Perhaps the greatest similarity between these programs is that they all allow the degree seeker to focus on business and management, especially as it relates to the field of engineering. In general, a MEM and an MBA degree program will have courses on finance, management, leadership, and human resources, and specifically how they can be applied to managing engineering teams, and executing engineering projects. There will certainly be a significant amount of overlap in the curriculum in both of these fields of study.
But while there are apparent similarities, there also exist several differences that are extremely important to recognize. To begin, students may find that a master of engineering management (MEM) degree is more highly focused on the field of engineering itself, as well as the task of project management. Some MBA programs might allow students to specialize in project management, although this is not a required path of study. Indeed, students pursuing a MEM or MSEM degree will learn basic business and management fundamentals, but these programs tend to emphasize technology strategy, project and operations management, and product innovation and management more heavily. So the MEM or MSEM degree will generally prepare the student for a management position specifically in technology or engineering.
In contrast, while an MBA can be tailored to focus highly on engineering topics, it also generally offers a multi-industry curriculum, allowing the student to develop a wider knowledge of different fields. This is beneficial for a student interested in pursuing an executive career in any industry, but will not offer as much of an engineering project, product, and team focus as a master of engineering management would. However, that being said, an MBA-seeker may otherwise develop a level of mastery of general management and business fundamentals not attained by a student pursuing a MEM degree.
Finally, aspiring engineering managers will generally be best served by pursuing an undergraduate degree in engineering before selecting one of these management tracks. Without an undergraduate engineering degree, prospective managers may find themselves unqualified to lead certain engineering projects without additional education.
Indeed, this is the case for jobs wherein the prerequisites include earning a Professional Engineering license, which can only be held by those with a four-year degree in engineering and several years of engineering work experience.
| Featured Engineering Management & MBA Programs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | Construction Management and Technology (MS) | Visit Site |
| Arizona State University | Engineering: Engineering Management (MEng) | Visit Site |
| University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) | Online MSE - Engineering Management | Visit Site |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Online MBA - Engineering Management | Visit Site |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Online MBA - Project Management | Visit Site |
| Boston University | Graduate Certificate - IT Project Management | Visit Site |
| Boston University | Graduate Certificate - Project Management | Visit Site |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | Online M.Eng. - Engineering Management (No GRE Required) | Visit Site |
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Below is a side-by-side comparison of three different programs: master’s in engineering management, master’s in business administration (MBA) with a focus on engineering, and dual MBA/master’s in engineering. Any student interested in pursuing a management career in an engineering or technology-related field should consider the information within before making a final decision.
| Master Of Engineering Management (MEM/MSEM) | MBA (with a focus on engineering) | Dual MBA-MSE/MEM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How do the fields define themselves? | A master’s in engineering management is focused on management as it relates to engineering projects; as such, it prepares a student to take on a managerial or executive role in an operation within an engineering or technology-focused organization. | An MBA with a focus on engineering is a business-specific degree with engineering electives; as such, the curriculum may be more broadly focused on business in general and provide the student with a greater scope of knowledge across a variety of industries. | Ultimately, a dual master’s in engineering or engineering management/MBA will combine the benefits of both programs, although it will certainly take more time to complete both in conjunction. |
| What department is the program typically part of in the institution? | The master’s in engineering management is most often part of the engineering school. | In most cases, the MBA program will be part of the business school, although elective classes will likely be taken in the engineering school as well. | Since these are considered separate degrees, a dual MBA/MEM or MBA/MSE will be part of both the engineering and the business schools collectively. |
| What bodies of knowledge will the student focus on in pursuit of this degree? | In pursuit of this degree, the student will focus on engineering, as well as application management topics, including finance, human resources and management, law, and several technology-related subjects. If the student pursues an additional specialty, he or she will likely take some elective courses on a specific engineering topic. | While students in this program will take elective courses related to engineering, they will have a greater focus on business classes, including business administration, accounting, marketing, corporate strategy and organizational behavior, and project development as it relates to technology operations. Of course, this will also depend on the engineering specialization that the student pursues; for example, a student may specialize in industrial and systems engineering, or in mechanical engineering, each of which will have different areas of focus. | A student obtaining these degrees together will develop a comprehensive knowledge of engineering and management subjects; as well as business administration topics and how the two can be applied to one another at an executive level. Here, students will likely focus on a variety of different subject areas, depending on the specifics of the engineering master’s degree pursued. For example, a student pursuing a dual MBA/master’s in electrical engineering will study electronics and electromagnetism, while a student pursuing a dual MBA/master’s in engineering management will have a heavier focus on leadership and facilitation of engineering and technology-related projects. |
