academic transcripts, prospective students must submit GRE scores, a letter of intent describing their reasons for wanting to join our graduate program, and three letters of reference.  International students must also submit TOEFL scores.

 

Inquiries about the graduate programs in this department can be sent electronically or by regular post.  Emails should be addressed to gradapp@sie.arizona.edu.  Other requests for information may be sent to the following address:

 

Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee
Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering
P.O. Box 210020
The University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona  85721-0020

 

For more detailed information on applying to the Master’s program, see section 2.1.  For more information on applying to the Doctoral program, see section 4.1.  Information is also on-line through the SIE Department and Graduate College web sites (see section 1.3).

1.2  Academic Advising

            Upon arriving at the University of Arizona, students should contact the Department Head or the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee to receive initial academic advising.  At that time, students are assigned a tentative academic advisor according to their interests.  PhD students and MS students who want to actively pursue research need to identify a research advisor.  Students are encouraged to contact all faculty members in their area of interest for this purpose and choose their research advisor with these interests in mind.  Once a student and a faculty member agree to work together on research, the student informs the department’s Student Academic Specialist and the tentative academic advisor of this change.  In some cases, particularly when a student has special skills, the student may choose to accept a research assistantship from one professor while continuing to pursue a thesis or dissertation topic under the guidance of another advisor.  In such cases, the student must make her/his intent clear to both faculty members and the Student Academic Specialist.

1.3  Other Resources

            This handbook is available on-line at http://www.sie.arizona.edu/programs/ghndbk.html.   Other on-line resources include the following:

·          University of Arizona                       

http://www.arizona.edu/

 

·         SIE Department                             

http://www.sie.arizona.edu/

 

·          Graduate College                             

http://www.grad.arizona.edu

 

·          Graduate Catalog                

http://grad.arizona.edu/catalog

 

·          Graduate Degree Certification          

http://grad.arizona.edu/degreecert

 

·          College Forms                                          

http://grad.arizona.edu/current-students/forms

 

·          Application Forms               

http://grad.arizona.edu/prospective-students/apply-now

 

·          Student Link

http://www.arizona.edu/student_link

 

·          International Student Center             

http://internationalstudents.arizona.edu

 

2.  MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAM

            This program is designed to prepare individuals for high-level professional work in systems, industrial, or reliability and quality engineering.  Students must follow all procedures outlined in the handbook for Master’s/Specialist Candidates published by the Graduate College.  The handbook is available on-line as well as on paper from the Student Academic Specialist or the Graduate College (see section 1.3).

 

2.1  Undergraduate Preparation and Admission Requirements

            To undertake graduate work in SIE, students are expected to have undergraduate training in mathematics, physics, computing, and mathematical modeling.  Specifically, all incoming students are expected to meet the following fundamental requirements:

1.       At least four semesters of mathematics, beginning with a two-semester sequence in calculus (e.g., Math 125a, 125b, 223, and 254 or SIE 270)

2.       At least three semesters of calculus-based physics and general engineering science (e.g., Physics 141, 142, and 241)

3.       At least one semester of computing (e.g., an introductory course using a high-level language such as FORTRAN, Pascal, C, or Java, with significant computational work)

            Most undergraduate programs in science and engineering provide the required background.  Students deficient in one or more of these areas may be admitted into the MS program on Provisional Status.  Advancement to Regular Graduate Status will not be considered until all deficiencies have been completed (see section 2.2).

            In addition to the fundamental requirements, all students who enter the MS program must also demonstrate satisfactory understanding of the following SIE course requirements:

SIE 305 Introduction to Probability and Statistics

and at least two of these three courses:

SIE 321 Probabilistic Models in Operations Research

SIE 340 Deterministic Models in Operations Research

SIE 350 Modeling and Analysis of Systems Dynamics

 

Where appropriate, graduate-level courses may be taken to remove SIE undergraduate course deficiencies.

            Admission is based on evaluation of the applicant's letter of intent, undergraduate transcript, GRE scores, TOEFL score (for international students), letters of recommendation, and professional experience.  Applicants are expected to have an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 on the last 60 units of course work, and GRE scores of 500 verbal (or 575 TOEFL), 700 quantitative, and 650/4.5 analytical.

 

2.2  Graduate Status

2.2.1  Regular Graduate Status

  Without Regular Status, a student cannot receive an advanced degree from the SIE Department.

2.2.2  Provisional Status

            Occasionally, a student is admitted to a graduate program with Provisional Status.  This might be because the student's undergraduate course preparation is deficient in the fundamental areas discussed in section 2.1, or because the student's application package does not provide sufficient evidence that she/he can perform well in a graduate program.

