So, What is ISyE?

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (07/20/2026) — Industrial and Systems Engineering is a department rooted in optimization and community, but it is a department many incoming freshman may not be familiar with.

What are the questions an incoming freshman might ask a senior about ISyE? In this mock conversation, 2026 graduating senior Paityn Hamus has the answers.

Freshman: I’m thinking about majoring in Industrial and Systems Engineering, but I honestly don’t really know what it is. Is this a good major for me?

Paityn: I’ll give you the honest answer I wish someone gave me: it depends on how you like to think. But let me tell you how I got here.

I didn’t even start in engineering. I came to the University of Minnesota and started in the College of Liberal Arts with no real plan. I just knew I liked science, math, and working with people. I also was good at communicating; I had worked several service industry jobs, so talking to people and adapting quickly was something I was already comfortable with, but I had no idea how that translated into a career.

So I started exploring. I talked to different students, asked questions, and paid attention to how people described their majors. What stood out to me about Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) wasn’t just what they studied, but how they thought. They approached problems in a structured way, and they also knew how to explain their ideas clearly. That combination - problem solving and communication - was what made me realize ISyE was the right fit.

Freshman: So then what actually is ISyE? What do you do?

Paityn: ISyE is about improving systems. A system could be a factory, a hospital, a supply chain, or even something as simple as a coffee shop. Instead of focusing on just one piece, you learn how everything connects like people, processes, and data, and also how to make it all work better.

A lot of what you do involves dealing with uncertainty. You use tools like statistics, optimization, and simulation to make decisions, but the reality is that things are rarely clean or predictable.

Freshman: What is the best part of studying ISyE?

Paityn: Honestly, the most rewarding part has been seeing how applicable it is to real life. One of the classes I took was an introduction to ISyE, and almost every week we had an industry professional from several industries talk to the class about how industrial and system engineering shaped their career. Once you start thinking in terms of systems, you can’t really turn it off. You start noticing inefficiencies everywhere, like how long lines form, how workflows could be improved, and how small changes could make a big difference.

Another big highlight has been group work and communication. Unlike some other engineering fields, ISyE constantly forces you to explain your thinking, whether that’s in presentations, reports, or team projects. That ended up being a strength for me because of my background in service jobs. Being able to clearly explain an idea is just as important as having the right answer.

Oh! And the staff and faculty are amazing! There is quite literally nothing they can’t help you with, and if you are having trouble or doubts about your career path, they are always there to listen and give insights if needed.

Freshman: What’s been the hardest part?

Paityn: The biggest challenge is that ISyE problems are rarely straightforward. There’s often no single “correct” answer, just better or worse solutions depending on the situations and tradeoffs.

Another challenge is dealing with assumptions. In classes and projects, especially when building models or simulations, you have to make assumptions about how a system works. But in real life, those assumptions aren’t always accurate. Learning how to balance realism with simplicity, and understanding the limitations of your model, takes time.

Something people also don’t talk about enough is variability. Not everything happens at the same speed and not everyone works the same way. Some people are faster and some processes are inconsistent; that variability can completely change outcomes. Learning to account for that was a big shift for me.

Freshman: So, the big question: Should I choose ISyE?

Paityn: If you like solving problems, working with people, and figuring out how things can be better - not just technically, but also practically - then yes, ISyE is a great choice for you!