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Dr. Christy Bozic is the executive director of the master of engineering management (MEM) Program at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering. She earned her PhD in curriculum and instruction from Purdue University, focusing on innovative instructional methods in engineering and technology education. Additionally, she holds an MBA from Butler University and a BS in industrial engineering technology and supply chain management from Purdue University.
Before joining Duke, Dr. Bozic served as the Lockheed Martin Professor of Engineering Management and faculty director of the engineering management program at the University of Colorado. Her professional experience includes significant roles at Purdue University and extensive global business development work with companies such as Federal Mogul, Kimball Electronics Group, and TDK Corporation. She holds certifications in Project Management (PMP) and Engineering Management (CPEM).
Dr. Bozic’s scholarly work encompasses publications on university-industry partnerships, innovation education, and workforce development. She is an active member of professional associations, including the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM), and the Project Management Institute (PMI).
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What is something you wish the public understood about engineering management?
Dr. Bozic: I wish the public understood that engineering management is not just about managing engineers or engineering projects. The discipline of engineering management is about bridging the gap between technology and business. A degree in engineering management gives students the skills and ability to not only solve complex technical problems but also to lead teams, make strategic decisions, and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What advice would you give to aspiring students in engineering management?
Dr. Bozic: Engineering management is all about balancing technical expertise with business acumen, so focus on mastering both. Build strong leadership skills to guide teams and practice communicating complex ideas in simple terms. Great leaders are also great communicators.
Look for opportunities to get hands-on experience through internships or projects to apply what you learn in real-world settings. Build Your network! Building connections can open doors and provide for ongoing collaborations throughout your career.
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What does the future of the field look like to you?
Dr. Bozic: Technology drives nearly every aspect of modern life. To me, it means engineering managers will be the bridge between cutting-edge technical advancements and business strategy. We will be in the driver’s seat in addressing global challenges like climate change, resource scarcity, and healthcare innovation by leveraging both technical knowledge and strategic decision-making.
Fully online engineering degree programs can be a good option for students who do not have the time to commit to a traditional on-campus program. Working professionals, students with personal commitments, or those who live away from a good university may find these programs especially valuable.
Students who wish to enroll in an online engineering management program must research its campus visitation requirements thoroughly. Some schools may ask students to attend an on-campus orientation, while others might ask them to attend an on-campus intensive at regular intervals, for example, once per semester or once a year. A few colleges might also ask students to present their capstone projects on campus.
While online learning comes with ample flexibility, it also places the baton of responsibility in the student's hands when it comes to managing their study schedule and other commitments. Without a well-defined structure and study plan, students might lag behind and not get the most value out of an online program.
Active participation is another key factor in thriving within an online program. Engaging in discussion boards, joining virtual study groups, and maintaining regular communication with instructors can enrich the learning experience. Many programs also offer live, synchronous classes that allow students to interact in real time with faculty and peers, fostering a sense of community even in a remote setting.
Ultimately, online engineering management programs are ideal for independent and motivated learners who need flexibility without sacrificing the quality of their education. By embracing the challenges and opportunities of online learning, students can effectively prepare for leadership roles in the dynamic field of engineering management.
