5 October, 2020

Engineering professionals who wish to bolster their expertise with an advanced degree can learn to skillfully lead engineering teams in technology companies, scientific institutions, manufacturing concerns, and other leading-edge technical environments.

If you are interested in earning an engineering management MBA, you have a few options. Most professionals must decide between an advanced engineering degree vs a business degree.

When mapping out a higher education plan to improve your professional growth opportunities, consider how you might attain your overarching engineering career goals with an MBA versus an M.S. in Engineering Management.

Key Differences: MBA vs M.S. in Engineering Management

MBA for Engineering Management:

  • General business curriculum
  • No engineering background required
  • Usually no specific courses in engineering management offered

M.S. in Engineering Management:

  • Engineering curriculum with management focus
  • STEM background preferred
  • Specifically situates graduates for growth in engineering-related roles

Focus on Business Results with an MBA in Engineering Management

A Master of Business Administration is appropriate for those interested in managing teams in business environments that may or may not involve engineering. Applicants for the MBA do not need to have an engineering background; in fact, they normally seek to explore business concepts outside of engineering fields.

Person in suit researching difference between Masters in Engineering Management vs. `MBA
Professionals planning to focus on best practices for optimizing an organization’s financial performance and return on investment (ROI) or who plan to start a business of their own are well suited to pursue an MBA degree.

That’s because the MBA is usually structured as a general business degree with a series of courses focused on management in a particular area of business, such as supply chain management, marketing or finance. The primary focus of the MBA is to teach students how to make informed and ROI-savvy business decisions that improve an organization’s efficiency and effectiveness in any business environment.

Traditionally, it can take longer and cost more to earn an MBA versus an M.S. in Engineering Management. However, with a recent surge of online programs, obtaining a higher education degree is increasingly convenient for working professionals.

An M.S. in Engineering Management Prepares STEM Leaders

An M.S. in Engineering Management (MSEM) is ideal for those with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) backgrounds who seek a technical focus and hope to move into supervisory or executive roles in technical or engineering enterprises.

Acceptance into an MSEM program is not commonly dependent on work experience, but rather on a bachelor’s degree in a STEM or STEM-related field, such as a physical science or information technology. Experienced engineers and business professionals, as well as recent graduates of bachelor’s degree programs looking to gain industry-specific leadership skills, can benefit from earning an MSEM.

MSEM programs provide a specialized alternative to traditional business programs: they focus specifically on management and organizational leadership of technical or engineering projects. Course content typically examines ways in which finance, staff, and technical requirements connect to form a cohesive, efficient organization that produces high-quality output.

Education technology continually revolutionizes the ability for working professionals to complete a master’s degree. The George Washington University Online Master of Science in Engineering Management is specifically designed to allow learners to complete required coursework without disrupting a full-time work schedule, permitting students to put their newly learned skills directly into practice in their current workplace.

Learn more about the George Washington University’s online graduate degree program in engineering management and watch our Professional Development Webinar Series.

About GW’s Online Master’s Degrees in Engineering

George Washington University offers a comprehensive selection of online master’s in engineering programs. The programs are designed with the same curriculum as the on-campus degrees and with a focus on positioning graduates for career advancement. GW offers the following programs in a 100% online format:

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