The Graduate Degree Program in Engineering Management at New Mexico Tech is specifically
designed for engineers, scientists, and technologists holding a bachelor’s degree
in their respective fields who seek the knowledge and practical skills required to
lead project teams and organizations through today’s competitive and fast changing
business environment. Our focus is to provide students with a challenging experience
that prepares them to develop and articulate a business case for their next engineering
or technology design and development project and lead their team and organization
to a successful outcome.
Masters in Engineering Management
Program Description
The curriculum is innovative and rigorous, and delivered live via interactive webcasts
both on campus and globally through internet streaming; students are encouraged to
participate during the live course lectures, with accommodations available when work
or personal schedules do not permit in class participation. The graduate program
is designed to build on a student’s bachelor’s degree and technical background, exposing
them to the latest methods, tools, and research to expand their career options. Students
have the ability to select their degree option depending on their personal interest
and career objective, from either a course-based option or course and research option;
see Program Requirements for further details.
Program Outcomes
The Graduate Engineering Management Program is designed for working engineers, scientists
and technologists to attain knowledge, skills, and perspectives to assist them in
managing increasingly large and complex technology-based projects. Successful management
of these types of projects requires both analytical and people-oriented skills, and
the 30-credit hour degree program is designed to instill both in our graduates through
the following:
Ability to apply Management Science-based optimization techniques to problem situations
in the real world. Understanding of the use of these techniques in an entrepreneurial
context.
Ability to understand the structure of complex databases, how to do relatively simple
data mining searches, and how to construct a database that may be useful to many users.
Understand economic and financial modeling and simulation and its application to analysis
and valuation of risky investment projects and portfolios. Understand the application
of statistical techniques to real data encountered in project-oriented engineering
environments.
Understand team building, project structuring, human resources, and implementation
in the context of a technology-based organization.
Ability to analyze markets for new technologies from the perspectives of analysis
of risk and uncertainty, the technology life cycle, and the product life cycle. Understand
specifics of consumer behavior in the context of new technology products.
Understand the components of a successful funding package for an entrepreneurial venture,
both within and outside a technology-based firm. Understand the negotiation process
from game-theory and applied perspectives, and be able to put together the outlines
of a business plan for a new venture.
Demonstrated ability to apply one or more of the tools and techniques learned in MEM
coursework to a complex workplace or policy issue that solves a real engineering or
technology management problem.
Student Outcomes
By the completion of the MEM degree, students are expected to demonstrate the following:
Apply optimization and numerical techniques to engineering and technology management
problems
1.1 Understand mainstream optimization and numerical methods
1.2 Formulate an optimization problem in a given context
1.3 Solve optimization problems numerically
Apply analytical models and simulations to solve engineering and technology management
problems;
2.1 Utilize a minimum of one programming language (e.g. Python, R, or MatLab)
2.2 Formulate and solve problems with computer codes
2.3 Run computer simulations for a management problem
Identify, analyze and evaluate complex engineering problems under multiple levels
of risk and uncertainty
3.1 Understand the basic principles of risk management
3.2 Identify and prioritize the risks in a management system
3.3 Evaluate risks and certainty equivalents and design risk management policy
Apply management and organization design principles to improve operational efficiency
in organizations
4.1 Understand the structure of organizations and the roles of management and leadership
4.2 Diagnose and analyze organization and management problems
4.3 Evaluate and improve efficiency and effectiveness through leadership
Identify, analyze and evaluate new technologies, products, and innovations for commercialization
5.1 Evaluate new product ideas and innovations
5.2 Understand the principles of technology commercialization
5.3 Design and evaluate marketing plans for new products
Conduct independent research on complex engineering and technology management problems
6.1 Collect and analyze data and interpret results on complex problems
6.2 Identify priorities among problems and manage research effort
6.3 Write and present a research report
Program Requirements
The graduate program is 30 credit hours with three degree options available for students depending on their career objectives
and interests, as follows:
Option 1: Professional Masters of Engineering Management (MEM) is a Master’s degree program designed for students interested in developing their
management and leadership skills as practitioners in their respective fields. The
MEM is a 100% course-based degree program consisting of 30 credit hours of 500-level
courses taken from the Engineering Management curriculum.
Option 2: M.S. in Engineering Management (MSEM) with Independent Study option is a graduate degree program designed for students
interested on developing their management, leadership and research skills working
with a faculty committee on a project of the student’s interest. This MSEM option
consists of 21 credit hours of 500-level courses selected from the Engineering Management
curriculum; 6 credit hours of 500-level courses taken from outside the program, and
3 credit hours of independent study.
Option 3: M.S. in Engineering Management (MSEM) with Thesis option is a graduate degree program designed for students interested
in conducting independent research and potentially applying for a doctoral program
in management, industrial engineering, economics, public policy, or other related
field. Students work with a faculty committee on a research project of the student’s
interest that meet the university’s thesis requirements. This MSEM option consists
of 18 credit hours of 500-level courses selected from the Engineering Management curriculum;
6 credit hours of 500-level courses taken from outside the program, and 6 credit hours
of thesis work.
For full course descriptions see the current course catalog.
What's 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 Masters in Engineering Management
Generic MBA Program
Academic Orientation: Analytical
Academic Orientation: Conceptual
Focus: Technical Innovation, Project Management
Focus: Strategic Issues
Target Audience: Engineers and Applied Scientists
Target Audience : General Audience
Career Positioning: Project/Innovation Management
Career Positioning:General/ Strategic Management
Semester hours 30
Semester hours: 36-48
Independent Project Required
Independent Project Not Generally Required
A key component of the MEM graduate program is the theoretical foundation underlying
all courses, enabling students to better understand the assumptions, rules, 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 key difference between the MEM program and a general MBA program is that
it offers greater depth, rather than breadth, in its curriculum, enabling students
to get a firm understanding of the subject matter and its application. Third, the
MEM program is focused on issues associated with the management of engineering, science,
and technology organizations as they innovate and change. This is reflected in the
program’s focused coursework and the independent study requirement.
Finally, many MBA programs, partly because of the heterogeneous backgrounds and interests
of their students and faculty, are breadth oriented, where a conceptual approach to
a wide variety of business and management situations defines the curriculum.
Graduate Certificate in Technology Leadership
The Graduate Certificate in Technology Leadership provides another option for science,
engineering, and technology professionals to update their knowledge and skills in
leading teams and managing projects and organizations. The graduate certificate is
an accelerated program designed for those professionals who may not be interested
in working toward a master’s degree but who recognize the need to stay abreast of
new approaches to managing and leading organizations in turbulent times.
Program Description
The graduate certificate program requirements are as follows:
Students complete 15 credit hours selected from the Engineering Management curriculum,
to include a 3 credit hour capstone Seminar on Technology Leadership.
Prospective students should have completed a calculus-based engineering, science,
or management degree or other quantitative-based social science B.S. degree.
Successful completion of the 15 credit hours are transferable to one of the Engineering
Management degree programs (MEM or MSEM).
Students enrolling in the certificate program will pay in-state resident tuition (as
opposed to out-of-state tuition) if taking six credits or less per semester.
Specific course descriptions for all programs can be found in the university’s course catalog.
For further information on degree & certificate program options and course advisement,
please contact Dr. Frank Reinow, Associate Professor of Management at frank.reinow@nemeanbuhar.com or 575-835-5459.