            Students who are admitted on Provisional Status are given explicit instructions regarding the steps that must be taken in order to qualify for advancement to Regular Status.  In general, these include satisfying all fundamental course requirements (see section 2.1) and may also include additional graduate-level courses and GPA requirements. Students on Provisional Status who wish to be changed to Regular Status must complete a Provisional to Regular Graduate Status Request form, available from the Student Academic Specialist or the Graduate College.  Upon advancement to Regular Status, the student must still complete any remaining SIE deficiencies before graduation.

            Students who are not deficient in preparatory course work but who have been placed on Provisional Status may petition for a change of status after completing at least 9 and at most 12 graduate-level credits that can be included in the Plan of Study.  The request for a change of status must be accompanied by a current University of Arizona transcript.  In general, committee approval requires a GPA of 3.25 or better.

            Any student whose request for a change of status has been denied twice will not be allowed to graduate with an advanced degree from the SIE Department.

2.2.3  Non-Degree Status

            Students holding a Bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, from a college or university that grants degrees recognized by the University of Arizona may attend graduate-level courses without being admitted to a graduate degree program.  Such students may enroll in graduate-level course work as their qualifications and performance permit.  However, no more than 12 units earned while in this status may later be applied toward an advanced degree awarded by the university.

            Those students who are on Non-degree Status and who later decide to pursue a graduate degree must submit a Graduate Degree Program Application for Admission and the $50 admission fee to the Graduate College, as well as the additional documentation required by the SIE Department.

 

2.3  Degree Requirements

            Some of the requirements for an MS degree may be classified as general requirements, common to all programs in the SIE Department.  Each area of specialization (i.e., SYE, INE, and RQE) has specific requirements.  The general requirements are as follows:

1.       Students must earn at least 30 units of graduate credit (courses numbered 5xx, 6xx, 9xx).  Credit for SIE 695A, SIE 900, SIE 920, and SIE 930 may not be counted toward the MS degree.

2.       The majority of all course work must be taken within the SIE Department.  At most, 3 units of SIE 599 (Independent Study) may be applied toward the MS degree, subject to prior approval by the Graduate Studies Committee.  The committee considers such factors as there being no course in the university that would serve the same purpose, as well as the expectation that a tangible product (such as a final report) will be available for evaluation by the committee.  Students must complete the independent study course form and submit to the SIE Graduate Studies Committee prior to registering for SIE 599.  Additionally the topic of study must regard an area of academic study and should not be directly related to the student’s research topic.

3.       Each student enrolled in an MS degree program is expected to gain in-depth knowledge within a particular area of study and complementary knowledge from a related area.  To meet this expectation, the student's Plan of Study must contain a primary and a secondary area of concentration, each consisting of courses that are related to a common theme.  The primary and secondary areas must include at least 9 units and at least 6 units, respectively, of SIE graduate-level courses.  Up to 3 units of thesis or project work may be used to satisfy the concentration requirements.  In general, SIE courses whose three-digit course numbers share a common middle digit are related to a common theme.  However, an area of concentration need not satisfy this general rule to be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.  In cases where the primary and secondary areas of concentration might not be readily apparent, the student can facilitate the Graduate Studies Committee's review of the Plan of Study by providing a brief statement explaining the nature of the intended areas of concentration.

4.       Graduate students in SIE may count up to 3 units of 400-level course work toward a graduate degree if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

§         The course directly contributes to the student’s academic or career objectives.

§         The course emphasis is on subjects not normally taught in Systems and Industrial Engineering.

§         The course emphasis is on subjects not normally taught by the student’s undergraduate department.

§         Prior approval must be obtained from the Graduate Studies Committee.  Note:  Students requesting 400-level course credit must fill out a Request for Graduate Credit for 400-Level Coursework form for approval by the Graduate Studies Committee.  The form is available in the office of the Student Academic Specialist.

5.       All MS students must choose one of the options listed in section 2.4.  Students wishing to pursue the Doctoral degree are encouraged to choose the thesis or exam option.

The University of Arizona requires that all requirements for an MS degree must be completed within six years.

 

            Specific requirements for the respective degrees are as follows:

 

Systems Engineering (SYE) majors must include SIE 550, 554A, and either 520 or 530 in their Plan of Study. 

Industrial Engineering (INE) majors must include SIE 530 and either SIE 540 or 545 in their Plan of Study.  INE majors must also complete one course from the SIE 56x or 58x series. 

Reliability and Quality Engineering (RQE) majors must include SIE 506, 520, and 530 in their Plan of Study.  They must also complete a two-course sequence in reliability or quality.  Students stressing "reliability" may select one course from AME 572, AME 575 or AME 577.  Students stressing "quality" must complete SIE 533 and 536.

