The Engineering Management concentration in the Master of Science in Professional Science degree was created to provide engineers, scientists, and technicians with the business and
management tools needed for leadership positions in manufacturing and industry. Designed for working professionals, the program can be completed on
a part-time basis over two years; classes are held primarily in the evening and many
online. The program helps equip students with skills (including project management, Six Sigma, and lean manufacturing) to implement and manage competitive process innovations and product development.
Graduates should interact comfortably and intelligently with engineers and business
leaders through developing the skill set of both.
Engineering Management is among six concentrations leading to the Master of Science in Professional Science degree, which consists of advanced science
courses, business management courses, and a capstone internship.
Live outside of Tennessee? You could be eligible for in-state tuition and save thousands
of dollars.
Grad moves into process engineer position after program
David O’Brien, among initial graduates of the Engineering Management M.S. program
(June 2014), now works as a process engineer at Feintool Tennessee. O'Brien develops
and implements protocol for the plant-wide continuous improvement program; analyzes
current production processes at micro and macro scales; utilizes principles and practices
from Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen to streamline workflow; and designs and procures
tools that enhance workflow, reduce waste, and increase product quality. His background
includes regulatory compliance, project management, and technical training. O'Brien
worked as a Siemens Healthcare process engineer during a 10-month internship, and
also as a graduate assistant for MTSU’s experimental vehicles program. "In addition
to the program curriculum, experiences gained through the graduate assistantships
and internship presented opportunities to further develop skills that are now adding
value at my company," he says. O'Brien, who earlier studied Environmental Science
(B.S., 2012) at MTSU, also served as president of the Graduate Student Association.
Advisory board members making mark in industry
MTSU’s eight Engineering Management advisory board members earned degrees under other
programs supervised by professor and former graduate director Dr. Greg Sedrick. The
MTSU program is the third in Tennessee started by Sedrick, the first licensed professional
engineer in the U.S. under EM. Mike Ingram’s 27-year-old TVA career was boosted into
project/program and senior management after adding his EM master’s (UT-Chattanooga)
to his electrical engineering bachelor’s (Auburn). “Emphasizing my analytical skills
and broadening my business understanding, the degree was a perfect fit for me,” he
says. Mike Holman works in the aerospace and defense sector as Coleman Aerospace acting
vice president of engineering and as director of safety, mission assurance, and information.
He earned Engineering Management certification (UT Space Institute) after bachelor’s
and master’s in mechanical engineering (University of Utah). “Engineering management,
recognized as a fast-growing discipline that transitions highly technical people into
leadership roles, was seen as better suited than a typical business degree,” Holman
says.
Related Media
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MTSU College of Graduate Studies
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MTSU | The University of Opportunities
Graduates go to work in a wide variety of positions in technology-based companies,
governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, and consulting firms. Engineering
managers are hired by virtually every major corporation in the world. The national
average starting salary is $77,467 for EM master’s graduates. Engineering management
master’s programs boost careers by helping train students to solve complex problems;
utilize basic finance, accounting, economics, and risk analysis methods; provide competent
leadership and develop the skills and abilities of teams and individuals within a
company; communicate effectively; and understand the societal, ethical, cultural,
legal, and political issues that are prevalent in today's global society. A sample
listing of career fields from the American Society for Engineering (Sedrick led the
team to create the list):
- Corporate officers (CEO, COO, CFO)
- Engineering managers
- Information technology managers
- Marketing managers
- Plant managers and engineers
- Production supervisors
- Technical project managers and engineering
- Technical sales
Employers of MTSU alumni
This information is still being compiled since this is a new program.
A sample listing of engineering management employers:
- 3M
- Accenture
- American Express
- ARCO
- Arnold Engineering and Development Center
- Assurant
- AT&T
- Automation Alliance Group
- Boeing
- Bridgestone
- Capital One
- Ceco Construction
- L-3 Coleman Aerospace
- Emerson Electric
- EMIT Inc
- FedEx
- Feintool Tennessee Inc.
- Ford
- GAF Materials Corp.
- General Electric
- General Motors
- Hallmark Cards
- Honeywell
- IBM
- InBev-Anheuser Busch
- Jacobs Engineering
- Jarrell Contracting Inc.
