Engineering Management

Graduate Program

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The Engineering Management Graduate Programs at New Mexico Tech are designed for engineers, scientists, technologists, and other professionals with a bachelor’s degree who seek the knowledge and practical skills required to lead project teams and organizations through today’s competitive and fast-changing business environment. Our mission is to provide students with a unique and challenging learning experience that prepares them for future engineering system design and business development opportunities. Our integration of business mindset and engineering principles will help students develop skills and capability to lead their teams and organizations towards a successful outcome.

Master's Degree in Engineering Management

Program Overview

Our engineering management graduate curriculum is one of the most rigorous and innovative in the Southwest and the country. We offer two degree programs to meet the diverse needs: Master of Engineering Management (MEM, professional track) and Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM, research track). Both programs are offered online and in-person to accommodate learning preferences. All our classes are synchronous and delivered via live streaming to allow student participation and interactive learning. Class recordings and flexible office hours are provided to accommodate the competing work schedules of students who are full-time professionals.

A bachelor's degree and necessary math preparation are required to apply. However, we understand that every student has a unique learning journey and career path. GRE Waivers and conditional admission (so necessary math preparation can be completed during the first semester in the program) may be offered upon request. Funding opportunities (via teaching or research assistantships) are available to full-time students on campus. For more information, please see the FAQs section below.

Program Requirements

All graduate degree programs require 30 credit hours to complete, with three degree options available for students depending on their career objectives and interests.

Option 1: Professional Master of Engineering Management (MEM) is a Master’s degree program designed for students interested in developing their management and leadership skills as practitioners in science and engineering fields. The MEM is a 100% course-based degree program that can be completed entirely online via distance education. The program requires at least 27 credit hours of 5000-level courses from the Engineering Management curriculum (including 18 credit hours of program core from EMGT 5001 to EMGT 5006) and up to 3 credit hours of 5000-level courses from outside the program. For more information, see MEM program requirements.

Option 2: Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM) with Independent Study Option is designed for students interested in developing their management, leadership, and analytical research skills. Students will work with a dedicated research advisor on a project of the student’s interest. This MSEM option consists of at least 21 credit hours of 5000-level courses from the Engineering Management curriculum, up to 6 credit hours of 5000-level courses from outside the program, and at least 3 credit hours of independent study (to complete a research project).

Option 3: Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM) with Thesis Option is designed for students interested in conducting independent research, pursuing a higher-level managerial career, and potentially applying for a doctoral program in engineering management, industrial engineering, economics, public policy, or a related field. Students work with a dedicated research advisor on a research topic that leads to a thesis. This MSEM option consists of at least 18 credit hours of 5000-level courses from the Engineering Management curriculum, up to 6 credit hours of 5000-level courses from outside the program, and at least 6 credit hours of thesis research.

Link: EMGT course descriptions

Student Learning Outcomes - Master of Engineering Management (MEM)

Upon completing an MEM degree, students should be able to

apply management and organization design principles to improve operational efficiency in organizations;
apply analytical and simulation models to solve engineering and technology management problems;
identify, analyze, and evaluate complex engineering problems under multiple levels of risk and uncertainty;
identify, analyze, and evaluate new technologies, products, and innovations for commercialization and business development;
plan projects and manage project finance and operations.

Student Learning Outcomes - MS in Engineering Management (MSEM)

Upon completing an MSEM degree, students should be able to

apply management and organization design principles to improve operational efficiency in organizations;
apply analytical and simulation models to solve engineering and technology management problems;
identify, analyze, and evaluate complex engineering problems under multiple levels of risk and uncertainty;
identify, analyze, and evaluate new technologies, products, and innovations for commercialization and business development;
plan projects and manage project finance and operations;
conduct independent research on complex engineering and technology management problems and develop analytical reports.

Graduate Certificate in Technology Leadership

The Graduate Certificate in Technology Leadership provides another option for STEM professionals to update their knowledge and skills in managing projects and leading teams and organizations. The graduate certificate program is an accelerated program designed for professionals who may not be interested in working toward a master’s degree but have identified the need to stay abreast of new approaches to managing and leading organizations in turbulent times. The graduate certificate program requirements are as follows:

Prospective students should hold a bachelor's degree and have completed at least one semester of calculus and one semester of statistics and probability;
Applicants should apply as a degree-seeking student through NMT Graduate Office;
Students must complete 15 credit hours (5 courses) from the Engineering Management curriculum.

