Master’s program · Rossin College of Engineering
Master of Science in Health Systems Engineering
The MS in Health Systems Engineering at Lehigh University gives you systems thinking tools and engineering methods to measure and improve the performance of complex health care systems.
- Credits30
- Typical length1.5–2 years
- DeliveryOn campus, hybrid or fully online
- Degree awardedMaster of Science
- GRENeither accepted nor reviewed
On this page
Overview
What the Master of Science in Health Systems Engineering is
Health care organizations face operational challenges that no single discipline can solve alone. This program pairs strong industrial and systems engineering skills with a broad view of how health systems and their processes work, preparing you for professional management roles focused on quality, streamlined processes and efficiency in firms that deliver health-related products and services.
You learn project management, engineering economics, statistics and stochastic modeling, operations research and optimization, process flow and queuing, simulation, and information systems analysis and design. Applied learning and professional development run through the curriculum, with relevant projects and assignments woven into the courses. The program welcomes quantitatively oriented students from engineering, mathematics, science, business, medicine and health sciences.
A 30-credit degree, typically 1.5–2 years of full-time study, delivered on campus, hybrid or fully online.
Research areas
Research on complex systems that people depend on
Across all of its research areas, the department’s faculty and students tackle some of the largest and most complex problems in systems engineering: making decisions when outcomes are uncertain, coordinating many moving parts, and turning growing volumes of data into action. These are the same kinds of challenges that health care systems face every day. Master’s students can contribute through coursework, projects and optional thesis research.
Optimization and Uncertainty
Demand, delays and disruptions mean real operations rarely unfold as planned. Work in this area develops the mathematics for choosing well among many options and for judging how far a plan can be trusted in a complicated, unpredictable system. The program applies optimization and stochastic modeling to health care settings.
Focus topics: Mathematical Optimization, Stochastic Models and Optimization, Uncertainty Quantification and Complex Systems.
Data and Computation
Organizations collect far more data than people can read unaided, and the hardest planning problems strain even powerful computers. Researchers in this area apply learning from data and new computing approaches to find answers faster and to solve problems that were out of reach before.
Focus topics: Data Science and Machine Learning, Quantum Computing Optimization.
Applied Operations Research
Services people rely on must be planned, scheduled and improved continually. Applied operations research puts the department’s models and methods to work on practical problems, which is the approach health systems engineering takes to improving quality and efficiency.
Focus topics: Applied Operations Research.
Curriculum
What you study
The degree requires 30 graduate credits in four parts: 9 credits of core health courses, 9 credits of 400-level ISE courses, 6 credits of engineering electives, and 6 credits of free electives. The Lehigh University Course Catalog is the official source for these requirements, which can change from year to year, so confirm your plan with your academic advisor.
- Core health courses, 9 credits. Choose from Quality and Process Improvement in Healthcare (ISE 471), Financial Management in Healthcare (ISE 472) and the HSE Project (ISE 481), or from courses in outbreak science and public health forecasting, assistive technologies, health policy and politics, healthcare finance, healthcare operations management, population health, research ethics, social determinants of health, environmental health justice, health promotion, health services administration and policy, and program evaluation methods.
- ISE courses, 9 credits. Take nine more credits of 400-level ISE coursework beyond the core health courses.
- Engineering electives, 6 credits. Take six credits of 300- and 400-level coursework in the College of Engineering. Nearly all 300- and 400-level ISE courses count, except ISE 300, ISE 304 and ISE 499, as do selected courses in data science. Other courses can count with the permission of the ISE MS program director.
- Free electives, 6 credits. Take six credits of 300- and 400-level coursework. Nearly all 300- and 400-level ISE courses count, as do selected courses in data science, strategic supply management, supply chain analytics, population health and healthcare operations management.
- Thesis option. Up to six elective credits can go to thesis research (ISE 490), culminating in a written thesis. A thesis is not required, and there is no comprehensive exam.
- Course-level rules. At least 24 of your 30 credits must be at the 300 and 400 level, with 18 of those at the 400 level. At least 18 credits must be in the major field, with 15 of them at the 400 level, and research or thesis registration can count toward the 400-level total. You need a B- or better in at least 18 credits of your program and in all 300-level courses in the major field, and courses graded C- or better count toward the degree. Courses with an ESLP or EAPC subject code, ENGR 441, ENGR 499, ENGR 492 and ENGR 496 do not count.
| Code | Course | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| ISE 471 | Quality and Process Improvement in Healthcare | Healthcare quality metrics and process improvement. |
| ISE 472 | Financial Management in Healthcare | Engineering economics in Healthcare. |
| BSTA 410 | Assistive Technologies | Assistive technologies for persons with disabilities. |
| CGH 313 | Health Policy and Politics | Health policy and politics. |
| CGH 331 | Healthcare Finance | Healthcare finance. |
| CGH 335 | Healthcare Operations Management | Healthcare operations management. |
| CGH 431 | Healthcare Finance | Graduate healthcare finance. |
| CGH 435 | Healthcare Operations Management | Graduate healthcare operations management. |
| HLTH 400 | Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Population Health | Theoretical foundations of population health. |
| POPH 403 | Biological Basis of Population Health: Concepts and Methods | Biological basis of population health. |
| POPH 409 | Social Determinants of Health | Social determinants of health. |
| POPH 431 | Environmental Health Justice | Environmental health justice. |
| PUBH 401 | Health Promotion and Education | Health promotion and education. |
| PUBH 402 | Health Services, Administration, Politics, and Policy | Health services, administration and policy. |
| PUBH 405 | Program Evaluation Methods | Program evaluation methods. |
The Lehigh University Course Catalog is the official source for degree requirements, and requirements can change from year to year. Confirm your own plan against the catalog and with your academic advisor.