- John Deere
- Johnson & Johnson
- Junction Solutions
- Luman International
- Nissan
- Olin Corporation
- Radio Mobile
- Spitzer Industries, Sprint
- Tennessee Valley Association
- Trabue Industrial Systems
- U.S. Department of Defense
- Veteran Affairs
- Volkswagen
The Master of Science (M.S.) with a major in Professional Science includes a business
core with specific concentrations in Actuarial Sciences, Biostatistics, Biotechnology, Engineering Management, Chemistry Analytics, Fermentation Science and Health Care Informatics.
The M.S. in Professional Science combines the business management skills commonly
found in the traditional M.B.A.-type program with advanced learning in specific science
fields.
MTSU’s degree has been recognized as the premier Professional Science master’s program
in the U.S. by the National Professional Science Master’s Association.
Applicants for unconditional admission for Engineering Management should
- hold a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related area.
- have a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 900 (old) or combined 286 (new):
Verbal 138, Quantitative 148. Miller Analogies Test (MAT) is not accepted.
- possess basic competency in word processing, electronic mail, library retrieval systems,
presentation graphics, spreadsheets, and databases.
For complete curriculum details, click on the REQUIREMENTS button to the right.
Professional Science, Engineering Management Concentration, M.S.
Saeed Foroudastan, Director
Master of Science in Professional Science Program
(615) 494-7618
Saeed.Foroudastan@mtsu.edu
For more information about the Engineering Management concentration, contact:
Saeed Foroudastan, Program Advisor/Coordinator
Engineering Management Concentration
(615) 904-8581
Saeed.Foroudastan@mtsu.edu
Suzanne Hicks, Internship Graduate Coordinator
Master of Science in Professional Science Program
(615) 904-8581
Suzanne.Hicks@mtsu.edu
The Engineering Management concentration in the Master of Science in Professional Science degree was created to provide engineers, scientists, and technicians with the business and management tools needed for leadership positions in manufacturing and industry.
Please see undergraduate catalog for information regarding undergraduate programs.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Master of Science in Professional Science with a concentration in Engineering Management requires
- an earned bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college with a major in Engineering or related areas;
- basic competency in word processing, electronic mail, library retrieval systems, presentation graphics, spreadsheets, and databases.
Application Procedures
All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.
Applicant must
- submit application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php). Once this initial application has been accepted, the applicant will receive directions on how to enter the graduate portal to be able to submit other materials.
- submit official transcripts from all collegiate institutions attended;
- submit three letters of reference;
- submit an official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) report. A composite GRE of 286 is expected.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Professional Science with a concentration in Engineering Management requires completion of 36 semester hours.
Curriculum: Professional Science, Engineering Management
Candidates must complete 36 hours in the following course of study.
Core Courses (15 hours)
ACTG 6100 - Accounting and Legal Issues for Managers
3credit hours
Surveys accounting skills and legal perspectives necessary for managers without undergraduate business degrees to enter the businessworld. Will not meet the requirements for the M.S. in Information Systems, M.Acc. in Accounting, or the M.B.A. degree programs.
BCED 6820 - Managerial Communication
3credit hours
Analysis of communication theory and communication processes with emphasis on development of executive communication skills essential for understanding organizational processes from a holistic perspective. Covers organizational theory, behavior, and interpersonal communication from both a domestic and global perspective.
BCED 6910 - Internship Program
3credit hours
A supervised program of related work experience. Provides experiential opportunities for the application of the theoretical concepts learned.
MGMT 6740 - Leadership and Motivation
3credit hours
Issues in leadership and motivation in business organizations. An examination of the theoretical framework for leadership and motivation processes serves as foundation. Emphasis on practical issues and applications of leadership development and motivation.
STAT 5140 - Probabilistic and Statistical Reasoning
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Must be enrolled in the Master of Science in Professional Sciences program; graduate level. Focuses on probability and statistics concepts. Topics include binomial and normal probabilistic modeling; important statistical concepts such as confounding, randomization, sampling variability and significance; statistical testing of significant differences and associations; and design experiments to test research hypotheses.
Concentration Courses (21 hours)
ET 6010 - Safety Planning
3credit hours
Advanced study of planning in occupational safety and health management, including program planning and development methods and techniques as well as various systems approaches to hazard control.
ET 6190 - Six Sigma
3credit hours
Prerequisite: MATH 1530 or equivalent or consent of instructor. The Six Sigma methodology is defined as a comprehensive and flexible system for achieving, sustaining, and maximizing business success. Through class instruction, simulations, and hands-on projects, students will be able to identify and focus on customers' critical-to-quality (CTQ) characteristics and solve problems using the define, measure, analyze, improve, and control (DMAIC) process and its associated tools. A Green Belt certification will be awarded upon successful completion of an industry/business Green Belt project.
