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Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology’s Engineering Leadership Department offers several graduate certificates, master's degree programs, and academic courses targeting technical specialists, engineers, and other professionals who wish to benefit from their mix of business and engineering content. The programs are available online or on-campus.
One such program is their master of science program in manufacturing leadership. It is designed for professionals and experienced engineers aiming for higher-level positions in supply chain management, process improvement, and operations. Integrating engineering management and business courses, this online program provides business professionals and experienced engineers with the leadership skills needed for optimizing business operations in various industries and organizations.
Offered jointly by the Saunders College of Business and the Kate Gleason College of Engineering, this 30-credit program includes courses such as Lean Six Sigma fundamentals; supply chain management; global facilities planning; engineering of systems; project management; and accounting for decision makers. Moreover, students in this program will complete a project during their final academic year, based on a real problem often identified in the companies where they work. This corporate-oriented capstone project is directed at solving a services or manufacturing management problem or process improvement initiative.
Notably, the Engineering Leadership Department of Rochester Institute of Technology also offers a master of science program in product development which is a leadership program specifically designed for experienced engineers and technical specialists. This master’s degree integrates business and engineering courses, providing students with the knowledge and skills to lead product development organizations and teams.
Rice University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering offers an online master of engineering management and leadership program. This program provides skilled engineers with the management and leadership training needed to become effective engineering vice presidents, engineers, innovative leaders, and CTOs.
The program prides itself as being one of only 10 ASEM-certified MEM programs in the U.S., and the first program in Texas. Moreover, graduates of this program will have a direct path to becoming a Certified Associate in Engineering Management professional, without having to take the certifying exam, and will have an accelerated path to the Certified Professional in Engineering Management credential. Notably, graduates of this program can immediately sit for the PMP exam and earn their Project Management Professional (PMP) credential.
Made up of 30 credits, the program includes core courses such as engineering management & leadership theory and application; engineering project management; engineering product management in industry; ethical-technical leadership; engineering economics for leaders; and applied statistics and data science for engineering leaders. The program also includes a 3-credit capstone project. Specialization options are also available in computer science or data science.
Students who live in the Greater Houston, Texas area or are willing to commute can take up to three courses on-campus and complete the program in an online hybrid format.
Ohio State University offers an online master of global engineering leadership program empowering engineers with the knowledge and skills needed to manage projects, drive innovation, and excel in leadership roles in the field of engineering.
The program’s curriculum includes business, public policy, and engineering management courses through a partnership with The Fisher College of Business, the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, and The College of Engineering. The curriculum comprises 31 credits and aims to transform engineers into exceptional leaders.
The program includes core courses that teach management and leadership, and an understanding of the business-government relationship, while a solid engineering focus is provided through the choice of a specialized technical track. Students can choose a specialization in welding engineering, or automotive systems engineering, or form their own customized individual track through the combination of four graduate engineering courses. The program also includes a capstone course in operational excellence for engineers as the culminating experience where students put their learned problem-solving skills to the test.
The core curriculum includes courses such as leadership and team effectiveness; engineering ethics & professionalism; project management for engineers; financial & managerial accounting; and tech strategy & innovation management.
The Gallogly College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma offers a fully online master of science degree in engineering leadership & management, empowering engineers of tomorrow with the essential knowledge and tools to thrive in today’s dynamic world of engineering leadership and management. Offered in an accelerated format, this 30-credit-hour program can be completed in just 12 months.
Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, a solid foundation in calculus and statistical analysis, official transcripts from any undergraduate or graduate institution attended, a personal statement, and a current resume. GRE scores are optional and not required for admission.
The program, which comprises 30 credits, includes courses such as leadership and management for engineers, strategic communication for engineering leaders, data science and analytics for engineering management decisions, cost engineering, systems thinking, leading creative teams, negotiating skills for technical leaders, decision analysis, and systems requirements and architecting.
Graduates of this program will be able to take up roles such as quality engineers, operations managers, design engineers, process engineering managers, technical consultants, and product engineers.
Purdue University’s interdisciplinary engineering (MSE or MS) degree offers a concentration in engineering management and leadership in partnership with Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. Ideal for professionals who wish to build a competitive edge in various industries, this program focuses on helping students increase their technical and engineering skills while also helping them build strategic management skills associated with leadership in the global marketplace.
