Overview
A Master in Engineering Management (MEM) is a specialized graduate program (and offered primarily in the United States) that bridges the gap between engineering and business management. This program is designed for engineers who want to advance their careers by acquiring management skills that are crucial for leadership roles in engineering, technology, and manufacturing sectors. The curriculum typically includes courses in project management, technology management, operations management, financial management, and leadership, alongside advanced engineering topics. This combination equips graduates with the technical expertise and business acumen necessary to manage engineering projects, lead technical teams, and drive innovation within organizations.
Career Pathways
A graduate of the Master in Engineering Management program could pursue either of the following careers,
- Product Manager: Lead the development and launch of new products, manage product life cycles, and work closely with engineering, marketing, and sales teams.
- Project Manager: Oversee engineering projects from conception to completion, ensuring they meet technical specifications, deadlines, and budgets.
- Program Manager: Manage multiple related projects, coordinate cross-functional teams, and align project outcomes with business objectives.
- Operations Manager: Improve operational efficiency, manage production processes, and ensure the effective use of resources in manufacturing and service operations.
- Supply Chain Manager: Oversee supply chain operations, including procurement, logistics, inventory management, and distribution.
- Innovation Manager: Drive innovation initiatives, manage R&D projects, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and creativity within the organization.
- Quality Assurance Manager: Ensure products and processes meet quality standards, implement quality control procedures, and manage compliance with regulations.
- Process Improvement Manager: Identify inefficiencies in processes, develop improvement plans, and implement best practices to enhance productivity and quality.
Schools
The top ranked schools for the Master in Engineering Management program are,
- Duke University
Duke’s MEM program is a STEM designated 12-month program that consists of core courses such as marketing, intellectual property, finance. Students then choose an elective track to tailor the remainder of the curriculum to their preferences. These tracks include customer experience, product design, data analytics and machine learning, operations and supply chain management, product management, entrepreneurship and innovation. At the end, students are required to undertake an internship which allows further development of skills required upon graduation.
- Dartmouth University
The Master of Engineering Management at Dartmouth focuses on tailoring the curriculum to a student’s preferences. Required coursework includes statistics, strategy, accounting, finance, operations management, and marketing that allows students to grasp a foundational understanding of business. Thereafter, students are free to choose electives from the departments of engineering, business, science, medicine, or law with no restriction. To graduate, it is also essential for each student to complete an internship to apply theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom to real world situations.
- Purdue University
Purdue’s Master of Engineering Management is a 1-year program and entails coursework in engineering, systems engineering, and management. Students could choose coursework in engineering that include topics from aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, civil engineering, or environmental engineering with no restrictions. This flexibility allows students to either delve into a specific engineering discipline in detail or gain a holistic overview of several disciplines. Thereafter, students take coursework in management that include business analytics, marketing, strategy, and operations management with electives including brand management, product management, product development, project management, data mining, and six sigma among others.
- University of Southern California: USC Viterbi
The MS in Engineering Management at USC Viterbi is a STEM designated coursework only program that is intended to be completed within a year. Coursework includes statistics, project management, managing teams, and economics. Elective options include global innovation principles, product development, and strategic management among others. The courses are largely business oriented and ideal for those who intend to focus on business focused careers upon graduation rather than management careers at engineering firms.
- Cornell University
Cornell’s Master in Engineering Management is among the most reputed MEM programs in the US. Initially, students study courses on project management, data analytics, economics, and leadership. Thereafter, they specialize in a track ranging from consulting, analytics, construction management, sustainability, product management. In the final few months, students work on a capstone project to apply theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom to real world situations.
- Tufts University
Tufts’ MS in Engineering Management is a 1-year program that is STEM designated. The coursework includes technology strategy, leadership, financial intelligence, data analytics, strategic management, and project management. Students then choose electives tailored to their preferences from the departments of engineering, arts, sciences, or business. Prior to graduation, students also complete two capstone projects related to product development and leadership.
- Northeastern University
Northeastern’s Master of Science in Engineering Management is an 18-month program that focuses on bridging the gap between engineering and business. Core coursework is limited to project management, economics, statistics, and operations research. The remainder of the program allows students to choose electives from over 50 courses that include database management, product design and development, data analytics, data mining, supply chain engineering, reliability analysis, agile software development, machine learning, new venture creation, disruptive technologies, and sustainability among others. Rather than coursework as an option, students could also elect to undertake a master’s project or research thesis in lieu of two electives.
- North Carolina State University
NCSU’s Master of Engineering Management program is a coursework only program that consists of core courses in operations research, statistics and probability, leadership and conflict management, and project management. Thereafter, students have the flexibility to choose a concentration among manufacturing, advanced analytics, entrepreneurship, and supply chain management among others wherein 5 courses are taken related to this chosen concentration.
In addition to the schools mentioned above, other schools that are highly renowned include,
- Northwestern University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Pennsylvania State University
- University of Texas at Arlington
- Rochester Institute of Technology