Careers
Where graduates work
Health systems engineering alumni work in health care, life sciences and consulting.
Most of our alumni work in health care and life sciences, with others in consulting, education, information technology and government. Typical roles include director, senior manager, medical director, business practice improvement manager, healthcare improvement scientist and senior product manager, along with leadership posts in healthcare finance and quality. Some alumni are practicing clinicians, including physicians and pharmacists, and others teach as faculty.
Employers where our alumni most often work include:
- Merck
- Lehigh Valley Health Network
- IBM
- Deloitte
- Eli Lilly
- Thomas Jefferson University
- KMK Consulting
- Med-Metrix
Alumni also work at Blue Shield of California, Defense Health Agency, One Medical (Hospitals and Health Care), REGENXBIO, Sellers Dorsey, Wayne State University and UNC Health Care.
Based on current employers of Lehigh health systems engineering alumni who graduated between 2012 and 2025. Class of 2025 master’s graduates across the Rossin College averaged $100,000 in starting salary.
Tuition and funding
What it costs, and what help is available
Base tuition for this 30-credit degree is $52,050.
- Qualified applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as high as 20% of tuition, with no separate application required.
- International students are considered on the same basis as domestic applicants.
How to apply
What a complete application needs
- Academic record
A bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, science or business, and a GPA of 2.75 or equivalent. Through prior study or work experience, you should have a background in industrial engineering, computer science, mathematics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, medicine, health sciences or a similar discipline.
- Preparation
You should be quantitatively oriented and have completed a calculus based probability and statistics course. An applicant lacking certain background may be asked to take background courses.
- Holistic review
The graduate program director reviews each application as a whole, in consultation with program faculty.
- GRE
GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed.
- English proficiency
International applicants submit a TOEFL iBT, IELTS, Duolingo, Cambridge English or Pearson Test of English score that meets the College and University minimums shown in the table below.
- Application fee
$50, non-refundable.
- Deadlines
Decisions are made on a rolling basis, with deadlines of December 15 for a spring start and July 15 for a fall start.
| Test | Overall | Speaking | Writing | Reading | Listening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 81 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 16 |
| IELTS | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Duolingo | 125 | 125 | 120 | 125 | 110 |
| Cambridge English | 176 | 176 | 169 | 176 | 169 |
| Pearson Test of English | 68 | 53 or above on each band | |||
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the MS in Health Systems Engineering at Lehigh?
It is a 30-credit master’s degree that combines industrial and systems engineering skills with a background in health systems and processes. It prepares graduates for engineering and management careers in organizations that deliver health-related products and services.
How many credits is the MS in Health Systems Engineering?
30 credits: 9 credits of core health courses, 9 credits of 400-level ISE courses, 6 credits of engineering electives and 6 credits of free electives.
How long does the MS in Health Systems Engineering take to complete?
The program typically takes 1.5 to 2 years. Faster completion may be possible through academic planning with your advisor.
Do I have to write a thesis or take a comprehensive exam?
No. Neither is required. If you want research experience, up to six of your elective credits can go to thesis research (ISE 490) that culminates in a written thesis.
What are the core health courses?
You choose 9 credits from a menu that includes Quality and Process Improvement in Healthcare, Financial Management in Healthcare, the HSE Project, and courses in health policy, healthcare finance, healthcare operations management, population health and public health.
What other courses count toward the degree?
After the core health courses, you take 9 credits of 400-level ISE courses, 6 credits of engineering electives and 6 credits of free electives, all at the 300 and 400 level. Most ISE courses at those levels count, as do selected courses in data science, supply chain and business, and population health. The ISE MS program director can permit other courses.
What are the admission requirements?
You need a bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, science or business, a GPA of 2.75 or equivalent, and a background in a field such as industrial engineering, computer science, mathematics, engineering, medicine or health sciences. Applications are reviewed as a whole by the graduate program director in consultation with faculty.
What math background should I have?
You should be quantitatively oriented and have completed a calculus based probability and statistics course. If you lack certain background, you may be asked to take background courses.
Is the GRE required for the Master of Science in Health Systems Engineering?
GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed for any Rossin College graduate program.
What English proficiency scores do international applicants need?
The program follows the College and University standards. Minimum overall scores are 81 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.5 on the IELTS, 125 on Duolingo, 176 on Cambridge English, and 68 on the Pearson Test of English. Each test also has minimum speaking, writing, reading and listening scores, listed in the application requirements section above.
When are applications due?
Decisions are made on a rolling basis, with deadlines of December 15 for a spring start and July 15 for a fall start.
How is the program delivered?
On campus, hybrid or fully online. Consult the program contact for the current term-by-term format.
What does it cost, and is funding available?
Base tuition is $52,050 for the 30-credit degree. Qualified applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as high as 20% of tuition, with no separate application required. International students are considered on the same basis as domestic applicants.
Which department offers this program?
The Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.
What do graduates earn?
Class of 2025 master’s graduates across the Rossin College averaged $100,000 in starting salary.
How do I apply?
Apply through Lehigh’s graduate application. A complete application includes transcripts, a personal statement, a resume, letters of recommendation, English-proficiency scores where applicable, and a $50 application fee. Decisions are made on a rolling basis, with deadlines of December 15 for a spring start and July 15 for a fall start.
What elective courses can I choose from?
Electives are chosen with your advisor. Courses students can choose from include Accelerated Computing for Machine Learning, Introduction to Statistical Modeling, Statistical and Machine Learning, Ethics in Data Science, Strategic Supply Management, Supply Chain Analytics, Population Health Concepts and Methods, and Qualitative Research Methods. The Lehigh course catalog carries the full list.
Contact
Talk to the program
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Harold S. Mohler Laboratory, 200 West Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18015-1582
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering »
General inquiries go to engineering@lehigh.edu.