Online engineering management programs are typically at the master’s degree level. Derived from real distance-based programs across the country, here is a list of common admissions materials and prerequisites:
School | City | State | Website | Undergrad | Graduate | Grads |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rolla |
MO | www.mst.edu | 350 | |||
Fayetteville |
AR | www.uark.edu | 238 | |||
Stanford |
CA | www.stanford.edu | 208 | |||
Washington |
DC | www.gwu.edu | 207 | |||
Hoboken |
NJ | www.stevens.edu | 161 | |||
Chicago |
IL | web.iit.edu | 116 | |||
Ames |
IA | www.iastate.edu | 112 | |||
Memphis |
TN | www.cbu.edu | 94 | |||
Hato Rey |
PR | www.pupr.edu | 93 | |||
Bowling Green |
OH | www.bgsu.edu | 82 | |||
Newark |
NJ | www.njit.edu | 81 | |||
Hammond |
IN | www.pnw.edu | 73 | |||
Pullman |
WA | wsu.edu | 73 | |||
Bridgeport |
CT | www.bridgeport.edu | 71 | |||
Ypsilanti |
MI | www.emich.edu | 64 | |||
Houston |
TX | www.uhcl.edu/home | 63 | |||
Chattanooga |
TN | www.utc.edu | 62 | |||
Northridge |
CA | www.csun.edu | 57 | |||
Orlando |
FL | www.ucf.edu | 56 | |||
Philadelphia |
PA | www.drexel.edu | 56 | |||
Tampa |
FL | www.usf.edu | 53 | |||
Dallas |
TX | www.smu.edu | 53 | |||
Fort Wayne |
IN | www.trine.edu/adult-studies | 52 | |||
Louisville |
KY | www.louisville.edu | 52 | |||
Springfield |
MO | www.missouristate.edu | 51 | |||
West Lafayette |
IN | www.purdue.edu | 49 | |||
Indianapolis |
IN | www.iupui.edu | 47 | |||
Cape Girardeau |
MO | www.semo.edu | 47 | |||
Arlington |
TX | www.uta.edu | 46 | |||
Arlington |
VA | www.umtweb.edu | 44 | |||
Charlotte |
NC | www.uncc.edu | 38 | |||
Baltimore |
MD | www.jhu.edu | 38 | |||
Kansas City |
MO | www.grantham.edu | 37 | |||
Saint Cloud |
MN | www.stcloudstate.edu | 37 | |||
Morehead |
KY | www.moreheadstate.edu | 36 | |||
Dearborn |
MI | umdearborn.edu | 35 | |||
Moon Township |
PA | www.rmu.edu | 32 | |||
Springfield |
MA | www1.wne.edu | 32 | |||
La Jolla |
CA | www.nu.edu | 31 | |||
Rapid City |
SD | www.sdsmt.edu | 31 | |||
Tucson |
AZ | www.arizona.edu | 30 | |||
Ruston |
LA | www.latech.edu | 30 | |||
Rochester Hills |
MI | www.oakland.edu | 27 | |||
Mount Pleasant |
MI | www.cmich.edu | 25 | |||
Jonesboro |
AR | www.astate.edu | 22 | |||
Glassboro |
NJ | www.rowan.edu | 20 | |||
Wright-Patterson AFB |
OH | www.afit.edu | 19 | |||
Scottsdale |
AZ | www.asu.edu | 18 | |||
Topeka |
KS | www.washburn.edu | 17 | |||
Bowling Green |
KY | www.wku.edu | 17 | |||
Southfield |
MI | www.ltu.edu | 13 | |||
Pittsburg |
KS | www.pittstate.edu | 11 | |||
Lowell |
MA | www.uml.edu | 9 | |||
Kennesaw |
GA | www.kennesaw.edu | 9 | |||
Manhattan |
KS | www.k-state.edu | 9 | |||
Greenville |
NC | www.ecu.edu | 9 | |||
Washington |
DC | www.georgetown.edu | 8 | |||
New Orleans |
LA | www.uno.edu | 7 | |||
Bemidji |
MN | www.bemidjistate.edu | 6 | |||
Amherst |
MA | www.umass.edu | 4 | |||
Socorro |
NM | www.nmt.edu | 4 | |||
Terre Haute |
IN | www.indstate.edu | 4 | |||
Norfolk |
VA | www.odu.edu | 3 | |||
Knoxville |
TN | www.utk.edu | 2 |
Before enrolling in an online degree in engineering management, students are encouraged to verify the accreditation status of their programs or institutions. Accreditation by a recognized authority is a proxy for program quality in terms of curriculum, student outcomes, program facilities, faculty accomplishments, the administration of finances, and other relevant factors. It’s important to note that not all accreditation entities are created equal, and this approval process is available at differing levels.
For programmatic accreditation, the gold standard in engineering is the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), which has approved a limited number of online programs. Another organization of note is the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE).
For institutional accreditation, aspiring engineers should seek out organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). These include the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), as well as six regional bodies that provide accreditation to universities in specific states:
Online engineering management programs typically offer courses in both engineering and business, focusing on subjects such as probability and statistics for engineering, project management, calculus for engineers, general education requirements, management for engineers, systems engineering, production and operations engineering, total quality management and six sigma, enterprise information systems, management of product and process design, developing and interpreting financial information, finance fundamentals and value creation, marketing management, intellectual property, business law, and entrepreneurship, organization behavior, decision models, human resource management, and economic analysis: firm and consumer.
