|
School: Drexel University Description: “The MS in Engineering Management integrates the study of major management disciplines within the context of engineering or technical operations. It provides the skills necessary to manage technical resources, and it focuses on solving problems that require close cooperation between technical and non-technical staff. Our program is designed to provide the background in management science necessary to advance from purely technical positions to those including supervisory responsibilities in such areas as research and development, production, engineering design, and technical marketing. Courses in the program are scheduled online in an asynchronous format, making it possible for individuals to earn their degrees part-time while still working. Graduates of the program have found their degrees to be highly valued credentials. Many have advanced within their present organizations, while others have accepted responsibilities with new employers or gone on to start their own businesses.” Chris Morse, Program Manager. Where is it: Philadelphia, PA Format: Online Degree you get: Master of Science Size of the Program: ~150 current students Number of credit hours: 48-51 credits And that will take how long? 2-4 years When does it run: Start of Any Term Fees: $50,000 - $55,000 Minimum Admission Requirements:
Not Required
Who should take it?
Claim to fame:
Articles: |
Drexel was the first American University to offer a Masters of Engineering Management (MEM) program. It started back in the 50’s when the companies in the Philadelphia area noticed the great quality of Drexel’s engineer grads suffered from a lack of business savvy.
To answer this call, Drexel created their program in 1959. It started as a program offering classes on-campus and on-site at the aforementioned businesses. However, as the popularity of the program increased, the school decided to make the move online. The process started in 1997 and by 2001 Drexel’s MEM program was completely online.
ENGINEERING.com thought it best to catch up with the program manager, Chris Morse, and assistant director, Dave Reifschneider, and talk a bit about this well-established program.
Dave Reifschneider, assistant director and
Chris Morse, program manager at Drexel University
No strangers to the online stage, it is no surprise that the “online courses and programs at Drexel are constructed with the same rigor as an on-campus program would be. Essentially there will be no difference in the content or a student’s transcript,” said Reifschneider. “We expect our students to have several years of work experience before they are admitted into the program. So essentially they tend to have a full time job when they come in. Having them work online evenings and during the weekends allows them the flexibility to keep their day jobs.”
Courses are paced on a weekly basis and students need to access lectures, assignments, and discussions within this timeframe to stay on top of the work load. “They can do it any day and anytime that week. If you have a business trip for the week you can catch up on the weekend or at the hotel room,” explains Reifschneider.
Morse adds that “a student needs to self-motivate. There are no scheduled meeting times and you have to make your own schedule. Some students will thrive in an online environment. Others will need to adjust.”
Morse continues, “Most of the content is delivered by voice-over PowerPoint lectures. There are some ‘talking head’ videos, but for the most part we find PowerPoint is the best way to go. Assessments are usually project-based with some quizzes and tests on Blackboard Learn. Also much of the grade will be based on participation in the discussion boards.”
Anecdotally, Reifschneider mentions that students that have difficulty taking notes during live lectures and discussion will like the format of Drexel’s online platform. Students will have access to the online discussion boards that serve in place of on-campus classroom discussions. As the information is online, it will all be saved for later access.
Example of the Drexel course Blackboard Template.
“We are developing an introductory course for the Fall of 2014. The course will orient students to online learning and the platform we use. We’ve also designed our courses to have a common look and feel within Blackboard Learn using a standard template. It makes it easier for students to navigate,” said Reifschneider.
If a student takes one to two courses a term, they should complete the degree in two to four years. However, students will have up to seven years to complete the content if personal or business issues arise
Morse suggests that students be proactive about their education. “I recommend that students become as engaged as possible. Reach out to your professors, talk to other students, and connect with your advisors. Some students find online courses isolating, but that does not have to be the case. We provide a variety of resources, but the student needs to engage. Our classes range in size from 6-20 students, so professors can take great care ensuring proper guidance and one-on-one education. But ultimately it’s the student’s responsibility to reach out and take advantage of these opportunities.”
Professors are available during office hours for phone or Skype conversations, and they reply to all emails within one business day. The online forum provides an opportunity to ask questions and clear up confusing issues, especially as others may share your confusion.
“Most courses have a group project and many involve writing-based evaluations,” says Reifschneider. “This is harder on the instructor, but it is worth it in the end. For instance, students may develop a marketing plan for a fictional product. These evaluations are therefore not based on right or wrong answers but look more for critical thinking and insight.”
