Originally, the industrial engineering profession focused on manufacturing. Today's industrial engineers will be involved in the design of systems and processes to produce and deliver goods and services not only in manufacturing, but also in the service industries and government sectors. Today's industrial engineers are concerned with the design of integrated systems involving people, materials, finances, equipment, processes, energy, and information, so that the overall system functions efficiently and human needs are adequately met. Industrial engineering is distinctive in two respects industrial engineers typically work on problems or systems that include human beings as a major variable and industrial engineers are by definition systems engineers, whose unique combination of skills can be applied to many working environments. It is this emphasis on people, science, and technology that distinguishes industrial engineering from the other engineering disciplines. Industrial engineers objective is to achieve the best possible results for the benefit of humankind in terms of safety, quality, and productivity. Industrial engineers create value through a total systems approach, scientific method, engineering design, and integration of new technologies. In common with all engineering disciplines, industrial engineering is based on mathematics and the physical sciences. However, industrial engineering also emphasizes the life sciences and social sciences. This concern for the human element leads to system designs that enhance the quality of life for all people, both as producers and consumers of products and services. The department offers a Five-Year BS-MS program with a major in industrial engineering for qualified students. The primary component of the program is a qualified student may take up to 9 hours of approved graduate courses for their senior undergraduate courses and have them count toward both the bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Tennessee. This program is designed for students attending the University of Tennessee for their Master of Science degree because other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree.