Are you an engineer who is interested in accelerating your career in management? Do you want to leverage your technical background while leading teams of other engineers? If so, you might consider a Master in Engineering Management (MEM) degree.
An MEM prepares engineers to lead and manage in technical disciplines. Engineering managers learn to leverage business in technical environments, often acting as translators between the technical and business functions in an organization. With a greater understanding of business fundamentals, an engineering manager can comprehend both the technical and managerial sides of a business—eliminating the need for a company to hire a different manager for each area. As technology becomes embedded in all aspects of business, and with the impending influx of AI, an engineer who understands a business is a valuable asset.
As you decide whether an MEM is right for you, consider the following questions:
Who typically gets this degree?
An MEM prepares engineers to grow into managerial engineering positions and lead technical teams. Although most MEM programs require applicants to have an engineering or science degree, some will admit non-engineers with a certain amount of math coursework completed. MEM programs tend to be geared toward early-career or immediately post-undergrad candidates. Some MEM programs are STEM designated, which can provide an additional opportunity for graduates to work in the United States post-graduation through a STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension.
How are programs structured?
- Full-time programs: Full-time programs are immersive and based on campus. Most full-time programs are one-year programs. Some only offer a fall start date, while others begin in both fall and spring. Most programs require three professional or academic recommendations. Test scores are optional or not required for many programs. If you want to submit a test score, some programs only accept the GRE, while others will accept either the GMAT or the GRE.
- Part-time programs: Part-time programs offer an in-person experience with the flexibility of evening and weekend classes for those who want to get their master’s degree while they are working full time. Part-time programs offer flexibility in the duration of studies and generally can be completed in two to three years.
- Online programs: Online programs offer flexibility in the duration of studies as well as the medium. Some of these programs include on-campus residencies along with their mostly online curriculum.
Which schools offer the MEM degree, and what are their deadlines and requirements?
Full-time programs:
- Stanford’s Master of Management Science and Engineering focuses on the interface of engineering, business, and public policy with a range of specialty areas including Technology and Engineering Management. Students are expected to have completed both a linear algebra and a general programming course before matriculation. Most students complete the program in 18 months with a summer internship, but it can be completed in one academic year of full-time studies. Applicants must submit a GRE score. The program has one deadline in December for a fall start date.
- Duke’s Master of Engineering Management looks to combine its students’ technical background with business, product management, and entrepreneurship, with a focus on leadership. The program is generally completed in one year with options to extend studies over a longer period. Roughly 50% of the current class has work experience, with an average of 2.25 years. For the 2024–2025 school year, the GRE is not required for admission. The program offers a fall start date with deadlines in January and March. Earlier deadlines are available for engineering 4+1 students and Duke undergrads.
- Northwestern’s Master of Engineering Management offers a core curriculum in management, quantitative analysis, and behavioral science. The program can be completed in 9–15 months and offers a fall start date with deadlines in December and February. Although work experience is not required, current full-time students have on average 5.3 years of work experience. GMAT/GRE scores are optional but highly recommended for applicants with a GPA lower than 3.2 or those with fewer than three years of work experience.
- Johns Hopkins’ Master of Science in Engineering Management offers Management and Technical Tracks to help students develop both business and engineering skills. Applicants apply to a specific Technical Track during the application process. The program is generally completed in one year. The application deadline is March 15 for a Fall 2025 start.
- MIT’s System Design & Management (SDM) Master’s program is geared toward people who want to be system thinkers and want to lead. It is one of the few programs requiring prior work experience: five years for those with a BS degree, and three years for those with an MS degree. The GMAT or GRE is recommended but not required. The program typically takes between one year and 16 months to complete, and it has two application deadlines: one in December and one in February.
- WashU’s Master of Engineering Management, which is offered through the Sever Institute, aims to blend tech skills with management acumen. The GRE is optional for applicants. The program offers three application deadlines with corresponding start dates in the fall, spring, and summer.
- Tufts’ MS in Engineering Management is built around three pillars: data-driven decision-making, business insight, and emotional intelligence. Applicants must have at least one year of work experience. The program has both fall and spring start dates, with multiple rounds of admissions. The GRE and GMAT are optional.
Part-time programs:
- Stanford’s Master of Management Science and Engineering is available on a part-time basis, either on campus or remotely, to students in the school’s Honors Cooperative Program. Requirements are similar to those of the full-time program.
- Northwestern’s Master of Engineering Management offers a part-time program with requirements similar to the full-time program. However, the part-time program has three start dates and deadlines throughout the year. Students generally complete the program in two to three years.
- UT Austin’s Master’s in Engineering Management is a part-time program designed for engineers and scientists who want to assume a leadership role in a technical company. Students must complete two Engineering Management Projects during each summer of the two-year program, but they have up to five years to complete their degree. The program meets only one weekend per month (on Friday and Saturday) and is available either in person or online. Application deadlines are in fall and spring, and GMAT/GRE waivers are offered.
- MIT’s System Design & Management (SDM) Master’s part-time program is similar to the full-time program. Online and distance students are required to spend one semester on campus.
- WashU’s Master of Engineering Management offers a part-time program with similar requirements to the full-time program—except that it follows a rolling admissions process for each of the three start dates. Part-time classes are offered in the evening, both in person and online.
Online programs:
- Duke’s Master of Engineering Management Online requirements are the same as for the full-time program. There are three one-week residencies within the program.
- Johns Hopkins’ Engineering Management Master’s Program Online prepares engineers to advance their management and executive roles as technical and managerial leaders. Students must select a degree track among a long list of engineering-focused options, and they have five years to complete the degree. Applicants must have two years of work experience, but the GRE is not necessary for admission.
- Stanford’s Master of Management Science and Engineering is available remotely on a full-time basis to students in the school’s Honors Cooperative Program. Requirements are similar to those of the full-time program.
- MIT’s System Design & Management (SDM) Master’s online program is similar to the full-time program. Online and distance students are required to spend one semester on campus.
- Tufts’ MS in Engineering Management is delivered online and offers participants opportunities to connect with faculty and other students weekly as well as attend on-campus in-person immersive experiences if they choose. The program can be completed completely online. Applicants must have at least one year of work experience. The program has both fall and spring start dates, with multiple rounds of admissions. The GRE and GMAT are optional.
Where will you work after graduation?
Upon graduation, MEM students start in a variety of engineering and business roles, including analyst, software engineering, and project and program management, across industries in consulting (e.g., Accenture), technology (e.g., Amazon), and finance (e.g., Bank of America). Schools including Duke offer employment reports for their MEM graduates. Many part-time and online students continue working in their careers with greater upward mobility.
Why would I pursue an MEM instead of an MBA?
An MBA and an MEM are not mutually exclusive. After working as an engineer or data analyst, you may want to broaden your focus and move into managerial and leadership roles. Many graduates of specialized master’s programs work for several years at an accelerated pace—thanks to their additional training—and then become successful applicants at top MBA programs. If you are a current undergraduate, an MEM program would be a better option for you, as most MBA programs require a minimum of three years of work experience.
The Stratus team is knowledgeable about not only MBA degrees, but also other specialty business master’s programs such as MEM. Sign up for a free consultation with one of our admissions counselors today!