Morse adds that “Our courses don’t lend themselves to cheating, as most assignments require students to bring in their own experience and apply concepts to their specific careers. However, we do use the submission database Turnitin which ensures that students have not blatantly plagiarized. Further, in the case of quantitative tests, they are to be completed in a certain amount of time and questions are randomly generated.”
The program is designed for engineers looking to move into more managerial roles, such as director of engineering, program manager, or technical director. “If you want to ensure the best in new products and services to your company’s customers, then engineering management is the right program. If you are looking to provide the greatest financial return to shareholders and investors then you should probably go the MBA program,” says Reifschneider.
However, if you are thinking of taking an MBA in your future, Drexel will not allow a course to count towards the two degrees. At Drexel, the M.S. Engineering Management and the MBA cannot be jointly pursued.
However, students can couple their MEM program with a master’s degree in project management; construction management; or civil, electrical, computer, mechanical or chemical engineering. The program will work towards both degrees simultaneously and reduce the total courses you need to take. Currently, only project management, construction management, and electrical engineering are available online.
If you are looking to customize your degree, then Drexel may not be for you. The program has a strong core of 12 courses with only 5 elective options. Drexel is on the quarter-system and requires 48-51 credits, which is equivalent to 32-34 semester credits. The quarter system allows for a broader curriculum, as you complete 16-17 courses instead of 10. However, with this extra room for courses, you would think more elective options would be available. Ultimately, regardless of whether a quarter or semester system is chosen, degree completion times are similar.
These extra credits do mean a steeper price tag for Drexel compared to other interviewed programs. However, there are many organizations that offer discounts, and your employer may be able to offer some tuition remission.
The tuition, however, will not go to waste as “our curriculum meets or exceeds the recommendations of the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM) and is guided by our faculty who have many years of real-life industry experience” says Reifschneider.
Morse adds that “We are always evaluating and improving our courses according to established best practices, such as the Quality Matters rubric. We also design our courses with accessibility in mind, and the Office of Disability Resources is very active in supporting our program. Drexel takes these issues seriously, and we make it our mission to accommodate all students.”
Why wouldn’t you get an MEM from Drexel:
- You want to take more electives
- You want your MEM credits to also count towards a MBA
- The high tuition rate
Dual Degrees
- M.S. Chemical Engineering
- M.S. Civil Engineering
- M.S. Construction Management
- M.S. Electrical Engineering
- M.S. Project Management
- M.S. Property Management
- M.S. Material Science
- M.S. Mechanical Engineering
Courses
- Engineering Management
- EGMT 501 Engineering Management I 3.0
- EGMT 502 Engineering Management II 3.0
- EGMT 504 Communications 3.0
- EGMT 581 Problems in Human Relations 3.0
- Finance & Business Policy
- EGMT 531 Economics for Engineering Management 3.0
- EGMT 535 Financial Management I 3.0
- EGMT 536 Financial Management II 3.0
- EGMT 537 Problems In Engineering Administration 3.0
- Quantitative Analysis
- EGMT 571 Managerial Statistics I 3.0
- EGMT 572 Managerial Statistics II * 3.0
- EGMT 573 Operations Research I 3.0
- EGMT 574 Operations Research II 3.0
- Electives Select five of the following: 15.0
- EGMT 605 Research & Development Management I
- EGMT 515 Infrastructure Systems & Performance Evaluation
- EGMT 516 Infrastructure Project & Program Planning
- EGMT 517 Public Value & Participation in Infrastructure Decision
- EGMT 520 Infrastructure Capstone Project
- EGMT 606 Research & Development Management II
- EGMT 607 Marketing for Engineers
- EGMT 610 Engineering Ethics & Business Practices for Engineers
- EGMT 620 Project Management for Engineers
- EGMT 625 Project Planning and Control
- EGMT 630 Global Engineering Project Management
- EGMT 635 Visual System Mapping
- EGMT 650 Systems Engineering Leadership
- EGMT 652 Engineering Law
- EGMT 660 Sustainable Business Practices for Engineers
- EGMT 685 Systems Engineering Management
- EGMT 680 Special Topics in Engineering Management
Images courtesy of Drexel University.