Industrial Engineering
Whether you want to create more efficient manufacturing processes, increase product quality for consumers, or oversee worksite improvements, St. Ambrose will challenge and support you.
Our graduates work at ExxonMobil, Ford Motor Company, Genesis Health System, NASA, Boeing Charleston, Deere & Company, Land O'Lakes, and others.
Ambrose Advantages
- Extensive Hands-On Research and Design Experience
- 1-on-1 Lab Help From Faculty
- Nearly 100% Employment
- Accredited Program
Our rigorous and rewarding Industrial Engineering program boasts all the tech you can get at bigger schools, but at SAU we add faculty support, career readiness, and the Ambrose Core Curriculum that helps you solve not just any problem, but the right problem.
Read Our Fact Sheet on Industrial Engineering
Accreditation
Accreditation
The St. Ambrose Industrial and Mechanical Engineering Programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
More Information on the Industrial Engineering Program
As an industrial engineer, your job consists of designing, evaluating, and improving systems. At St. Ambrose, our emphasis is on how humans fit into those systems to ensure safe and productive work. Courses include industrial design, materials science, engineering dynamics, work systems design, ergonomics, system integration, and operations planning, scheduling and control.
The St. Ambrose Industrial Engineering Program is accredited by ABET, and we are the only university in the Quad Cities region that offers this degree. If you want to dual major in both Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, we offer that option, too.
Full-time students generally earn the dual major in 4.5 years (or less), and we give part-time students up to eight years to complete either engineering program. No matter what you choose, you will work closely with engaged faculty who give you a real-world education in and outside the classroom.
In addition to intensive Industrial Engineering courses, you'll also be equipped with an Ambrose Core Curriculum to learn skills in critical thinking, communication, and team work. These are assets regional and national employers are looking for in new hires, and they tell us that our students excel in those areas. That could be why 99% of our domestic students have a job lined up before they graduate.
Enrollment in our engineering programs has grown from 50 students in 2009 to more than 150. Despite our growth, we remain a small department committed to giving you personal attention. Our goal is to educate engineers, not conduct personal research projects. You will be taught by PhDs, not teaching assistants.
Our engineering programs get high praise and support from regional employers who offer internships, professional mentors, and job opportunities. Some even offer financial support to the university, allowing us to provide you with three floors of state-of-the-art labs.
Computer Lab - Hayes 316
All engineering students have 24/7 access to the Engineering Computer Lab. The lab contains computers and monitors with all the software required for engineering courses. In addition, students have free printing (black and white and color) in this lab.
Want to bring your own? Most students also have their own computers. When purchasing a personal computer, choose a laptop or desktop based on your needs and circumstances. For those who prefer a Mac, note that the vast majority of engineering software is written for Windows. It is recommended to get the latest processor technology (Intel i7 processor, AMD equivalent, or M1 chip), 16GB memory (8GB minimum), 1GB graphics card, and a solid state hard drive. Google Drive and applications and MS Office suite are available free for students. (Updated 2022)
Maker Space Prototyping Lab and Design Center - Hayes 302 and 303
The Prototyping Lab and Design Center are the location for many new technologies intended to foster innovation, creativity, and collaboration. Equipment includes several 3D printers, laser cutter, vacuformer, drill press and more. The room contains work tables, computers with all necessary engineering software, and an area for meeting and brainstorming. It's a great place for engineering students to get together to work on homework and projects.
Join one of our student Engineering clubs:
- Engineering Club: The club hosts pizza and study nights throughout the year, members volunteer at events that promote engineering and community service, organizes tours of local companies, and participates in Quad Cities Engineering and Science Council events.
- Society of Women Engineers: Our official chapter of SWE focuses on professional development and outreach to youth. Our members visit area schools and tell students about the opportunities that abound in STEM fields. We annually host Introduce a Girl to STEAM where hundreds of girls and young women learn about engineering through hands-on activities.
- Mecha-Hive Robotics and Design Hive
Internships: Companies throughout the region enthusiastically support our engineering programs by providing internships, professional mentors, and job opportunities. Through our extensive network of engineering alumni and companies across the country, you get on-the-job experience in a mandatory internship at leading manufacturers such as Deere & Company, the Rock Island Arsenal, Caterpillar, and more.
Design Experience: Enroll in sophomore design courses and undertake a real project for a real customer, then present your work at an Engineering Showcase. Our students have completed projects for local companies and even engineered ways to help people with disabilities lead more active lives.
You've heard people say it before: "College will be the greatest time of your life!" With Study Abroad, you can add even more to your college years.
You can study in another country in a semester-long or short-term study abroad program (with a few offered during spring and winterim breaks). No matter the duration, these trips deepen your professional education while earning credit toward graduation.
