The PhD degree is usually a four-year program, which requires rigorous study and a high degree of emphasis on original research. Graduates of this program generally pursue careers in research and/or academia.
Educational Objectives
- Provide graduates with advanced analytical skills in areas related to industrial and systems engineering;
- Prepare students for independent research and development in a chosen area of specialization;
- Provide graduates with full breadth of employment opportunities; and
- Acquaint students with international aspects of industrial and systems engineering problems and the profession.
Graduation Requirements
A minimum of 90 credits is required for the Ph.D., including 30 credits from an accredited master’s degree. If one enters the program without a master’s degree, then those requirements must be completed first. The breakdown of credits is as follows.
| Course | Credits |
| Master’s Degree | 30 |
| General Examination | 12 |
| Breadth Requirement | 6 |
| Advanced Electives/Research | 27 |
| Dissertation Research | 15 |
| Total | 90 |
The general examination credits entail the four required courses which are taken in the first year of study, namely:
- ESI 6912 – Fundamentals of Mathematical Programming
- ESI 6417 – Linear Programming and Network Optimization
- ESI 6321 – Applied Probability Methods in Engineering
- ESI 6546 – Stochastic Modeling and Analysis
The breadth requirement entails at least six credits of courses outside the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering to enhance your breadth of knowledge. If you entered the Ph.D. program with a Master’s degree in a field other than industrial and systems engineering, you may apply to the Graduate Committee for a waiver of this requirement. Such an application should be submitted as soon as possible after entering the program, but no later than the completion of the first year of study.
Seminar Attendance
The ISE Fall and Spring Seminar series will feature weekly presentations by ISE faculty and graduate students, and by outside visitors from both within and outside the University of Florida. You are required to maintain 80% seminar attendance in each semester your first two years of study. (Arriving late for a seminar is disruptive and disrespectful of the seminar speaker, and will not count towards attendance.) You must register for the seminar course EIN 6918 in two semesters during your first two years of study. An “S” grade will be awarded if attendance during the preceding semesters was satisfactory; otherwise a “U” grade will be awarded.
In addition to these credits and required coursework, a student must successfully complete the General Examination and Qualifying Exam/Dissertation Proposal before admission to candidacy. A successful defense of a written Dissertation completes the degree.