IOE degree requirements

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Overview

  • Complete 30 credit hours of U-M graduate courses.
    • Eligible courses are listed on the Rackham Programs of Study website. Some courses are excluded and listed further down this page under the heading “courses that are not allowed.”
  • Of the 30 credits, at least 18 credit hours must be in graduate-level IOE courses.
  • Of the 30 credits, at least 14 credit hours must be at the 500 level or above, including 12 credit hours of IOE courses at this level.
    • Note: Only up to three credit hours of IOE 590 (Master’s Directed Study) can count toward the 12 required credit hours. Courses graded S/U, one- or two-credit seminars, and IPD courses do not count toward the 500-level requirement.
  • No more than six credit hours in directed study or project-based courses.
  • Take at least one three-credit course outside the U-M IOE Department (cognate course).
    • Cross-listed IOE courses do not count as cognates.
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of (3.0) B or better, both overall and within IOE courses.

Courses not allowed for IOE graduate credit

  • Always not allowed: IOE 422, 424, 435, 441, 461, 481, 490 and 499.
    • Reason: These are designed for undergraduates or lack the rigor needed for graduate credit. All other 400-level IOE courses are eligible for IOE graduate credit. 
  • Sometimes not allowed: IOE 491.
    • Requires prior approval from the IOE Graduate Program Advisor. A list of approved 491 courses is available each term.
  • Not allowed for master’s students: IOE 800, 801, 802 and 899.

Graduate credit rules for non-IOE courses

  • Rackham courses: They are generally eligible if they are 400-level or higher, but courses in areas like probability, statistics, and operations must be more rigorous than similar IOE courses and introductory courses may not qualify. 
  • Transfer credit: Must be Rackham-approved and meet IOE standards.

Please talk to the IOE graduate advising team for more information about meeting IOE standards for rigor.

U-M Ross School of Business courses

  • 400-level: Only ACC (accounting) 471 is approved. All other 400-level Ross courses require written approval from the IOE Graduate Program Advisor, obtained before the drop-add deadline.
  • 500-level and above: Eligible unless on the “not allowed” list.
    • Note: One-credit seminars do not count toward the 14 required 500-level credits.
  • Courses that are not allowed from Ross:
    • MO 501 (allowed for graduate credit but doesn’t count as 500-level)
    • TO 501, 502, 503, 511, 512, 513, 551, 552, 561, 563, 566–569, 572, 573, 601 and 616. Note: IOE 440 and TO 605 cannot both count for credit.

Courses in other departments that are not allowed

  • Entrepreneurship: ENTR 599 section 019
    • Other sections are allowed for graduate credit, but may NOT be counted as a 500-level course.
  • Economics: ECON 404, 405 and 500
  • Engineering: ENGR 401, 480, 600 and 998 (CPT)
  • EECS: EECS 402
  • Math: MATH 412, 417, 419, 422, 425, 431, 486, 489, 497 and 498
  • Manufacturing: MFG 401 and 503
    • MFG 503 is allowed for graduate credit but may not count as 500-level course
  • Statistics: All 400-level courses are not allowed, with the exception of the following courses: STAT 406, 430, 466, 470 and 480.
  • Biostatistics: BIOSTAT 503, 510, 523, 553, 600, 601, 602 and 625.
  • Public Policy: PUBPOL 513 and 529.
  • Information: INFO 528 and 543.
  • Other: RACKHAM 998, ENGR 998 (CPT) and HMP 680

Special topic courses with a regular lecture format taught under IOE 591 are considered regular lecture courses (not directed study courses) in verifying requirements.