UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME) has launched new curricula for students interested in the service sector. These include a specialized service systems engineering (SSE) option for the bachelor of science degree program in industrial engineering, as well as several new courses on subjects ranging from healthcare systems modeling to pricing and demand management.
"As service industries become more digital, data-rich and AI-enabled, students need more than a traditional view of industrial engineering,” said Vittaldas Prabhu, professor and Charles and Enid Schneider Faculty Chair in Service Enterprise Engineering. “The SSE option gives them a rigorous way to work at the intersection of physical operations, digital platforms and cyber-physical service systems, opening pathways to high-impact careers across healthcare, logistics, consulting, finance and other service sectors.”
Service systems engineering is an area of industrial engineering focused on the development of systems that enhance quality and productivity in the service sector. These systems are continuously redesigned to anticipate real-world fluctuations, saving time and resources for both companies and consumers — for example, by reducing wait times in drive-through lines or improving the efficiency of snow removal.
To help students address modern challenges in service industries, IME has established an SSE option for the bachelor of science degree program in industrial engineering. While the general option for the bachelor's degree provides a well-rounded industrial engineering curriculum, the SSE option provides a specialized curriculum in service systems engineering.
The general option is offered at the University Park and Behrend campuses. The SSE option is exclusively offered at the UP campus.
“The new option provides a distinctive academic path for students interested in service sectors such as healthcare, consulting, digital platforms, supply chains, finance and hospitality,” said chair of the SSE Advisory Board Charles “Chuck” Schneider, a 1962 Penn State alumnus who played a pivotal role in establishing, developing and expanding Penn State’s offerings for service enterprise engineering. “IME is responding to the modern economy with a pathway that is technically rigorous, career-relevant and clearly differentiated.”
In addition to the SSE degree option, IME will offer new courses on service systems engineering starting in the fall semester of the 2026-27 academic year. The new courses are listed with brief descriptions below.
- Introduction to Service Systems Engineering (IE 304): This course provides an introduction to service systems engineering. Students will map service systems, interpret dashboards and telemetry, analyze performance and work in teams on a redesign project, building practical skills for internships and careers.
- Human Systems Networks (IE 427): This course discusses the role of humans in systems of people and things. Students will learn the fundamentals of social network analysis methods, including collecting data from humans in systems and representing behavior and performance in different work domains.
- Introduction to Healthcare Systems Modeling (IE 432): This course prepares students to address challenges specific to the healthcare sector. Key concepts include the structure and operation of healthcare systems, the factors driving decision-making and the application of modeling techniques to health policy.
- Pricing and Demand Management (IE 435): This course provides an overview on ways to improve profitability for organizations in a variety of service industries, covering concepts such as customer demand and choice, traditional and dynamic pricing methods, auction methods and service charges.
- Modeling and Optimization of Stochastic Service Systems (IE 475): This course covers the modeling and evaluation of service systems in practice. Students will learn to simulate and analyze arrival processes, in addition to learning about data-driven approaches for uncertainty modeling, scheduling and optimization.
These courses are open to all interested students who meet the prerequisites for enrollment, including those pursuing the SSE option within the bachelor of science degree program in industrial engineering.
“The service sector represents the majority of the U.S. economy and workforce,” said Ling Rothrock, interim department head and professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering. “Focused coursework in service systems engineering will prepare students to work in a sector with an exciting future that will impact all of us daily.”
Students can email undergrad@ime.psu.edu to learn more.