ET 6300 - PMI Project Management
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Project management processes and knowledge areas as sanctioned by the International Project Management Institute (PMI). Successful completion of the course will earn 23 contact hours/professional development units (PDUs) issued by PMI.
ET 6390 - Productivity Strategies/Lean Systems
3credit hours
Prerequisites: Graduate standing and ET 3910 or consent of instructor. Topics include the human element (supervisory and teamwork skills), the theoretical aspect (laws and science covering service and production systems), and the practical aspect (tools for lean operational systems implementation). Theoretical and practical methods needed to complete a required industry/business project and obtain a certification in Lean Manufacturing.
ET 6620 - Methods of Research
3credit hours
Introduces Master of Science students to scholarly research principles and to thesis formats for research reporting. A problem is researched and written up in thesis proposal format.
ET 6810 - Engineering Management Theory and Application
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Theories, concepts, and applications from the engineering management body of knowledge (EMBOK) for technical, healthcare, and service industries. EMBOK topics covered defined in the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM) Guide to the EMBOK and include leadership in technical, healthcare, and service industries; strategic planning in a technical environment; financial resource management in the technical environment; technical project management; operations and supply chain management; technical managers' role in marketing and sales; legal issues in engineering management; professional ethics and responsibilities in a technical environment; product and process development; systems engineering; technical management of research and development; and sustainability engineering.
ET 6870 - Engineering Management Systems
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Advanced topics related to engineering management systems with a focus on innovation implementation for technical products, technical processes, and for business models in a technical environment. Implementation strategies integrating current and emerging technologies into manufacturing, health care and service industries. Components needed for the construction of new venture business plans to create new technology businesses and jobs.
Our adjunct faculty bring outstanding professional experience to our programs. Many are industry leaders with decorated careers and honors. Importantly, they are innovative educators who offer hands-on learning to our students to prepare them to enter and thrive in a dynamic, and oftentimes emerging, industry and professional world. They inspire, instruct, and challenge our students toward academic and professional success.
Student Research
Ye (Zoe) Ye
- MS graduate thesis: Tail Conditional Expectations for Extended Dispersion Models,
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN. August 2014.
- Paper: Tail Conditional Expectations for Extended Dispersion Models, submitted manuscript,
08/2014. Submission ID number 14-21.
- Presentation given at the 48th Actuarial Research Conference: Trend Analysis Algorithms
and Applications to Health Rate Review, July 2013, Temple University, Philadelphia,
PA.
- Math Seminar presentation: Trend Analysis Tools and Applications to Rate Review Project,
September 2013, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN.
Le Yin
- MS graduate thesis: Medical Trend Analysis Methods, Middle Tennessee State University,
Murfreesboro, TN, May 2014.
- Le Yin, D. Hong, and Q. Wu, Statistical Methods for Medical Trend Analysis in Health
Rate Review Process, North American Actuarial Journal, submitted manuscript 2014.
Submission ID NAAJ-1298.
- Math Seminar Presentation: Medical Trend Analysis Algorithms and Implementation, September
2013, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN.
Xiong Lu
- Presentation given at the 49th Actuarial Research Conference: Using Monte Carlo Simulation
to Predict Captive Solvency, July 2014, University of California Santa Barbara, California.
- Chapter 4 of Ph.D. Dissertation: Statistical Computing Tools for Predicting Captive
Solvency, December 2014.
- Lu Xiong, Don Hong, and Qiang Wu, Statistical Computing Tools for Predicting Captive
Solvency, manuscript Using Monte Carlo Simulation to Predict Captive Insurance Solvency,
North American Actuarial Journal, submitted manuscript 2014.
Faculty Non-Publishable Industry-Related Research
- RATE REVIEW REPORT for Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI): Health
Insurance Rate Review Project, by Don Hong, Ken Hollman, Harold Tuthill, and Qiang
Wu, the Program of Actuarial Science, Middle Tennessee State University, September
2012.
- Trend Analysis Software Package, by Le Yin, Brent Carpenetti, Don Hong, and Qiang
Wu, the Program of Actuarial Science, Middle Tennessee State University, October 2014.
Other research sources
Online or Hybrid Programs at a Glance
This program is available .
For More Information or Explore Your Options
Contact your department / program coordinator or advisor for more details about the program OR work one-on-one with your advisor to explore your options.
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Resources and services for online students are available from MTSU Online or contact us at distance@mtsu.edu.
