Masters of Engineering Management Schools

Master of Engineering Management Schools

This graduate degree program is interdisciplinary in nature; at many universities the program is taught by faculty members from both the school of engineering and the school of business. Regardless of the origins of the program, the critical factors for any accredited master of engineering management program is that the engineering portion of the curriculum provide advanced training for the students, many of whom are already working engineers. The business management courses are important, but of equal value are the classes that explain the challenges and solutions of engineering management in terms of technical integration, testing standards and protocols, technology changes and the other areas of training that turn engineers into managers.

New Jersey Institute of Technology has a Master of Science in Engineering Management that defines the profession as "the art and science of planning, organizing, allocating resources, and directing and controlling activities which have a technological component." Clearly this program is focused on the technology of engineering; however one of the guidelines for the program is that half of the elective courses must come from the catalog of the Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering. There is also the option of combining the degree with a twelve credit certificate in Construction Engineering Management. So despite the focus on technology, this 30 credit program contains a substantial amount of material on civil engineering issues as well.

University of New Orleans developed the Master of Engineering Management degree in recent years as the profession has emerged as a clearly defined position of leadership within the fragmented field of engineering. It is designed for working engineers; applicants who do not have engineering degrees will be considered upon completing a set of academic prerequisites, or upon successfully completing an entrance examination. All applicants must hold a bachelor's degree. There is an option of completing a thesis or choosing an area of concentration and completing three additional courses in that field. The specializations are Civil & Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, Finance, International Business, Human Resource Management, and Management of Information Systems.

Colorado State University offers both the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management as an online option through the School of Continuing Education. The MEng degree is the product of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, with the curriculum designed to include advanced training in manufacturing systems, communications, management, policy, and business. This particular degree contains some advanced classes in mechanical engineering and additional courses in engineering math and software. There are nine business courses incorporated into the degree, including tutorials in accounting and in finance.

Drexel University offers a Master of Science in Engineering Management with an optional area of concentration in Infrastructure Engineering Management. This option moves the curriculum towards civil engineering management, environmental risk analysis, regulatory issues and the unique challenges associated with working on large projects that are publicly funded. The standard course of study for this online program concentrates more on the overall skills associated with engineering management - including several courses in mathematics and statistics, in finance, budget management, personnel management and project management.