| Is project management part of this specific curriculum? | Most MEM degrees retain a focus on project management. | Although MBA students have the option to take courses on project management, this is not always a specific part of the curriculum. | While focusing on the MEM degree, the student will likely cover courses in project management. |
| What specializations are available in pursuit of this degree? | While students may not be able to formally specialize within many programs, many schools will allow MEM students to take elective courses in various engineering disciplines, allowing them to focus their development of knowledge in one area. | A student pursuing an MBA may focus on several specializations, from supply-chain management, human resources, IT, non-profit, industry/operations, marketing, entrepreneurship, or finance. | In pursuit of the MEM, the student may take various electives that focus on a specific engineering discipline, although this may not serve as a traditional certification. Furthermore, the various specialties listed in the column to the left are available to MBA students. |
| What established occupations will students be prepared for after receiving this degree? | A MEM degree will help prepare a student to work in a management-level role in an engineering or technology operation. | In contrast, an MBA will allow a student to obtain executive-level employment, which may span across a variety of industries. | A dual MBA/MEM degree will fully prepare a student to work at an executive or management level in a multitude of industries. A dual MBA/MSE combines general management with depth in a particular engineering specialization, preparing the graduate especially well to lead teams and projects in that area. |
| In what industries will this student be able to work after receiving this degree? | For the most part, a MEM degree will be most useful in the engineering and technology industries. | While an MBA focusing on engineering will be relevant in the engineering industry, it may allow the holder to expand beyond that and work in other fields, as well. | An individual who possesses a dual MBA/MEM degree is uniquely situated as a business specialist with expertise in engineering; in light of this, he or she may likely be able to work in a wide array of fields. |
| Are there any emerging occupations that the student will be prepared for after school? | Because of the ever-changing nature of technology and technology companies, new roles are constantly emerging that may be best filled by those who have obtained MEM degrees. | An MBA degree will allow the holder to obtain a management position; as such, the individual will be suited to work in any emerging positions at the executive level. | This combined degree will help an individual remain prepared to fill any emerging positions at the executive or managerial level in either engineering/technology operations or other fields altogether. |
| How much time should students expect to spend pursuing a degree? | Although this varies based on the institution, students may be able to obtain a MEM degree online in 10 months or more. | In general, an online MBA will take two full years of study to complete, although this depends on the pace of the individual and the flexibility of the schedule. | Because the student will be obtaining two degrees concurrently, a dual MBA/MEM or MBA/MSE degree online will likely take at least three years to complete. In this case, the student will effectively earn two master’s degrees approximately one year faster than two separate programs. |
| Name some schools that offer online degrees in these fields. | The following is a list of eight schools that offer online MEM or MSEM degree programs:
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The following is a list of eight schools that offer online MBA programs with a focus on engineering:
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The following is a list of seven schools that offer online dual MEM/MBA or MSE/MBA degree programs:
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| The bottom line |
A MEM degree is the perfect choice for an engineer who wishes to develop his or her knowledge and skills regarding project management as it relates to engineering. Entering students are generally required to hold an undergraduate degree in an engineering field and can expect to take engineering courses, as well as courses on business administration, finance, law, marketing, and other technology-based courses. This degree can help the graduate obtain employment in management in an engineering or technology company. |
An MBA may be the best option for a student who desires to work as an executive, yet who isn’t solely interested in engineering and technology. An undergraduate degree in engineering is not a prerequisite for admission, and students in this type of program will take courses on business administration, finance and economics, project management, law, corporate strategy and organizational behavior, human resources, and other business courses as they relate to engineering topics. This degree may help a student find employment in management in a wider array of industries, although it may not provide as much specialized knowledge in the field of engineering and technology. |
A dual MBA/MEM degree provides a comprehensive education on both business and engineering and project management and is likely the best choice for an individual who desires to develop a thorough knowledge of both fields. Students in this program will take courses on engineering and project management, human resources, corporate behavior, organizational management, law, finance and economics, and many more. While this dual degree is more time-intensive than the other two, it will offer the best preparation for an individual who hopes to obtain executive-level employment in the technology or engineering industry, and who intends on using his or her extensive knowledge of business to stay at the helm of any type of operation. |
Farheen Gani has researched a wide array of topics related to engineering since 2018. She has written about electrical and computer engineering programs, structural engineering programs, mechanical engineer salaries, environmental engineering programs, and many other subfields of engineering. She...
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