What is a Master’s in Engineering Management?
A Master's in Engineering Management is typically earned by existing engineers who want to transition into management. These programs help engineers gain the staffing, operational and project management skills needed to supervise units and oversee companies.
Program Introduction
There are many accredited Master of Science in Engineering Management degrees offered online. These practical programs are designed to help working professionals take over the business side of engineering. Students learn the fundamental leadership and administration skills needed to successfully complete engineering projects within budget and on time. These programs offer a rich blend of math, business and engineering classes, which means that students enjoy flexible academic plans that meet their specific career needs. Students will learn how to evaluate and solve complex problems related to leadership, communication and management issues within engineering environments. Because the majority of students will continue to work while studying part-time, they will be able to immediately apply the tools and techniques practiced in the classroom in the field.
Resource: 30 Most Affordable Top Online Master's Degree Programs in Engineering
Common Courses
Most engineering management programs start out with a few classes about different aspects of management and leadership. Students may be complete courses in project management, operational administration and technology management. Students will learn about supply chain management, which will teach them about inventory control and planning, and human resource management, which will train them to properly handle employees. Classes on quality assurance will explore project and employee performance techniques used to benchmark, evaluate and increase quality. For example, students may learn advanced statistical tools for analyzing engineering data in order to reduce errors and concurring problems. A technical class on systems engineering will explore how engineering systems work, so graduates will know how to design, integrate and test potential systems.
Career Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the career outlook for engineering managers is slow but steady. Graduates of engineering management programs go on to work in engineering, technical or consulting firms. Because many engineering managers usually have a traditional engineering technology management or Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), employers appreciate how engineering management degrees focus on supervision and operations administration. Once engineering managers are comfortable and ready to advance their career, they should consider pursing a doctoral degree, such as the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Engineering Management. These programs are rare, but highly valuable because they focus on research and the most advanced levels of engineering.
Career Snapshot
Engineering managers perform financial duties, such as monitoring budgets and managing accounting staff. Their resource management duties will concentrate on maximizing cost savings while maintaining schedules and reasonable workloads. As managers, they will conduct regular meetings with interdisciplinary team members. They will also meet one-on-one to track and follow up with individual employees. As mentors, they help new engineers develop skills through pairing them with experienced engineers. Engineering managers leverage their insightful knowledge of industry trends and technology developments to provide better quality services to clients. They must recognize system deficiencies, develop effective solutions and verify results by conducting audits.
A Master's in Engineering Management empowers engineers to advance their careers and increase their salaries.