For engineers and those with backgrounds in STEM fields, an advanced degree offers the opportunity to develop a foundation in business and leadership. Leading a team, bidding on a contract, balancing the technical and social aspects of a project in a new industry like alternative energy – all of these are areas where a degree in Engineering Management can be both professionally fulfilling and a career boost.
A Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM) is a professional degree that blends advanced engineering coursework with managerial education in disciplines like marketing, accounting and finance. Students with backgrounds in engineering and allied fields are increasingly turning toward Engineering Management programs to provide a niche, industry-specific approach to tasks such as leading innovation, managing organizational change and understanding regulatory environments. By combining their technical and administrative skill sets, graduates seamlessly meet the market demands of the fast-paced, demanding tech space.
Similar to traditional management programs, MSEM programs have a core curriculum that is designed to shape capable business leaders in economics and operations. Students typically have an undergraduate degree in a STEM field or have professional experience in technology, engineering or manufacturing. MSEM programs allow students to expand on STEM-focused skill sets alongside focused business studies. As a result, students gain the expertise to address the unique challenges facing technically focused organizations.
For students with an engineering or technical background, an MSEM degree is an invaluable investment for career advancement.
A Narrow Focus with Deeper Connections
In education, the individuals you surround yourself with makes a key difference. While a typical MBA program has large classes of students from a variety of wide-ranging backgrounds, MSEM programs are made up of tight-knit cohorts of under 30 students, who share a similar level of education and experience in the world of STEM.
There are several benefits to the narrow-focused approach of the MSEM. First, smaller class sizes allow for more student-to-student and student-to-faculty dialogue, creating an engaging environment where faculty members can focus their curriculum on real-world scenarios and implications. Second, while students come into the MSEM program focused on different niches of the engineering and tech space, they all share an interest in a common industry and can offer different but relevant perspectives from their sector of the field as they grow together as leaders.
The small cohort model gives students a sense of community, deepening their investment in the program as they build their professional network and share in each other’s success.
Opportunities for MSEM Grads
As more industries embrace new technologies and data-driven solutions, the demand for leaders with a combination of business and engineering skills continues to grow. Even businesses and organizations with deep roots in engineering and technology must adapt to work more efficiently. MSEM graduates are perfectly positioned to guide these industries forward, providing effective leadership on complex engineering challenges.
For individuals currently engaged in engineering and technology work, an MSEM degree offers the necessary skill set to transition into management positions within their organization. Most students entering our program hold positions as individual contributors or junior managers. Upon graduation, they are poised to take on management or team leader positions in engineering, operations, tech sales and supply chain. At Clarkson, our online program supports students in making these career transitions without taking time off or sacrificing income.
Whether you choose to remain in your current organization or explore new opportunities, graduates with an MSEM degree have a high earning potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average engineering manager salary falls between $123,445 and $152,707, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $208,000 annually.
Why Get a Master’s in Engineering Management from Clarkson?
The Clarkson MSEM program offers a hybrid education model, combining limited on-site engagement with synchronous online learning. Our goal is to provide all the benefits and flexibility of distance learning without sacrificing the values of community and collaboration. Students in our cohorts have the opportunity to gain an in-person rapport with their professors and peers that will then carry over to their online experience.
We begin each semester with an intensive 3-day weekend that allows our cohorts to engage in both academic and social activities. As we transition into online learning, we continue to foster a collaborative environment and build opportunities for dialogue. Our students graduate with a rich network that will support them throughout their careers.
If a MSEM sounds like the right fit for you, learn more about getting started at Clarkson.