Online Engineering Management Degrees
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Individuals interested in an engineering management career must possess strong communication skills in addition to their engineering, science, and math skills. Once students have progressed through their education in this field, they have the opportunity to specialize in one particular area of interest and advance to a management position. Employees must master an area within engineering before they can practice as a manager.
Engineering managers work with groups of individuals in three main areas: science, math, and engineering. They are in charge of planning and coordinating any activities within their place of employment. They must oversee everything so that the business establishment is able to effectively meet their overall goals. The top executives of different firms outline these goals the deal with manufacturing, research, and the development of new products, and then relay them to the engineering manager. This goals must be properly met in order for the business to run smoothly.
Engineering managers also have a great deal of administrative duties that they must attend to on a daily basis. They are in charge of the budget and financial operations of the company, and they also must oversee employees and their work flow. The labs in which engineers work must also be kept up to date with the latest equipment, and the engineering manger must make sure that there is always room in the budget for expenses involving this equipment. Engineering managers spend most of their time divided between the work and their office, and they can expect to work 40 hours or more every week.
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Featured Accredited Schools Offering Online Engineering Management Degrees
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Career Specializations
Engineering managers are generally specialists in one of these three areas:
- Engineer managers must have a strong math and science background.
- Scientist managers must have a strong background in physics, math, chemistry, and laboratory research.
- Mathematician managers must have a very strong background in math and mathematical theories.
Degree Levels Available for Engineering Management
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering: 4 years to complete
- Master's Degree in Engineering Management: 2-3 years to complete
- Master's Degree in Business Administration: 2-3 years to complete
Education & Certification Requirements
Students wishing to pursue a career as an engineering manager must first be employed in the industry for a few years before advancing to a management position. Therefore, students must fulfill all of the educational requirements for this job. First, they must graduate from an accredited university with a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field. This will provide them with a foundation that they may then build upon if they decide to pursue a master's degree in either engineering management or a basic master's in business administration. Both options will give them the management training that is necessary for the position.
After graduation and getting a job, individuals must use their first few years on the job to specialize in an area of their interest such as general engineering, science, or math. This will then become the area that they will oversee whenever they move on to become a manager. It is important that they have mastered their field before applying for management positions. Once students have received the educational background and training that they need for this position, then they will be able to work in this field without further certification. The only requirement is that individuals be specialists in the specific field that they are managing. (BLS)
Salary Information
As with every industry, the salary that a graduate with earn in their field highly depends upon their education, experience, location, and they company they are employed by. With that being said, the average yearly salary for an engineering manager is $77,000-$147,000. (BLS)
Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this industry is moving at an average pace with an expected eight percent growth throughout the decade of 2008-2018; this is due to the state of the economy and the fact that many companies are in the process of consolidating engineering management positions. The job opportunities are expected to be best for individuals graduating with the most communication experience and education. The areas expected to have the most growth are in the environmental and biomedical sectors, and the areas that are projected to be moving at slower pace are electrical and mechanical management. (BLS)
Related Careers
Atmospheric scientists study the earth's atmosphere. They study all physical properties and different factors that play a role in our environment. This knowledge is then applied to predicting the weather and weather patterns. Medical scientists research many different diseases with the goal of finding ways to contain, prevent, and treat them. They must have a strong background in laboratory science and research skills. Mathematicians study the theories behind mathematics. They then use these theories to solve problems with the economy, business, and science. There are different types of mathematicians such as theoretical and applied mathematicians.
