Industrial and Systems Engineering earns INCOSE Academic Equivalency
Published: May 19, 2025 9:30 AM
By Dustin Duncan
Auburn University’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) has achieved a significant milestone: official recognition by the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) through its Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP) Academic Equivalency program.
This achievement places Auburn among a select group of universities worldwide whose systems engineering curriculum meets the rigorous academic standards set by INCOSE, a leading global organization in the systems engineering field.
The INCOSE Academic Equivalency designation confirms that Auburn’s coursework — specifically, INSY 5100/6100 (Systems Engineering I) and INSY 5110/6110 (Life Cycle Engineering) — meets the knowledge and skill requirements of the ASEP certification exam. As a result, students who complete these courses with a qualifying grade can bypass the ASEP exam entirely.
“This is an exciting step forward for Auburn Engineering,” said Greg Harris, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering chair. “It shows our commitment to preparing students not just academically but professionally, ready to meet the expectations of employers from day one.”
This recognition strengthens Auburn’s reputation within the systems engineering community and responds to growing demand from industry partners and alumni. Edward Huang, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering, said systems engineering plays a key role in complex industries such as defense, aerospace, automotive and healthcare and professionals in these fields are increasingly expected to hold certifications like ASEP.
“With this equivalency, we’re giving students a competitive edge,” Huang said. “It saves them time and money, but more importantly, it connects their academic work directly to professional growth.”The INCOSE Academic Equivalency also ensures students gain theoretical knowledge, the tools, techniques and professional credentials needed to thrive in an evolving engineering landscape.
Although the INCOSE Academic Equivalency is housed within industrial and systems engineering, Huang said it is intended to benefit students across the college, including undergraduate and graduate students and working professionals.
“Systems engineering is inherently interdisciplinary, touching nearly every branch of engineering. It focuses on integrating complex systems, guiding projects from initial design through development, manufacturing and deployment,” Huang said. “This academic equivalency offers value to our entire Auburn Engineering community by providing a unified pathway to professional credentialing and advanced systems thinking.”
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