(Image courtesy of Paul Lee/UC Berkeley.)
Engineers constantly produce new ideas and innovations. With the increasing availability of technology for prototyping and small-scale manufacturing, it’s easier than ever for engineers to become entrepreneurs and start their own business with their own ideas.
To help engineers develop the right skills to become successful entrepreneurs, UC Berkeley recently announced a new undergraduate degree program that combines technical engineering skills and business savvy.
The new Management, Entrepreneurship and Technology Program (M.E.T.) brings together elements of UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering and Haas School of Business.
The program is designed to ensure students build a strong understanding of technology, innovation and business practices. Their new skills can then help them pursue their own start-ups or work within established companies.
“Our industry partners tell us they face a significant gap in their search for talent - those with technical backgrounds need the expertise to bring a great idea to market, while those with business backgrounds must have a stronger grasp of the technologies that drive innovation,” said Shankar Sastry, dean of Berkeley Engineering. “We want to close this gap.”
M.E.T. students who enroll in the program earn two degrees – a bachelor of science in engineering and a bachelor of science in business administration. The integrated curriculum can be completed in four years and consists of engineering, business and liberal arts courses.
Within the program there are two specialization tracks to choose between, each of which will open up multiple career options for students. The specialization tracks include:
- Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences (EECS) + Business: By combining study in these two areas, students can pursue their interests in creating new technologies, robotics, software or mobile apps and more. Students will also develop leadership business skills to successfully take these products to market.
- Industrial Engineering & Operations Research (IEOR) + Business: In this dual-degree program, students can hone their expertise in designing and managing complex systems, such as financial networks, energy grids, Internet commerce and healthcare delivery. The business coursework will offer insights into pricing and selling systems, leadership skills and help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
Small cohorts, expected to be around 30 students each, will allow for students to develop strong mentoring relationships with professors and a strong community with other students.
The program will also help students pursue internships, career coaching and opportunities for innovative hands-on learning in entrepreneurship.
“The long-term purpose of this program is to develop leaders with an integrated mindset and tools to address our largest challenges and opportunities,” said Rich Lyons, dean of Berkeley-Haas. “Their M.E.T. education will greatly expand their capacity to shape parts of our future that we cannot even see today."
To learn more, visit UC Berkeley’s Management, Entrepreneurship and Technology Program website.