Is an Engineering Management Degree Right for Me?

The field of engineering is a very technical profession with specific knowledge, which means that managing engineers often requires a slightly different approach than business management. Engineering management degrees prepare graduates for the specialized career path of managing engineers by combining business and engineering concepts.

A degree in engineering management could be right for you if your career goals include working within the engineering department of a company in a management capacity.

Consider a few factors that can help you decide if this degree suits you.

What Is an Engineering Management Degree?

Most engineering departments work within companies independently of some of the other business units in a day-to-day capacity, even though their work is directly related to these different departments. Engineering managers are responsible for bridging any gaps between the engineering teams and the other stakeholders in the business.

An engineering management degree can be obtained at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and it may also be offered online. Most degrees in engineering management include specializations that can help prepare graduates to work in specific engineering disciplines rather than more general engineering work.

Many engineering management roles only require a bachelor's degree, with some requiring work experience as an engineering professional, depending on the position. Employers may prefer a master's degree for higher management positions.

What Does an Engineering Management Major Study?

An engineering manager needs to have a diverse skill set that combines business acumen with engineering knowledge. The degree program for engineering management is essentially a combination of engineering and business, but it does not offer the same deep dive that a business degree or an engineering degree would have alone.

Engineering management majors study a blend of hard and soft skills that will prepare them for working with engineering teams, as well as other business stakeholders. Managers need to have solid communication skills, both written and verbal, to communicate the technical aspects of the work completed by engineering teams to other departments within the organization. Conversely, this role serves as a liaison for the needs of the enterprise to the engineering teams, who might not have the same understanding of business as they do engineering.

Some of the engineering-based programs that an engineering management degree program contains include:

• physics and mathematics
• leadership skills
• management skills
• real-time decision-making skills
• problem-solving skills
• communication skills
• supply chain and logistics management
• product development and design
• project management
• fundamentals of engineering specializations

Why You Should Consider a Degree in Engineering Management

If you are interested in engineering as a career path, you probably have considered the possibility of leadership roles within the industry. An engineering management degree could be the right degree for you if you're looking to move into management positions. Even if you haven't thought about being an engineering leader, there are other reasons you should consider a degree in engineering.

Flexible Career Paths

A degree in engineering management can be specialized to support your career goals. Adding specializations to your education can help you prepare for specific roles instead of more general coursework. An engineering background can also prepare you for management roles outside of engineering departments. The technical knowledge learned can be a benefit to various business units within a company.

Career Advancement

The management skills learned in this degree program can position you for career advancement. Although there are invaluable lessons that can be learned from working in an engineering role, some of the leadership skills needed for career advancement can't be learned in the field. A degree in engineering management can be a great way to learn the soft and technical skills needed to lead confidently.

High Earning Potential

Management positions usually receive higher median salaries than the employees that they oversee. Although pay ranges will vary from company to company, as well as location, pursuing a management degree can help you qualify for jobs that will have higher earning potential than traditional engineering positions.

Alternative To an MBA Program

The Master of Business Administration has often been seen as the standard degree for management positions. As business becomes more technology-based, more managers will need to understand computer science and information systems. For some management positions, a Master of Engineering Management is preferred, even for non-engineering-related roles.

High Demand Career

Engineering managers are in demand, and the future outlook is positive. According to employment data and projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for engineering managers is 4%, higher than the 3% growth for all careers. Multiple engineering concentrations will grow at different rates, so consider this when choosing a specialization.

Learn Diverse Skills

Engineering management programs cover many skills that are specific to engineering, but many skills will apply to other careers. The skills that make management in a technical field possible can transfer to other paths involving technology management and operations management. Although not every skill will be universal, engineering managers have skills different than graduates of business management degree programs.

Job Opportunities for Engineering Management Degree Majors

There are many job opportunities for graduates of both bachelor's and master's in engineering management programs.

To become an engineering manager, you can apply for jobs such as:

• mechanical engineering manager
• software engineering manager
• civil engineering manager
• electrical engineering manager
• director of engineering
• industrial engineering manager
• systems engineering manager

Engineering Management Degree: Questions To Ask Yourself

Management roles, whether related to engineering or not, are often an attractive career choice, but that doesn't mean they're right for everyone.

To help determine if an engineering management degree is right for you, start by asking yourself questions about the degree program and your goals, such as:

• Do I want to serve as a mentor to engineers looking to grow in the field?
• Am I comfortable coordinating between executives, human resources, and upper management to lead a team?
• Do I think I would thrive in a leadership role managing engineering projects?
• Do I have leadership skills that can be expanded or enhanced by taking specialized courses?
• Am I open to pursuing a graduate degree, if needed, to pursue higher positions and career opportunities?