Engineering Management is a graduate-level educational path uniquely focused on preparing scientists and engineers to perform as leaders and team managers in the engineering field. Engineering is a highly team-oriented career, with individuals from multiple disciplines typically working on project teams to complete the design and development, testing and study, and installation and/or construction processes.

Every individual on the team brings his or own strengths to bear on the project and strong leadership is essential to overall team and project success. This is exactly where engineering management comes into play, with skilled and knowledgeable team leaders ensuring effective communications and coordination of team activities.

What is the Role of Engineering Managers?

Engineering managers must understand high-level engineering concepts and principles in addition to communication, project management, and business management principles and applications. Team leaders are required to manage all aspects of business processes and engineering functions and must therefore possess a well-rounded management skill set in addition to engineering knowledge and experience.

Engineering Management Degree Programs

Degree programs for Engineering Management are available at the bachelor’s level for students interested in the construction and industrial engineering field; however, the majority of degrees with an Engineering Management focus are master’s programs. Students entering these programs may be working professionals or new college graduates.

Seasoned engineers commonly return to school to further their education and expand their career prospects. Students who’ve just completed their undergraduate education also frequently choose Engineering Management programs, making it possible to complete an engineering education while simultaneously acquiring the leadership skills necessary for managing projects and teams.

Engineering Management Curriculum

The curriculum of Engineering Management degree programs is specifically designed to provide students the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the vital role of leading interdisciplinary, cross-functional teams. All courses are structured to build on existing engineering expertise and to expand students’ leadership skills.

The curriculum of most Engineering Management programs feature courses in four primary disciplines: (1) Engineering, (2) Statistics, (3) Information Systems, and (4) Management. In engineering-focused courses, students learn essential aspects of engineering law, writing, statistics and analysis, and usually Six Sigma principles as well. Statistics courses cover theoretical and practical applications, including the nature of problems and arriving at solutions, understanding probability-based systems, and topics associated with quality systems and experiment designs.

In information systems courses, students learn engineering principles for the design, testing and installation of information systems, and the design of and practical applications for database systems. Management courses include fundamental or foundational studies in engineering management as well as courses in project management, managerial decision-making, analysis-based strategy development, and operations research methodologies.

How Long does it take to Earn a Master of Engineering Management?

Professional degree programs designed for working engineers are usually shorter in duration, as students already possess the essential knowledge and experience required for successfully performing as a front-line scientist and technologists in the engineering field. Such programs can often be completed in as few as 18 to 20 months with a full-time course load.

Graduate programs designed for engineering bachelor’s degree holders usually take 2 to 3 years to complete. Some schools offer post-graduate programs where students move directly from an undergrad engineering program into a Master of Engineering Management program, allowing them to complete their entire education in as little as 5 to 6 years with full-time enrollment.