Engineering Management, M.S.

Department & Faculty Information  

Program Description

The Department of Engineering, in cooperation with the College of Business and Economics, offers an interdisciplinary Master of Science degree in Engineering Management. This degree is designed for working engineers and professionals who are in leadership/management positions or who are planning to advance their careers into the management of technical enterprises. It is also designed to benefit engineering or science graduates who are interested in assuming leadership positions in industry.

The objectives of the M.S. in Engineering Management are:

1. to prepare future managers of technical enterprises;
2. to enable current and future engineers/scientists to assume leadership positions as they advance in their careers; and
3. to meet the demand for effective engineering managers who are able to lead technically complex industries.

This degree is different from other Engineering Management degrees in that it includes a well-balanced curriculum consisting of quantitative courses in industrial engineering and qualitative management courses. The curriculum gives students an understanding of both the engineering and management perspectives. This is valuable for individuals managing engineering/high tech firms.

Students take required courses in design and management of human work systems, systems simulation, applied quality assurance, product process design, project management, and research methods in engineering management. Also included in the core are courses in financial management and enterprise planning and control. Students also have a broad choice of electives, allowing them to select from many areas of specialization.

Career Opportunities

There is a great need for individuals who possess both technical background and management skills to run the large variety of technical enterprises. Traditionally, engineers move into management positions in technical enterprises without having a formal academic background in management. The Engineering Management graduate, however, is better equipped to recognize the effects of new technology on management issues and to understand the products and services produced by these technical firms. This understanding gives Engineering Management graduates an edge over traditional managers, and enables them to become effective industry leaders in the engineering industry.

Features

The M.S. in Engineering Management is designed to accommodate working adults with courses generally meeting in the evening. The interdisciplinary design of the program allows students to take courses from faculty in engineering, business, computer science and/or statistics. The elective courses in the curriculum give students the opportunity to concentrate study in their areas of interest.

Admission

The M.S. Degree in Engineering Management is open to students planning a career, or seeking to advance their career in managing technical enterprises who: (1) have a baccalaureate degree in engineering, basic science or related fields from an accredited institution, and (2) have earned an overall grade point average of 2.5 (4.0 basis) or better in their undergraduate work. Degrees from foreign institutions will be individually evaluated and should include TOEFL or IELTS scores above minimum required for admission to the university.

In addition to the University Graduate and Post-baccalaureate Application, all applicants should: (1) submit a personal statement with the application stating their reasons for wanting to pursue the M.S. in Engineering Management degree, describing relevant work experience, and explaining their past academic performance; (2) submit two letters of recommendation; and (3) submit a resume.

Admission to the university and admission to the M.S. in Engineering Management degree program are separate steps.

Student Standing and Progress Toward the Degree

There are three categories of student status which reflect student progress toward the degree: “Conditionally Classified Graduate,” “Classified Graduate,” and “Advancement to Candidacy.

1. Students achieve “Conditionally Classified Graduate” status when they have been admitted to the M.S. in Engineering Management degree program, but have not yet completed the prerequisites for “Classified Graduate” status in the M.S. in Engineering Management degree program.
2. Students achieve “Classified Graduate” status when they have satisfactorily completed the three prerequisites for the M.S. in Engineering Management degree program or their equivalents, and satisfied the University Writing Skills Requirement. (See “Prerequisites for Classified Graduate Status” below.)
3. Students are Advanced to Candidacy when they have completed the required courses with a 3.0 or better GPA

Note: Students who fail to maintain progress by falling below a 3.0 GPA in their graduate courses for two or more consecutive quarters will be academically disqualified from the university.