Additionally, some online programs in engineering management offer specialization tracks, including Stanford University, which has the following seven concentrations available:
There is a growing number of online engineering management programs from institutions across the country, particularly at the master’s degree level, where engineering management degrees are commonly known as MEM (Master of Engineering Management) or MSEM (Master of Science in Engineering Management) degrees.
To give prospective students an overview of what to expect, here are seven standout distance-based programs in engineering management, including information about coursework, costs, and accomplished faculty members.
Duke University offers an online master of engineering management program. This program is unique in that it focuses on developing relationships for distance-based students, hosting three campus residencies during the course of the degree, and allowing students to meet with their faculty and peers. The master's degree helps students develop technical as well as business knowledge.
The program includes four core engineering management courses, four technical elective courses, three residencies, and a project experience. The core courses of the program include marketing; finance in high-tech industries; intellectual property, business law, and entrepreneurship; and management of high-tech industries.
The online students take the same classes and earn the same degree as students in the campus program.
The Penn State University of University Park provides an online master’s in engineering management (MEM) degree. Integrating engineering with management and business principles, this online program provides engineers with management and business perspectives and enhances their capabilities in managing business initiatives, policies, major projects, and other activities in both the private and public sectors. Courses in this program are taught by the same world-class Penn State faculty members who teach on campus.
Comprising 33 credits, this interdisciplinary program requires 11 courses in areas such as decision and risk; financial studies for engineering; engineering management science; organizational behavior; technical project management; and creativity and problem-solving, among others.
Through this online engineering management master’s degree, students can plan, lead, coordinate, and drive the direction of their next career move. They will be fully equipped to move into an engineering management position with an engineering company or a more technically intensive role in a business environment.
At the University of Michigan–Dearborn, there are distance-based master of science (MS) degrees in both engineering management (MSEM) and project management. The engineering management master's program prepares students to manage small and large groups of engineers. They learn how to successfully tackle the engineering and technology assets of their organizations. The program offers several routes to completion. Students can complete coursework on-campus, fully online, or take up a combination of on-campus and online courses.
The 35-credit MSEM program includes instruction in system engineering; production and operations engineering; total quality management and six sigma; finance fundamentals and value creation; organizational behavior; human resource management; management for engineers; enterprise information systems; management of product and process design, and others.
Students will develop an understanding of the core management areas such as marketing, organizational behavior, accounting, business, and finance. They will also develop knowledge about all engineering disciplines such as systems engineering, production management, total quality management, and management of a process or product design.
Stanford University has two online graduate programs for engineering management: an MS in management science and engineering and a graduate certificate in that same specialization. This world-class university allows online students access to top faculty and flexible schedules that are ideal for working professionals.
As mentioned above, students may choose from eight areas of specialization: computational social science; data and decisions; financial analytics; technology and engineering management; advanced technologies and applications; decision analysis and risk analysis; energy and environment; or health systems modeling.
The MS degree comprises 45 credits, which include three core courses, four to six courses in a concentration, one project course, and the rest in electives. Core courses in the curriculum include an introduction to optimization; strategy in technology-based companies; and probabilistic analysis. The graduate certificate can be obtained by completing three MS&E core courses, plus one MS&E elective course for a total of four courses.
The MS program prepares engineers for a successful career in engineering. Through the program, students conduct experiments for designing better systems, work processes, and organizations, analyze how data impacts real-world problems, and develop actionable computational and mathematical models. Notably, Stanford also offers a graduate certificate in technology and engineering management.
The University of Texas in Austin offers an online master's of science in engineering (MSE) focused on engineering management, designed specifically for working professionals. The program, part of the Cockrell School of Engineering’s Center for Lifelong Engineering Education, offers online students access to world-class faculty. Providing technical and business management skills to engineering professionals, the program prepares students to solve problems with innovative solutions and manage business change.
Consisting of 30 credits, the program includes courses such as managing people and organizations; projects in engineering management; strategic decision and risk analysis, engineering project management; marketing and negotiation; legal issues and technology management; finance and accounting for engineering managers; analytics for engineering managers; and engineering operations management, among other topics.
The program teaches engineers how to manage and lead projects, personnel, processes, services, and products in real-world situations. It provides them with knowledge for measuring and evaluating technical, human, and business performance processes in engineering environments.
The University of Arkansas Grantham offers an online bachelor of science program in engineering management technology, providing students with the skills and knowledge required for entering the workforce and obtaining increasing roles of managerial responsibility within a technical environment.