There are also opportunities through an exchange program, an overseas internship, or volunteering. The limits for Study Abroad are only ones you set for yourself! SAU students have studied in Italy, Costa Rica, Australia, Korea, United Kingdom, Spain, Ecuador, Japan, Germany, Peru, Cyprus, Croatia, Belize, Canada, Chile, and more.
SAU students returning from their Study Abroad locations talk about their time away as life-changing – personally, emotionally, culturally, and academically.
Click here to search our Study Abroad programs, and for general information click here.
You can work in design, manufacturing, robotics, electrical systems, quality, process improvement, and in civil engineering for local, state and federal governments.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median pay for industrial engineers at $84,310 and the field is growing (2016). In fact, 95% of SAU engineering program graduates who pursue employment are working in the field. Many of our students are sought out by employers before they graduate, and 99% of domestic students have a job in place before they graduate.
- Danielle (Frank) Mendez '14 is principle manufacturing engineer at Cobham Mission Systems, Davenport.
- Samantha (Lee) Barkley '09 was a Fulbright Scholar and worked in a HIV/AIDS clinic in Trinidad and Tobago where she researched medical record processes and developed ways medical centers could provide better care. She is now a process engineer for ASEA Brown Boveri in St. Louis.
- Santiago Gonzalez '14 is the Chief Design Engineer for Fraustchi and runs his own thriving business.
- Jeff Menke '99 is a Pella Windows senior engineer and recently designed custom windows for the Ambrose Hall renovation at SAU.
- Jeff Stebel '01 is a systems engineer for Dream Chaser Space, which supports NASA and the International Space Station.
Many of our graduates seek advanced degrees, and have been admitted to programs at Southern Illinois University Medical School, Northern Illinois University, University of Florida, Bradley University and Oregon State University.
Mohamad El-Zein, PhD, Asst. Professor
Andrew Lutz, PhD, Assoc. Professor
Sergiy Markutsya, PhD, Assoc. Professor
Robert Mitchell, PhD, Professor
Michael Opar, PhD, Professor and Chair
Mohammad Rahdar, PhD, Assoc. Professor
Rebecca Romatoski, PhD, Assoc. Professor
Susa Stonedahl, PhD, Professor
Accreditation
The St. Ambrose Industrial Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
Students are educated through a carefully engineered curriculum that includes proven engineering design knowledge, an ability to solve real problems, the development of thinking, writing, and presentation skills, exposure to modern computer technologies, an understanding of spatial relationships, and a breadth of general education.
Industrial Engineering graduates will:
- Demonstrate their success through leadership roles.
- Advance their expertise through professional practice or graduate education.
- Investigate, define, communicate, defend and implement solutions to complex problems.
- Enrich their lives and the lives of others
Students are expected to know and be able to do the following student outcomes by the time of graduation. These relate to the skills, knowledge and behaviors that students acquire in their matriculation through the program::
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
Scholarships and Grants
St. Ambrose offers excellent scholarships and grants, work-study and other financial aid options! Full-time students may be eligible based on your strong academic performance in college, your talent in fine arts or athletics or your demonstrated financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The SAU school code for the FAFSA is 001889.
ON CAMPUS
Merit-Based Scholarships
4.0 GPA: $24,000
3.75-3.99 GPA: $22,000
3.0-3.749 GPA: $20,000
2.5-2.99 GPA: $18,000
2.0-2.49 GPA: $14,000
If GPA is 2.0-2.49, additional documents and review required for admission.
OFF CAMPUS
Merit-Based Scholarships
4.o GPA: $17,000
3.75-3.99 GPA: $16,000
3.0-3.749 GPA: $15,000
2.5-2.99 GPA: $14,000
2.0-2.49 GPA: $13,000
If GPA is 2.0-2.49, additional documents and review required for admission.
ADDITIONAL INSTITUTIONAL AID
Ambrose Advantage Full-Tuition Scholarship
Pell-eligible Iowa residents, learn more here
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarship: $500 per year
Parent is a St. Ambrose graduate
Catholic Traditions Scholarship: $1,000 per year
Students with Catholic religious denomination or plans to graduate from Catholic high school
Minority Scholarship: $500 per year
Ethnically diverse student
Athletic Scholarships: varies
Performance and ability
Fine Arts Scholarships: varies
Performance and ability in music, art and theatre
Faith Learning Justice Campus Ministry Scholarships: $2,000 per year
Recognition of involvement in church and community service and interest in strengthening faith and growing as a leader in campus ministry
Scholarships are determined by unweighted GPA, and are renewable for four years of undergraduate student. Increases in scholarship awards due to change in GPA will be reviewed until March 1.
Grants are money that you don't repay, and they can come from government or private sources. SAU receives all financial aid funds directly - including loans and grants - then applies them to your account: once in the fall term and once in the spring term. Grants can be used to cover your tuition, books, and housing costs. You must apply for grants each academic year. If you have any loan funds in excess of your costs, you may receive a refund. If you are a first-time borrower, there is a 30-day hold on your first disbursement. For all of these grants, you must complete the Free Application Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as it is available.
