Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I get into the Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Program?

That depends on who you are:

If you are a high school student, you need to first be admitted into the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University. After finishing a common freshman year, apply through the Entry to a Major process for acceptance in industrial and systems engineering.

If you are a student currently in another department of engineering at Texas A&M, a non-engineering department at Texas A&M or from outside Texas A&M, then you would have to "change your major" or "transfer" in. Check out the College of Engineering transfer students page to find out more about the transfer process.

Q: What criteria is used for admission into industrial engineering?

A holistic review process is used for entry to a major, change of major, transfer and readmit students. Admission decisions depend on capacity (i.e., number of students currently enrolled, projected number of general engineering students and projected transfer students). Most importantly, they depend on the academic record. Students who are successful in math (in particular, ones that have shown promise in algebra, calculus, probability and statistics) and computer programming (both structured programming languages and software) are considered.

Q: How do I determine if a course from another university will transfer to Texas A&M?

1. Check the Transfer Course Equivalency website and follow the instructions below.
   1. If you are a Texas A&M student looking to take a course at another college, select "Search by TAMU Course."
      1. Select the subject and course you want to search.
      2. Select the college you want to take the course at, or you may search "ALL colleges in Texas" to view a list of equivalent courses at all Texas colleges.
      3. Click "Search by TAMU Course."
   2. If you want to determine if a course that you have taken will transfer to Texas A&M, then select "Search by Sending Institution." 
      1. Select the state and college that you are sending the course from.
      2. Select the course you completed at that college.
      3. Click "Get Equivalencies."
2. Questions may also be emailed to the Office of Admissions.
3. Speak with an industrial and systems engineering advisor regarding course substitutions for the curriculum.

Q: Where do I send my transcript?

Students who have completed coursework at another college or university and wish to have that credit evaluated for use on a degree plan at Texas A&M must provide an official transcript. Transcripts must be received directly from the issuing institution or in a sealed envelope. The Office of Admissions processes all transfer credit from students earned from any other college or university for current and prospective students.

The address for mailing a transcript to Texas A&M:
Office of Admissions
Texas A&M University
P. O. Box 30014
College Station, TX 77842-3014

However, if you are a degree candidate for the semester in which the transcript is being submitted, please request that your official transcript be sent to:

Degree Audit
Texas A&M University
P. O. Box 30018
College Station, TX 77842-3018

Q: How do I contact an advisor?

Walk-in hours - Vary by advisor

Appointments - To meet an advisor in person, schedule an appointment through Howdy.

Email - Email the industrial and systems engineering undergraduate advising office and include your UIN if you have one. Please allow up to 48 hours for a response.

By Phone - You may call 979-845-5531 and leave a message. In the message, include your name, UIN, phone number and a brief message for why you are calling.

Q: Who is my advisor?

There are no assigned advisors. You may see any industrial and systems engineering advisor.

Q: When do I register for courses?

1. Check the Office of the Registrar website for the registration schedule each semester.
2. Check Howdy Portal to view your assigned registration time. 
3. Accept your Lab Safety Acknowledgement (LSA) in your Howdy Portal. You must accept your LSA EACH semester to register.
4. During your assigned registration period, you may register for a maximum of 17 hours for the fall and spring semesters and six hours for each summer term. If you miss or do not complete your pre-registration during your assigned 48 hours, you will have to wait for open registration.
5. Learn about how student workers can find information about early registration.

Common registration errors

• Student Attribute Error: Accept your LSA, check to see if you are registering for honors or at another Texas A&M location (i.e., Galveston).
• Major: Must be in major that is identified in course attribute.
• Class: If the class is restricted to U3 or U4, for example, and you are a U2.
• Prerequisites: If you do not have the required prerequisites because of a transfer substitution.  

Click restrictions and details under the course name for major and classification details.

 Q: I am a non-ISEN student and all ISEN 302 sections are full, what do I do?

Contact the undergraduate advisors via email.

Q: I am an ISEN student interested in taking a non-ISEN course, but it does not appear on our technical electives list. Can I take it and have it count toward a technical elective?

1. Email the undergraduate advising office. Include your UIN and a syllabus for the course you are interested in taking.
2. Make a case for why you think it is relevant to your degree for it to be counted as a technical elective.

Q: How do I get into MMET 181?

If you are a current industrial and systems engineering student and plan to register for MMET 181, send an email to ieundergradadvising@tamu.edu with your name, UIN and whether you have taken ENGR 111 and 112 or ENGR 289.

*You must complete the lab safety acknowledgment to register for the course.

Q: I am going on a co-op or internship, what should I do? When should I submit a report? What should the report contain?

Contact the Career Center who will help you with the process. The answers to most co-op report questions can be found here. You may reach the career center at:

209 Koldus Building
1233 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-1233
Phone: (979) 845-5139
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Q: What AP score do I need to receive course credit? How do I accept AP credit?

• View AP score requirements to receive course credit.
• To accept AP credit: Speak to an advisor.

Q: How do I Q-drop a course?

1. You must be an industrial and systems engineering student to drop a course with our department advisors.
2. Fill out the Q-Drop request form.
3. Bring form and meet with an advisor to drop course.

Q-drop requests submitted to the advising office after the deadline will not be processed. Refer to the Q-drop webpage for procedures.

Q: How do I apply for graduation?

Under the "My Record" tab in the Howdy Portal, select the "Application for Graduation" link in the Degree Evaluation channel. Before you apply for graduation, check your degree evaluation to make sure that all minors (and/or double majors or degrees) are exactly as you wish them to be. Contact the department's advising office if changes need to be made before you apply for graduation. If you later discover you need to add or remove a minor, the registrar's office will require you to withdraw your graduation application before those changes can be made.

Q: How do I know if a course has an International and Cultural Diversity (ICD), Social Behavioral Science (SBS), or Creative Arts (CA) attribute?

View a list of courses with ICD, SBS or CA attributes.

Q: What minors does the university offer? How do I add a minor?

• View the list of university approved minors.
• You may need to meet with the minor's department advisor and fill out an application. The list of university approved minors lists the minor application process.

Q: How do I find out information about global study abroad programs?

Visit the A&M Education Abroad website for information and contacts, or check out the Halliburton Engineering Global Programs webpage.

Q: Why is my financial aid not covering my courses?

Contact the Scholarships and Financial Aid office for financial aid issues.

You may schedule an appointment with a Scholarships & Financial Aid advisor by calling (979) 845-3236 at least 24 hours in advance. Advisors are also available for in-person advising without an appointment, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a walk-in basis. College Station advisors are able to assist students from College Station, Galveston, McAllen, the Health Science Center and the School of Law.

Phone: (979) 845-3236
Telephone Service Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Q: How do I find my cumulative GPA and major GPA?

1. Under the "My Record" tab in the Howdy Portal, select the "View Degree Evaluation" link in the Degree Evaluation channel.
2. Click "Generate New Evaluation."
3. Check the circle with your program name.
4. Use current semester and make sure the box for "Use in-progress courses" is checked.
5. Click "Generate Request."
6. Check the circle for "Detail Requirements."
7. Click "Submit."
8. Program and overall GPA is listed in the middle of the screen, under used credits.

Q: How do I submit a degree planner?

Use the Undergraduate Degree Planner Student Guide in the Howdy Portal.

Q: What are some tutoring options?

The Academic Success Center offers free drop-in tutoring. Visit the Academic Success Center's page for tutoring schedule and locations.