Plan ahead for courses where students have earned lower grades.
Lowest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.
Historical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Only courses with at least 100 letter grades are ranked.
Introduction to combinatorial optimization covering exact and approximation algorithms for discrete structures.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Reviewers describe the workload as heavy, with time-consuming homework and brutal exams. The course requires deep knowledge of in-depth proofs, making it challenging for non-elite math majors.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Fall 2025Introduces linear optimization problems, emphasizing formal proofs, the simplex method, duality theory, and theorems of the alternatives.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course is considered very difficult, with hard assignments that require significant study time, though group work is permitted. Exams are reported as easier than homework, although one student found the final exam unexpectedly difficult despite its stated format.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ISYE 323 teaches basic techniques for modeling and optimizing deterministic systems, emphasizing linear programming and its applications.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course is challenging, with very time-consuming case studies and hard material. Students report that the homework is relevant but requires significant effort to master the content.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to stochastic processes covering Markov chains, point processes, and renewal theory with applications to queueing and branching models.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Seppalainen assigns challenging homework that is harder than exams, while Valko uses a grading scheme based on multiple weighted components rather than heavy testing.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to mathematical optimization, covering formulation of discrete and continuous problems and equilibrium models, and usage of algorithms and software tools.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course is extremely difficult with long, challenging homework assignments that can take up to 20 hours, requiring substantial independent study time.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Covers theory and algorithms for nonlinear optimization, focusing on unconstrained methods like quasi-Newton and trust-region techniques.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Assignments are graded harshly, and the course is notoriously difficult, requiring significant preparation to keep up with the rigorous material.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to technologies, processes, and systems of modern discrete part manufacturing.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Darek Ceglarek: Students must engage in substantial independent work and preparation to handle the challenging material.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Fall 2025ISYE 313 teaches engineering economic analysis using financial accounting principles, cost systems, and discounted cash flow techniques.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Homework and group projects are reported as manageable in time commitment, with tests similar to practice material. However, one reviewer noted that tests were confusing and grades took a long time to return.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ISYE 320 teaches analysis of stochastic systems through analytic methods and computer simulation, covering queuing, Markov processes, and simulation project management.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Homework is incredibly difficult with no related examples in class or lab, and students are expected to have significant prior knowledge.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ISYE 321 is a simulation modeling laboratory focusing on computer exercises with random variables, queuing systems, and simulation software projects.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ISYE 604 covers special topics in manufacturing systems and supply chain management, including digital manufacturing technologies and IoT.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Yonatan Mintz: Multiple reviewers rated the course as extremely difficult, citing a lack of grading guidelines, unclear lectures, and an unhelpful attitude when seeking guidance.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Fall 2025ISYE 517 introduces decision sciences in healthcare, teaching decision trees, sensitivity analysis, Markov processes, and Monte Carlo simulations.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
One historical review notes that Alagoz did not make the course more difficult than necessary, suggesting a manageable workload.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025Covers inspection data, quality control sampling plans, process control charts, and reliability models.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Hantang Qin: Reviewers report varying difficulty levels, with ratings ranging from 1 to 5. The primary concern is the instructor's competence rather than specific workload details.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ISYE 315 teaches control concepts for designing inventory, production, quality, and project-planning systems using computer components.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Sinan Tas, Terry Mann: The course project is described as time-consuming or intense, with reviewers advising students to start early. Exams are reported as easy if students attend lectures and discussions, though one review noted lectures could be tough.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ISYE 312 teaches data management and analysis fundamentals for industrial engineers, focusing on database strategies, preprocessing, visualization, and modeling with MySQL and R.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Homework and projects are graded easily and mirror class problems, but exams require independent preparation due to low guidance. Extra credit is available for lecture attendance.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to industrial statistics covering probability, hypothesis testing, and regression using Excel.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Amanda Smith, Hannah Silber: Homework and weekly quizzes carry significant weight, making consistent effort crucial. The group project is noted as tedious and requiring attention, while exams are generally considered fair and based on reviewed material.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to human factors focusing on human capabilities in system design and operation.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Hannah Silber, John Lee: The course typically requires weekly readings, online quizzes, case study analyses, and group assignments. Students report varying levels of effort, with some finding the workload minimal and others noting strict syllabus adherence.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ISYE 412 teaches the fundamentals of using data analytics to make data-driven decisions, emphasizing the application of modeling strategies and analytics principles to industrial engineering problems.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Weekly homework consists of four to five questions covering lecture material, with an optional three percent extra credit opportunity available.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ISYE 602 covers various special topics in human factors engineering, with content varying by semester.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Ranjana Mehta: The course project involved group work where feedback led to worse grades, and the workload was perceived as difficult and unfair by one student.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ISYE 562 examines the human side of data science, covering bias, fairness, and trust, while surveying machine learning techniques through engineering case studies.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026ISYE 450 is a team-based course where students address real-world design challenges from external organizations by applying industrial and systems engineering methodologies.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ISYE 555 provides a systems view of accident causation, focusing on human performance limitations, causation models, and safety program evaluation.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025ISYE 350 introduces design tools through experiential learning, focusing on experiments, measurements, data analysis, system design, and prototyping.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The primary difficulty is unclear or conflicting directions for the project, though the overall workload is low.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Human Factors Engineering course focusing on analysis and design of man-machine systems using human performance models and simulation.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Workload is generally low, though some find assignments repetitive busy work or time-consuming, while others note detailed grading criteria and high grades.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026ISYE 348 is a laboratory course providing hands-on experience in measuring human factors data and applying it to product and workplace design projects.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026A graduate seminar in industrial engineering where topics vary by offering.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026