Iowa Tuition Grant
To be eligible for the Iowa Tuition Grant, you must be a resident of Iowa as defined by the State Board of Regents and currently enrolled or planning to enroll in an undergraduate degree program at an eligible Iowa college or university (SAU is eligible). Iowa College Aid administers need-based college financial aid for Iowans, such as the Iowa Tuition Grant.
Award: $7,500 maximum
Federal Pell Grant
Awarded to students of the highest need based on how much your family can contribute to your education. The U.S. Department of Education sets a threshold. Then, when you file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), it computes where you land within that threshold and determines if you qualify for the grant and for how much.
Award: $6,895 maximum
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
You must file a FAFSA to qualify for a Pell Grant. This grant is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to students who have submitted all required documents for review and in time for the review to be complete. If you are eligible for a Pell Grant or SEOG, the awards will appear on your financial aid award letter.
Award: $400 maximum
Federal Work Study
Must secure campus employment.
Award: $2,560
Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
Provides aid to students intending to teach in a high-need field at a school that serves low-income families (as determined by the U.S. Department of Education or a state education agency). Review criteria and all details here.
Award: up to $4,000
There are many opportunities to receive scholarships from outside sources, here are a few websites to begin researching your options:
- Fastweb
- College Board Scholarship Search
- Scholarships.com
- Peterson's Award Database
- Scholly (app download)
Another tip: Next time you're on campus, check out the bulletin board outside Student Financial Services where we post more flyers and applications for outside scholarships.
Students can apply for the following scholarships; some have specific qualifications.
The SAU Engineering Department faculty are dedicated to helping students apply for scholarships by providing recommendations when appropriate.
Gene Bleuer Scholarship
This is an annual scholarship that will be fully-funded through an estate gift and awarded to a science major, including engineering, mathematics, computer science, and nursing.
The Financial Aid Office selects recipients, but recommendations from faculty are welcome. Amount: $1,000/year
Ed '55 and Marilyn Murrin Scholarship
Annual scholarship awarded with these preferences:
- majors in engineering and the natural sciences, including computer science
OR
- any student, regardless of major, from the parishes of Parnell Holbrook or Williamsburg
The Financial Aid Office selects recipients, but recommendations from faculty are welcome.
Margaret and Royal Rostenback Scholarship
Students with high financial need and are pursuing studies or careers in science, engineering, social work, or related disciplines.
The Financial Aid Office selects recipients, but recommendations from faculty are welcome.
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Scholarship
This annual scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior female student who has a GPA of at least 3.0.
Engineering faculty select the recipient.
Amount: $500/year
Dan and Pat D'Alessandro Scholarship
This scholarship is through the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend and designated for students majoring in engineering.
Preference is given to students with a Catholic background and/or attended a Catholic high school.
DGR Engineering
This annual scholarship is through DGR Engineering and designated for students majoring in engineering.
Preference is given to students with a minimum 3.0 GPA and completed 45 semester credit hours by June first of the current year in an accredited undergraduate engineering or land surveying degree program within the United Stated.
Amount: $2,000
Elite Scholarship
This essay scholarship contest is through Elite Heating, Cooling and Plumbing.
Preference is given to high school, home-schooled, or college students with a minimum 3.0 GPA and must be anticipating or completed high school diploma/ GED.
Amount: $1,000
IRMCA Scholarship
This annual scholarship is through the Iowa Ready Mixed Concrete Association (IRMCA) designed for students majoring in construction/engineering programs.
Preference is given to students seeking degrees in areas of study relating to careers in the ready mixed concrete and construction/engineering industries
Amount: Ranges from $1,000 to $5,000
Chris Donnelly '12
Chris wanted to play basketball and study engineering, and his grandfather and aunt, both Ambrosian alumni, reflected our strong academic and athletic programs. Yet, what resonated the most with Chris was not what SAU can provide, but what we ask of every student: explore boldly, embrace challenge, be curious about the world and discover the impact you can have.
Read Chris' Story![Vince Burke Mobile Cutout](/assets/images/student-profiles/vince-burke/vince-burke-cutout-200x200.png)
![Vince Burke Cutout](/assets/images/student-profiles/vince-burke/vince-burke-cutout-641x500.png)
Vince Burke
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering ,Director of Supply Chain and Quality Systems, Genesis Systems, Davenport, Iowa,Class of 2001
Every student expects a profound education. We deliver on that promise. At SAU, engineering majors can pick a specialty: industrial or mechanical, or both, and graduate in as few as four years. Our state-of-art labs give you hands-on experience, and you'll gain even more during an internship. It is a strong curriculum, taught by dedicated faculty. Just ask Vince.
Contact
Michael Opar, PhD
Engineering and Physics Department
Hayes Hall 214
518 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA 52803
563-333-6152
Engineering@firstnews-extra.com