An online engineering management degree offers students the flexibility to learn essential management skills and boost their professional experience during the time of the day or week that suits them best.
There are a number of ways that students can earn an online engineering management masters degree, with a wide range of graduate programs and schools to choose from.
Here, we take a look at the ins and outs of engineering management, discuss the skills that are developed in post-graduate studies, and offer suggestions on how to find the right engineering management degree.
What is Engineering Management?
Often associated with project management and business development, engineering management ensures proper leadership is provided across a wide range of engineering and technical projects.
Working within the broad field of engineering across various industries, engineering managers offer a mix of general management and technical engineering expertise. They shape strategic direction during all stages of projects, guiding staff through the development of anything from structures and materials to systems and devices. Management of financial and technological resources also falls within their range of responsibilities.
Engineering management is not a profession reserved solely for engineers, either. Scientists and computer scientists will also commonly pursue a masters of engineering management. In doing so, they learn the business acumen and leadership skills required to take prominent roles on projects in their respective fields.
Skills Gained from an Online Engineering Masters Degree
In learning to combine existing technical knowledge with business and management principles, engineering management graduates develop a diverse skillset that paves the way to senior positions in their careers.
Earning an engineering management degree will see students add leadership skills to the strong technical base they developed up during their undergraduate studies and professional life. As well as expanding on the mathematical and science knowledge acquired during previous study, engineering management supplies students with a strong understanding of business and leadership practices.
When students attain an engineering management masters degree, they not only finish the course with a strong knowledge of engineering theories and issues, they also understand how engineering interacts with the business world. Additionally, graduates develop the specific skills required to lead technical personnel, including providing training, mentorship and motivation.
In essence, engineering management students learn a wide array of management skills that help them fuse engineering and business practices while providing leadership in the workforce.
How to Earn Your Engineering Management Degree Online
An increasing number of well-known engineering schools and business colleges are offering the option to earn an online engineering management masters degree. Yet with an abundance of online courses to choose from, sifting through the various options can be overwhelming.
The good news is that with the increasing number of choices come more resources that students can use to decide which course and school is the best fit. There are lots of ranking tools and lists available online, which rate the schools and courses available through online education.
This list is as comprehensive as any, detailing the top 50 engineering management degree programs of 2016. For those seeking affordable online engineering management degrees, some guidance is provided here.