Business Administration/Industrial and Systems Engineering, Dual MBA/MSE

The MBA/MSE in Industrial and Systems Engineering combines structured business leadership training with flexible, technically focused engineering coursework—giving you the tools to drive strategic decisions and operational improvements across complex organizations.

On the MBA side, you’ll build foundational knowledge across key business functions and develop advanced skills in analytics, global management, stakeholder-centered leadership, and AI applications. A capstone project brings together everything you’ve learned, preparing you to solve modern business challenges from a top-level, cross-functional perspective.

The MSE-ISE curriculum offers broad flexibility, allowing you to shape your studies around your career goals. You'll complete three required courses—Human Factors and Ergonomics, Design and Analysis of Experiments, and Production and Operations Engineering I—and choose the remainder from five concentration areas:

• Human Factors and Ergonomics
• Operations Research and Management Science
• Quality Systems and Manufacturing
• Information Systems
• Program Management and Product Development

You can specialize in one area or mix courses across multiple concentrations, building a custom learning experience that aligns with your interests and ambitions.

The entire program includes 19-22 courses, or 57-66 credits, depending on whether you’ve previously taken courses that qualify you to waive some MBA foundations courses.

This dual degree equips you with a powerful blend of strategic leadership and systems engineering skills. You’ll learn to lead teams, manage operations, and make data-informed decisions through real-world projects, case studies, and a strategy capstone. Courses in analytics, AI, and stakeholder-focused leadership will strengthen your ability to communicate and drive change across organizations.

On the engineering side, you’ll gain hands-on experience improving complex systems using tools like optimization, human factors design, Six Sigma, and enterprise information systems. Whether managing global programs or streamlining operations, you’ll graduate ready to lead with both strategic insight and technical precision.

Our online programs meet the same course requirements and admission standards as campus-based programs, and your diploma and transcript will be identical. Whether you complete your degree online, on campus, or in a hybrid format, it’s the same degree. Online students are welcome to enroll in campus-based courses and are encouraged to take advantage of campus resources and in-person events, like professional organizations and study-abroad opportunities.

Asynchronous Virtual Classroom

College of Business online courses follow the regular semester schedule and are mostly delivered asynchronously. This means your professors will set deadlines, but you’ll have flexibility in when you complete assignments, tests, and activities. Unless specified, there’s no need to log in at a specific time, allowing you to participate from anywhere with internet access! To keep you engaged, our online courses often include group discussions, videos, projects, and quizzes or exams.

Personalized Attention and Support

As an online graduate student, you’ll have direct access to your professors, just as if you were on campus. You’ll also receive priority registration for online courses each semester. For academic advising, call us at 313-593-4776 to schedule a phone appointment during daytime or early evening hours, or email quick questions to [email protected]. While not required, we encourage online students to take advantage of campus resources and events, including professional organizations and study-abroad opportunities. Additionally, you’ll have full access to digital resources like the UM-Dearborn library.

Students may waive ACC 505, BE 530, BPS 516, FIN 531, ISM / MIS 525, MKT 515, and OB 510 if they have equivalent courses in an AACSB business program completed within the previous 10 years and have earned at least a 3.2 post-60 GPA (that is, your GPA in courses taken after your first 60 undergraduate credit hours). Students who do not meet these criteria may request to have their courses evaluated for waiver credit at the time of admission. Students must have earned a B or better in equivalent courses as a part of a degree program completed within the previous 10 years.

Regardless of waiver and exemption credits granted, students must earn at least 57 credits in the dual-degree program.

In addition, up to 9 transfer credits for previous equivalent graduate coursework can be applied to the degree if those credits have not been counted toward a degree.

Waivers and transfer credit are granted at the discretion of the program faculty.

This program welcomes students from all undergraduate majors and levels of work experience. We conduct a holistic review of each application, focusing on strong academic performance, quantitative skills, and a clear statement of purpose. Admission is selective. View our Class Profile for details.

To be considered, you must have:

• A four-year U.S. bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution.
• A grade of C or better in college algebra, trigonometry, pre-calculus, or higher. If you haven't met this requirement, we'll help you complete an appropriate course before or shortly after admission.