Online Master's Programs in Engineering Management
Updated January 10, 2024 · 5 Min Read
Online Master's Programs in Engineering Management
Online master's programs in engineering management help experienced engineers advance their career. Typical admission requirements include a bachelor's and an academic or professional background in STEM. Coursework emphasizes many topics, including engineering management science, technical project management, and financial studies for engineering.
Graduates with a master's in engineering management may work as biomedical, chemical, or civil engineers. Each career path pays much more than the U.S. median salary.
This page lists some of the best online engineering management programs. Read on to learn about classes, costs, and how to become an engineering manager.
Questions About Engineering Management Online Degrees
Online engineering management programs require learners to combine their technical knowledge with leadership skills. This education trains them for leadership positions.
Some degree-seekers specialize by earning a master's in civil engineering with a specialization in engineering management. This helps students with a limited engineering background launch their career.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects jobs for engineering managers to grow 4% from 2020-2030. This figure falls below the median projected growth rate for all U.S. jobs.
Featured Online Computer Engineering Programs
Find a program that meets your affordability, flexibility, and education needs through an accredited, online school.
Why Get a Degree in Engineering Management?
The typical engineering manager earns more than three times the U.S. median salary. Online master's programs in engineering management prepare learners for this lucrative career path. Degree-seekers also develop leadership skills relevant to nearly all management positions. These skills let graduates offer their services to more employers.
Many online master's programs in engineering management run asynchronously. This format lets enrollees complete academic requirements around work or family. Some programs use a blend of asynchronous and synchronous components. Students must make accommodations to fulfill the latter.
How Much Does an Engineering Management Degree Cost?
Master's degrees cost an average of $66,340, according to EducationData.org. However, cost varies by school and learners' residency status. In general, students attending in-state, public schools pay the most affordable tuition. Learners attending private or out-of-state schools may pay much more.
Online master's programs in engineering management may offer degree-seekers merit-based scholarships or need-based grants. Schools use incoming students' FAFSA results to award the latter. The federal government also requires the FAFSA for its grant and loan programs. Other forms of financial aid include private scholarships.
Additional Online Student Fees
An online master's in engineering management program may include different fees than on-campus programs. These fees cover online content delivery, IT support, and other services. Students should review their prospective schools' fee schedules for the latest information.
Online learners may need to buy a laptop or upgrade their internet connection. Engineering management classes may also require specific software.
Some engineering managers earn a professional certification from the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM). As of April 2022, ASEM members pay $175 for the organization's certified professional in engineering management certification.
How Much Do Engineering Management Majors Make?
Engineering managers earn a median $152,350 annually, according to the BLS. However, many factors affect salary, including employer and geographic location. Engineering managers working for scientific research or management enterprise companies make about $12,000-$35,000 more. Employers paying below the profession's median salary include manufacturing companies and government agencies.
Top-paying states include California, New Mexico, and Colorado. However, metropolitan areas in these states feature a high cost of living. Professionals may achieve a better quality of life in an area offering a lower salary and a more affordable cost of living.
Courses in Engineering Management Programs
Online engineering management programs feature a mix of classes. Core classes may include leadership and team effectiveness, project management for engineers, and tech strategy and innovation management. Electives such as global supply chains and risk analysis let learners align their education with their career goals. Degree-seekers in the capstone use their analytical and leadership skills to propose a solution to a real-world problem.
See below for a sample curriculum in engineering management master's programs. Keep in mind that classes and professors' expectations vary by program. These differences mean each university offers a different learning experience and graduate outcomes. Prospective students can find the right degree by comparing their education and career goals to what each program offers.
Online master's programs in engineering management train students in the latest leadership best practices. This class features coursework in applying leadership principles, supporting team members, and delegating responsibility. Other assignments cover how effective team leaders work with a geographically diverse team, such as at a company with a remote workforce.Leadership and Team Effectiveness
Engineering managers need more than technical expertise to guide a project successfully. They use project management skills to organize materials, train staff, and meet project goals. This class requires degree-seekers to analyze real-life examples from different industries. Assignments help students understand how project managers' choices affect a project's process and outcome.Project Management for Engineers
Engineering managers use different hardware and software as part of their job. This class prepares them for this responsibility with coursework in evaluating technology investment proposals and analyzing a company's knowledge-based assets. Degree-seekers also learn how to design plans making the best use of existing resources. Learning outcomes include advanced analytical skills.Tech Strategy and Innovation Management
How to Become an Engineering Manager
Engineering managers need at least a bachelor's degree and five years of experience. Professionals with a master's may enter the profession sooner. Some employers consider applicants with an MBA or a master's in technology management. A degree and work experience help workers develop in-demand analytical, communication, and organizational skills all engineering managers need.
Engineering managers' day-to-day responsibilities include creating production plans, drafting budgets, and hiring new staff. They also provide feedback to less-senior employees and develop work schedules. The leadership skills they learned in their master's in engineering management program prepare them for these and other tasks.
Online Master's Programs in Engineering Management
The University of North Carolina-Charlotte offers an online master’s in engineering management. Fall, spring, and summer start dates add extra convenience for prospective students, and both thesis and project options are available. The program also features four available concentrations that include energy systems, lean six sigma, logistics and supply chains, and systems analytics. Sample courses include lean six sigma practice and management, quality and manufacturing management, and techniques and intelligent tools for engineering decision support. Online master’s in engineering management students can also choose from elective classes like leadership skills for engineers..
Ohio State University’s online master’s program in engineering management offering is a unique 30-credit master of global engineering leadership. The program features six technical tracks, such as automotive systems engineering, civil and environmental engineering, and welding engineering. Students can also create a custom track aligned with their career interests. Core leadership courses include technology strategy and innovation management, engineering ethics and professionalism, and the business-government relationship. A five-credit integrative project is also required. Learners can finish the online master’s in engineering management program in as little as one year. But most students take two years to finish the program.
The online master’s program in engineering management from Missouri University of Science and Technology requires 30 credits. Required courses include management for engineers and scientists, advanced financial management, and project management. The school also offers many graduate certificates in areas such as lean six sigma, financial engineering, safety engineering, and project engineering and construction management.
The University of South Florida offers a versatile online master’s in engineering management program. The program features six distinct areas of specialization, such as technical management, quality management, and safety management. The curriculum includes a general core, a quantitative core, and a workforce management core. Students take required classes like principles of engineering management, operations research for engineering managers, and work design and productivity engineering. Online master’s in engineering management students also take electives, such as lean six sigma, technology and law, technical entrepreneurship, and reliability engineering.
Auburn University’s online master’s degree in engineering management is offered through the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. The program features four areas of emphasis that include manufacturing, product innovation, occupational safety and ergonomics, and systems. Learners take core courses like engineering economics, organizational leadership, lean operations, and human factors. The online master’s in engineering management does not require GRE test scores.