Students in this interdisciplinary engineering program can choose the master of science in engineering degree if they have completed an undergraduate degree in engineering that is ABET accredited by the EAC or a master of science degree if they hold a bachelor’s degree that is not in engineering or is not ABET accredited by the EAC.
The engineering management and leadership concentration requires 21 credits from Purdue and 12 credits from IU for 33 credits. The curriculum includes courses such as engineering economic analysis; economic decisions in engineering; safety engineering; strategic marketing management; operations management; manufacturing process engineering; human factors in engineering; and systems analysis and synthesis.
With courses focused on ethics, communication, professionalism, and entrepreneurial thinking, Pennsylvania State University offers an online graduate certificate in engineering leadership and innovation management, helping students supplement their technical engineering skills. This online program prepares engineering professionals for leadership positions, allowing graduates to lead technical teams and solve complex organizational projects.
Applicants to the program must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, official transcripts from each institution attended, a 3.0 GPA, two references, a current resume, a personal statement, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students. GRE scores are not required for admission.
This graduate certificate, consisting of 12 credits, includes courses such as project management for professionals, engineering leadership for corporate innovation, engineering across cultures and nations, and engineering product innovation.
Ohio University offers another online graduate certificate in engineering leadership providing graduates with the informal leadership qualities they need to bridge the gap between engineering and management. This rigorous part-time curriculum equips students with practical leadership skills that will last a lifetime.
This certificate includes training in the fundamentals of leadership, business functions, communication, accounting, and engineering communication. These skills will prepare graduates for senior-level positions that require earning the trust of peers, subordinates, and superiors.
Applicants to the program require a bachelor's degree from an accredited program, official transcripts from all previously attended institutions, and two professional letters of recommendation. Work experience is optional for admission.
This nine-credit program includes courses such as engineering leadership; communication skills for engineers; and applied accounting and finance for engineering management. Students can also transfer credits from this program to Ohio University’s master of engineering management program.
Graduates can take up roles such as engineering managers, training and development managers, industrial production managers, and construction managers.
University of San Diego offers an online master of science program in engineering management and leadership providing students with a comprehensive understanding of how to manage technology projects and teams to become influential leaders of global technology organizations.
Graduates of this program will be well-suited for high-level careers such as engineering research managers, engineering design managers, global engineering managers, process engineering managers, engineering directors, and operations managers.
Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree in a STEAM or business professional field from an accredited institution, a GPA of 2.75 or higher, official transcripts, a statement of purpose, a current resume, and recommendation letters.
Comprising 30 credits, this project-based program includes two foundational courses, six core courses, and a final semester course paired with a capstone project. Courses include introduction to technology and engineering management; introduction to technology and engineering leadership; emerging technology trends and startups; value chain of engineering organizations; sustainability, ethics and compliance; decision analysis; and competing strategically.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers an online graduate certificate in modern engineering leadership helping computer science and engineering professionals gain the knowledge and skills to become leaders in their organizations.
Applicants to the program must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 in their prior bachelor’s or post-baccalaureate degree, preferably in engineering or computer science.
Made up of 15 credits, the program includes courses such as managing human resources and teams; advanced topics in industrial and systems engineering; engineering statistical analysis; and machine learning and applications.
The engineering leadership program at the University of Washington is a four-course certificate that helps students gain the knowledge and tools to become successful technical leads, first-level managers, or program managers in an organization of any size. Students here will participate in negotiations and the decision-making process and explore how to communicate with business professionals. They will increase their confidence in mentoring employees, leading diverse teams, guiding complex projects to completion, and making data-driven decisions. By completing this program, students can earn graduate credit.
Applicants to the program must have a bachelor of science degree in engineering or a related technical field, a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, and professional experience in an engineering-related field.
Courses include navigating the business environment; technical leadership; decision analysis; and project performance.
The University of Texas at Tyler offers a master of science program in engineering leadership. Students can earn this degree independently through the university’s in-person and online scheduling options. Combining technical engineering, leadership, and business skills within this master’s degree, this hybrid program emphasizes fundamental leadership skills that will prepare students to lead in organizations across the technical spectrum effectively.
Graduates will develop various interdisciplinary skills such as risk management, process control, optimization, decision-making, conflict resolution, vision, team construction, systems engineering, strategy, and statistical modeling.
The program’s curriculum addresses complex engineering problems by combining business techniques and sound engineering leadership principles.
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 writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter (@FarheenGani).
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