Additionally, students enrolled in the graduate certificate program will pay in-state resident tuition (instead of out-of-state tuition) if taking six credit hours or less per semester. The 15 credit hours completed under the graduate certificate program are transferable to one of the engineering management graduate degrees (MEM or MSEM).

FAQs

1. Where can I find more information about Engineering Management courses?

Specific EMGT (Engineering Management) course descriptions can be found here or in the university’s course catalog. Some of our newly developed courses may not be published in the catalog in time. Please email the program chair to learn more about our new courses and initiatives.

2. Do you offer GRE waivers for applying to the program?

Yes. The program may grant GRE waivers to applicants upon request. Applicants meeting one of the following criteria may request a GRE waiver: (a) excellent academic performance during undergraduate study, (b) more than two years of full-time professional experience, (c) extraordinary achievements (e.g., awards), and (d) other special talents. To apply, please email the program chair with your justification.

3. What is the necessary math preparation for applying to the program?

Typically, we expect applicants to have at least one semester of calculus and one semester of statistics & probability to start. Two semesters of calculus and one semester of linear algebra are recommended. Applicants accepted but with insufficient math preparation may be advised to take necessary math courses during the first semester of their study.

4. Is the program (MEM or MSEM) 100% online?

Yes, you can complete all program requirements remotely, including applicable independent study and thesis research. However, students are welcome to visit the NMT campus anytime. If you would like to schedule a visit and have lunch or dinner with the engineering management faculty, please email the program chair in advance. The engineering management program also hosts alumni and current students engaging events across the region regularly, e.g., in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Carlsbad, Eastern Arizona, etc.

5. Do you expect students to learn programming before applying?

No, and yes. Mastering a programming language is not required to apply for the program. However, several of our popular engineering management courses have programming experiences embedded in the course. They are designed in a way that students can learn from the basics. Of course, students who have already learned how to program will find them better prepared for the learning modules with programming exercises. The typical programming languages used in these courses include Matlab, R, Python, and Stata.

6. What is the difference between an MEM and an MBA?

New Mexico Tech’s MEM program differs substantially from a conventional MBA program. These differences may be generally summarized as follows:

NMT's MEM Program	A Generic MBA Program
Academic Orientation: Analytical	Academic Orientation: Conceptual
Focus: Techo-Economic Analysis, Project Management	Focus: Strategic Issues
Target Audience: Engineers, Scientists, Technologists	Target Audience : General Business Managers
Career Path: Project Management, Tech Leadership	Career Path: General/Strategic Management
Total Credit Hours: 30	Total Credit Hours: 30-40
Course Delivery: All Synchronous	Course Delivery: Synchronous + Asynchronous

A key component of the MEM program is the theoretical foundation underlying all courses, enabling students to better understand the assumptions, rationalities, and risks associated with making a management decision. This theoretical exploration is different from the conceptually oriented graduate education found in general MBA programs at conventional business schools. Second, a significant difference between the MEM program and a generic MBA program is that it offers greater depth, rather than breadth, in its curriculum, enabling students to get a solid understanding of the subject matter and its applications. Third, the MEM program focuses on issues relevant to the management of engineering, science, and technology organizations as they innovate and evolve. Finally, many MBA programs, partly because of the heterogeneous backgrounds and interests of their students and faculty, are breadth-oriented, where a conceptual or descriptive approach (compared to the analytical approach found in the MEM program) to a wide variety of business and management situations defines the curriculum.

7. Does your program accept transfer credit hours from another institution?

Yes. In general, we can accept graduate-level coursework completed at another accredited institution assuming that (1) the coursework was completed within the past 5 years, and (2) the coursework satisfies one of the program student learning outcomes listed above. Please note that all credit hours transfer requests need to be reviewed on a course-by-course basis by the engineering management faculty and are subject to final approval from the NMT Graduate Office.

8. Who do I contact if there are more questions?

For further information about our degree & certificate programs and engineering management courses, please contact Program Chair Dr. Haoying Wang, Associate Professor of Management, at haoying.wang@nmt.edu or 575-835-5107.