An online master of science in construction management and technology program offered through Arizona State University’s Del E. Webb School of Construction prepares students for higher-level leadership positions in the fields of facilities and construction management. Prerequisites for this program include proficiency in physics, precalculus math, the strength of materials, scheduling, estimating, contracts, and computer applications in construction.
To be eligible for admission, applicants must have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Application requirements include a completed graduate admission application, official transcripts, a current resume, a personal statement, and proof of English proficiency for students whose native language is not English.
Comprising 30 credits, the program includes courses such as facilities operations and maintenance; facilities project management; construction project management; construction productivity; construction company financial control; and trenchless construction methods.
Indiana State University offers a bachelor of science in construction management program which can be completed entirely online. Combining experience and education in both managerial and technical skills, the program prepares students for leadership positions in the construction management profession. The curriculum is developed and taught by industry partners and full-time faculty members who have real-world experience working in this field.
Made up of 121 credits, the program includes courses such as introduction to construction; construction materials, methods, and equipment; environmental control systems; construction scheduling; sustainable design and construction; statics and strength of materials; and ethics and construction.
Graduates will be ready to pursue entry-level management positions in the areas of estimating, field supervision, planning, expediting, scheduling, project administration, and quality control. They can take up roles such as project engineers, project managers, safety managers, schedulers, superintendents, and estimators.
University of Southern California
University of Southern California’s online master of construction management program covers current practices and theories that prepare students for careers as industrial leaders in the real estate and construction industry. Special attention is given to the functions of constructors in real estate development. Students in this construction program will take courses from five different schools, including the Viterbi School of Engineering; Marshall School of Business; School of Architecture; School of Policy, Planning and Development; and Gould School of Law.
Admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a satisfactory grade point average, a completed online application, electronic transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, a current resume, a personal statement, two letters of recommendation, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students whose first language is not English.
Consisting of 32 credits, the program includes coursework in architecture, engineering, and construction practices; construction accounting, finance, and strategy; real estate practice and principles; building systems: materials and construction; cases in new venture management; construction contracts and law; project controls; and sustainable design and construction.
The program opens up opportunities in real estate development, construction management, architectural engineering, project management, building and design management, and more for graduates.
Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University offers an online BS degree in operations management. Students may choose to pursue the degree alone, or they may choose a concentration in logistics and transportation or a concentration in project management. Operations managers are involved in the development, improvement, and management of business processes. Their many skills include business decision-making, best practices, and accountability and effectiveness, among others.
Admission to the program requires only the completion of the application form and submission of official transcripts. GMAT/GRE scores, essays, and recommendation letters are not necessary.
The core coursework includes management science through spreadsheets, continuous improvement tools and techniques, sustainable operations, supply chain management, trends in operation management, and a capstone project. The remaining credits in the 120-credit program include general education coursework and an extensive selection of electives.
The logistics and transportation concentration coursework includes logistics management, project management, project management for CAPM certification, and reverse logistics, and others. Coursework for the project management concentration includes, among others, project contracting and procurement, resource estimating and scheduling, integrated cost and schedule control, and adaptive project management.
Preparing engineers to advance to executive and management roles as managerial and technical leaders of public and private organizations, this master of engineering management program offered by Johns Hopkins University has been ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report. Apart from management courses, students in this program can choose a specialty track that aligns with their goals and interests.
The faculty of the program includes experienced technical executives and leaders who discuss challenges that students are likely to face as professionals. There are more than a dozen tracks available, some of which include: applied biomedical engineering; applied physics; computer science; civil engineering; cybersecurity; electrical and computer engineering; data science; and mechanical engineering.
Applicants to the program must either be in the last semester of undergraduate study or hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a GPA of at least 3.0. Additional application requirements include official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended and proof of proficiency in English via TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students. GRE scores are not required for admission.
The program consists of ten courses which include planning and managing projects; technical organization management; strategic communications in technical organizations; finance, contracts, and compliance for technical professionals; and executive technical leadership.
The Pennsylvania State University
Penn State World Campus offers an online master of engineering management degree program enabling students to blend their technical expertise with essential management and business skills. Courses in this program are taught by the same faculty members who teach on campus and graduates of this online program will receive a diploma that will be identical to the one earned by on-campus students.
To get accepted into the program, applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution with a grade point average of 3.0 or a degree that is deemed comparable. Application requirements include a reference letter, official transcripts from each institution attended, a current resume, a statement of intent, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international applicants.
The program comprises 33 credits including courses such as engineering management science; ethics and values in sciences and technology; organizational behavior; negotiations; economics and financial studies for engineers; engineering management strategy; decision and risk analysis in engineering; and technical project management.
Drexel University’s online master of science program in engineering management is a certified graduate program by the ASEM (American Society of Engineering Management). Graduates of this program will automatically qualify for the Certified Associate in Engineering Management (CAEM) without having to take the exam. The faculty of the program includes industry-experienced professionals with real-world experience.
For admission to the program, applicants will need to have a four-year bachelor’s degree in engineering or sciences, preferably from an ABET-accredited institution or equivalent, a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0, a completed application, official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, two letters of recommendation, a current resume, and TOEFL scores for international students. Relevant professional work experience is strongly recommended.
Made up of 45 credits, the program includes courses such as leading and managing technical workers; analysis and decision methods for technical managers; design thinking for engineering communications; human relations and organizational behavior; and engineering project management.
Graduates will be prepared to take up roles such as architectural and engineering managers, automation engineers, chemical processes engineers, computer systems analysts, and logistics managers.
The online master of engineering management (MEM) program is designed for engineers who want to lead. Accordingly, students learn leadership, project management, and organizational strategy as part of their coursework. As well as the degree, students can earn stackable certificates in their coursework. The certificates include Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma Black Belt, Engineering Leadership, Engineering Management, and Engineering Analytics.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree in an accredited program in engineering, mathematics, or physical sciences, and a GPA of 3.0. A 2.75 GPA is acceptable if the student has a GRE score of 155 or higher in quantitative reasoning. Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree in business or technology, or another field, with a 3.0 GPA, and at least three semester credits of mathematics at the calculus level or higher will allow admission. In this instance, the GPA may be waived, depending on work experience. Technical work experience is preferred. Additional requirements for all students include transcripts, personal statement essay, resume or CV, and a professional letter of recommendation.
The curriculum includes ten courses, divided between foundation courses (4), core courses (3), electives (2), and a capstone project for a total of 34 credits. The curriculum includes foundations of engineering management, communication skills for engineers, statistics for engineering management, information systems engineering, principles of Six Sigma, project management, and applied accounting and finance for engineering management. The electives include database information systems, and engineering law, among others.
University of California, Los Angeles
The UCLA Samueli School of Engineering offers a 100 percent online master of science in engineering with a certificate of specialization in engineering management. Students who want to learn strategy, innovation, and responsible management skills for a career in management leadership can meet their goals in this program.
Applicants must submit official transcripts, resume, three professional or academic letters of recommendation, personal statement, statement of purpose, and GRE score (which may be waived). They must also have a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline, mathematics, or physics and a 3.0 GPA.
The 36-credit curriculum includes systems engineering, program management principles for engineers and professionals, operation and supply-chain management, financial management, data and business analytics, management communication, intellectual property and business law, statistics for management decisions, and special courses in engineering or product management. Students will also complete a comprehensive exam.
Matt Zbrog is a writer and researcher from Southern California. Since 2018, he’s written extensively about a wide range of engineering disciplines, with a particular focus on the potential impacts of major technological breakthroughs. His work largely centers around conversations with engineeri...
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