 

Performance Requirements

 

a)      An M.S. student shall submit his/her Plan of Study after 12 course hours of study taken while enrolled in the SIE department.  Students failing to meet this requirement will be so notified, and will be required to complete the Plan of Study immediately.  A student who has not completed his/her Plan of Study by this time may be dismissed from the program.

b)      All M.S. students must have taken all core courses for their degree within their first four semesters of study. 

c)      An M.S. student shall submit a progress report to his/her advisor by the end of each academic year (last day of final exams in the Spring semester).  A progress report form will be provided to students by the SIE Student Academic Specialist in April of each year for this purpose.  Based on this input, the Graduate Studies Committee determines whether or not the student is making satisfactory academic progress.  If the Graduate Studies Committee determines that the student is not making satisfactory progress, they state a set of requirements and corresponding deadlines for the student to achieve to remain in the program.  Students not meeting these additional requirements may be recommended to the Department Head and Graduate College for dismissal from the program.

 

2.4  MS Degree Options

            All MS degree candidates must pass a final examination before the degree is awarded.  This requirement may be met by one of the following options:

 

a.  Thesis Option – This option requires 24 units of regular course work, followed by 6 units of thesis research (SIE 910).  The thesis option is designed for students who wish to work with a faculty member on a specific research topic.  Thesis work is an excellent complement to course work and constitutes a valuable opportunity to develop an appreciation for research.  Only outstanding students are permitted to select the thesis option.

 

The thesis is prepared under the guidance of the major professor and is reviewed by members of the examining committee prior to the oral presentation.  The examining committee consists of the major professor and at least two other members of the faculty selected on the basis of the student's course work and field of interest.  Other members of the department may also examine the thesis if they wish to do so. 

 

A final, hard-bound copy of each thesis must be provided to the Student Academic Specialist for placement in the departmental library.

 

b.  Report Option – This option requires 27 units of regular course work, followed by 3 units of project work (SIE 909) leading to a written report.  The project report option is designed for students who wish to work on an applied research project.  The topic should have practical significance and require application of graduate-level course material.  The report typically involves the application of new methodologies to an actual industrial problem.  If the faculty advisor agrees and the project is suitable, up to three students may work together on the same project and produce a joint report. 

 

The final examination for this option is the same as that required for the thesis option.

 

c.  Course Work Option – This option requires 33 units of course work approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.  At least 3 of these units must be taken at the 600-level in the SIE Department with a grade of A or B.  The Graduate Studies Committee's evaluation of the student's performance in this 600-level course constitutes the final examination for the MS degree.

 

d.  Examination Option – This option requires 30 units of course work, approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.  The student must also pass the Doctoral Qualifying Exam.

 

2.5  Preparing the MS Plan of Study

            The MS Plan of Study is the student's contract with the university concerning specific course requirements the student must satisfy to become eligible for the MS degree.  As soon as they arrive on campus, students see the Department Head or the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee for referral to a tentative advisor. 

 

Students prepare a Plan of Study as soon as possible (no later than immediately after the completion of 12 hours of course work), obtain the advisor’s signature, and return the form to the Student Academic Specialist.  The Student Academic Specialist submits the form to the SIE Graduate Studies Committee for review and signatures.  In reviewing the proposal, the committee considers the following: 

 

  • Does the program meet the course work requirements specified in section 2.3?
  • Upon completion of the MS program, will the student have an acceptable background in the academic areas that the SIE Department considers to be of primary importance? 

 

Areas of primary importance in the SIE Department are as follows:

 

Computer Software Engineering (SIE 531, 547, 57x, 631)

Engineering Statistics (SIE 53x)

Intelligent Control (SIE 570, 589)

Manufacturing Systems (58x, 68x)

Optimization (SIE 54x, 64x)

Probabilistic Models and Techniques (SIE 52x, 62x, except SIE 528)

Production Systems (SIE 56x, 66x)

Reliability and Quality (SIE 50x, 533, 60x)

Systems Theory (SIE 55x, 65x)

           

If the Plan of Study is approved at the department level, the Student Academic Specialist sends it to the Graduate College Degree Check unit before the required Graduate College deadlines.  If it is not approved at the college level, the Plan of Study is returned to the student for changes and re-submission.

 

            For information on specific courses that may not be included in the Plan of Study, students should consult with their advisor, the Student Academic Specialist, or the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee.  Typically credit is not allowed for courses offered by other departments that duplicate SIE course offerings.

 

2.6  Typical Plans of Study for the MS Degree

·         Plan A is intended for students with a Bachelor's degree in either Systems or Industrial Engineering or for other especially well-qualified students. 

·         Plan B is more slowly paced than Plan A and is intended for students with undergraduate degrees in engineering, mathematics, physics, or computer science.  It assumes that the student has completed four semesters of calculus-level mathematics, two semesters of calculus-level physics, and computer programming. 

·         Plan C is intended for graduates of non-engineering programs who have not taken any calculus-level mathematics and physics.  It assumes that the student will complete two semesters of calculus before the first full session in the program.

 

PLAN A