Students in this 120-credit program will complete 53 credits of core courses, 45 credits of general education courses, and 22 credits of electives. The curriculum includes courses such as managerial accounting; digital electronics; microprocessor systems engineering; engineering economics; systems engineering; instrumentation and measurement; principles of business management; quality management; leadership in organizations; and project management.
Graduates of this program will be able to design electronic systems, processes, or components for broadly defined problems, address ethical, professional, global, and social issues and responsibilities, identify and solve technical problems, conduct experiments, apply knowledge, skills, modern tools, and techniques to engineering technology activities, and apply knowledge of science, mathematics, technology, and electronics engineering to engineering technology problems.
Arizona State University offers an online bachelor of science in engineering (BSE) program in engineering management, providing students with the essential knowledge and skills for managing technology-powered enterprises. The program is ideal for students and working professionals who are interested in business and engineering.
Comprising 120 credits, the program's curriculum delves into engineering and design courses and business analytics education. Sample some of the coursework: probability and statistics for problem-solving; engineering administration; project management; risk management; system dynamics and thinking; lean six sigma; and an introduction to systems engineering.
Graduates of the program will be provided with a foundation of strong management skills and will acquire an in-depth understanding of current leadership and management principles. They can go on to take up roles such as compliance managers, construction managers, environmental engineers, general managers, quality control managers, IT project managers, and regulatory affairs managers, among others.
Northeastern University's online master of science in engineering management program provides a combination of business, engineering, and technology education. This online program is ideal for engineers who have a technical business focus and are interested in managing technology-based programs. The program prepares students to take up leadership positions in engineering management and develop innovative solutions to complex business problems.
The curriculum includes courses such as deterministic operations research; engineering project management; economic decision-making; engineering probability and statistics; financial management for engineers; and fundamentals of energy system integration, among others.
Students will be trained to evaluate analysis techniques and economic modeling for developing cost-effective solutions to problems, understand the meaning of probability, and explore the human, entrepreneurial, mathematical, engineering, and managerial aspects of project management. Graduates will be prepared to take up several potential careers in the engineering management field, including product development and management, project management, technical organizations, and supply chain management.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024), the career outlook for engineering managers is promising, with overall employment projected to grow 6 percent in the next decade, which is faster than the average of 4 percent for all occupations from 2023 to 2033.
On average, engineering managers earn $172,290 per year. The percentiles for wages for engineering managers are (BLS May 2023):
Traditionally and, in a way, unfairly, engineers nowadays are not synonymous with great management or leadership. There are several reasons for the lack of proper management in this industry. One such reason is the lack of adequate training in engineering colleges compared to business schools. Despite all, engineering leaders still have the chance of emerging with the right mix of leadership fundamentals, initiatives, and training.
Because quality of educators is paramount in the decision-making process for prospective engineering management students, we have compiled this list of professors to know in the field. To be the best, it helps to learn from the best.
Lean Six Sigma is a blend of two manufacturing concepts focused on minimizing product defects and the wastage of resources. A number of universities offer certification programs in Lean Six Sigma, which can generally be completed in six to 12 weeks.
Technology and the internet have enabled numerous entrepreneurs to see their ideas come to fruition. It is no surprise that many universities now offer courses and degree programs in technology entrepreneurship.
An online bachelor’s program in project management generally comprises 120 credit-hours and can be completed in four years. A few courses that students study include estimating and scheduling, project contracting, foundations of project management, international business, and project planning.
The main goal of operations management is to maximize profits, reduce wastage in production, and ensure that all resources (including labor and materials) are being utilized effectively.
Engineering management combines the two dynamic disciplines of engineering and business. Typically, an engineering manager will be responsible for drawing up budgets, managing projects, overseeing product design, and also collaborating with the marketing team.
Upon completing a dual MBA and engineering degree program, students will hold master’s degrees in two of the most coveted fields. They may be eligible to take up leadership roles such as vice president of engineering, chief technical officer, and chief operating officer.
Operations management is an important cog in any business wheel. This role ensures that all products and services are produced and delivered on time; there is minimum wastage of resources; and quality is maintained across all units.
As the population of the world rises, the need for more houses, schools, offices, hospitals, workspaces, and other necessary structures, increases too—and so does the need for large construction projects such as highways, bridges, roads, and railways. All of this, in turn, increases the demand for well-trained construction managers, who must not only keep track of technological advancements but also ensure they are deployed in the right way.