Engineering Management Certificate vs Degree: Which Is Right For You?

August 25, 2022

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A group of smiling engineers look at a blueprint.

Engineering management brings a project of any size from start to finish in the proper way. Engineering managers are professionals who use their knowledge and skill set — typically obtained through a master’s degree in engineering management or an engineering certificate — to expertly guide a project, process, or activity through its many stages in a manner that optimizes time, safety, and budget. This allows companies to complete projects successfully and meet efficiency goals. It’s clear that engineering managers make a big difference to an organization’s bottom line.

For engineers looking to advance their careers, a management position is often the next logical step. Because engineering management is such a crucial role, becoming an engineering manager may require and emphasize new skill sets, such as the ability to lead people and projects effectively.

Aspiring engineering managers can develop these key skills and deepen their knowledge of the field by obtaining an advanced degree, such as a Master of Engineering Management (MEM), or an advanced engineering certificate, such as a Master of Engineering Management graduate certificate. While Ohio University offers both, it’s important to determine whether a certificate or a degree is the best fit prior to embarking on the journey.

The Master of Engineering Management (MEM) Degree

The online Master of Engineering Management at Ohio University is different from an engineering certificate. It is an advanced degree program that blends technical content and management coursework to produce highly skilled and knowledgeable graduates. A thoughtful and comprehensive curriculum teaches leadership and management skills as they relate to engineering process improvement, project management, effective communication, and innovative solutions.

This 10-course, 34-credit degree program is fully online. It can be completed in as little as one year and eight months for students who take the normal schedule of two courses per semester. Students should plan to dedicate 10 to 12 hours a week for each class. There are three possible starting points to choose from during the year: spring, summer, and fall.

Core MEM Courses

The core MEM courses are designed to help students integrate the new foundational competencies and skills they need for engineering management success. They can also fortify their knowledge base, which can further strengthen the skills they already possess.

Introductory Courses

Introductory courses in Ohio University’s Master of Engineering Management program include:

EMGT 6000 Foundations in Engineering Management: This course teaches the management skills students need to lead projects and people effectively. Aspects of globalization are discussed, including how culture changes engineering management.
EMGT 6010 Engineering Writing: This course teaches students the critical thinking skills to understand, develop, and produce effective communication as engineering professionals.
EMGT 6100 Statistics for Engineering Management: Students learn to design statistically valid experiments and analyze the results. Topics include basic probability theory, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, regression, and analysis of variance.
EMGT 6200 Information Systems Engineering: This course introduces students to information systems, a primary source of data and technical reference for management. Students learn about the design and implementation of information systems, as well as methods for keeping up to date with the fast-paced IT world.

Core Courses

Core courses in the university’s Master of Engineering Management program include:

EMGT 6110 Principles of Six Sigma: This course introduces students to the Six Sigma problem-solving methodology, including examples of how it is applied in a wide range of organizations. Topics include tools and techniques for product and process improvement and applying basic and advanced statistics to problem-solving.
EMGT 6300 Project Management: Here, students learn how engineering managers get things done. Students learn the five stages of project management — initiation, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing — and examine the 10 knowledge areas of project management.
EMGT 6600 Applied Accounting and Finance for Engineering Management: This course examines the principles and techniques of accounting, finance, performance measures, and decision-making, and how they are applied in an engineering management context.

Elective Courses

In addition, students will select two elective courses in the MEM program from the following options:

EMGT 6120 Quality Systems: This course focuses on the concepts, philosophies, and frameworks of quality management; incorporating quality into strategic planning, leadership, process measurement and management, continuous quality improvement, and ISO 9000.
EMGT 6210 Database Information Systems: This course presents methods and procedures for storing and retrieving manufacturing data in large computer databases. Topics include database design, normalization, and SQL. Students will build a database using MS Access.
EMGT 6220 Data Acquisition and Predictive Analytics: In this course, students learn modern methods of data analysis and predictive analytics. Students gain the knowledge to develop advanced queries and apply statistical methods and machine learning to analyze the data and make predictions in the engineering management context.
EMGT 6400 Engineering Law: Students learn how to shape their legal and business environments to resolve disputes and avoid risk exposure. Topics include intellectual property policy (including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets), torts and liability, contracts, and administrative law.
EMGT 6500 Lean Thinking Methods: Through group discussions and project practice, this course teaches students about the tools for applying lean thinking, lean principles, and lean methods in manufacturing and service systems.
EMGT 6700 Engineering Leadership: Students explore, develop, and reinforce their leadership skills through selected reading, supplemental videos, interviews of experienced leaders, reflections, discussions, and case studies.

The engineering management degree program requires students to complete a capstone project course (EMGT 6949). In this culminating experience, a student identifies a real-world problem in their workplace or similar settings. Then they design a solution, implement that solution, and document the results. These activities bring together all the knowledge, skills, and industry-standard practices taught in the engineering management program and emphasize learning by doing.

MEM Program Requirements

Requirements differ from an engineering certificate versus a degree. To be accepted into the online Master of Engineering Management degree program, prospective students must have:

A bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, or physical sciences from an accredited four-year program. (Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in business or technology may also be eligible with a combination of GRE scores and sufficient calculus work; applicants with a bachelor’s degree in other fields may also be eligible with proof of sufficient calculus work, GRE scores, and technical work experience.)
A 3.0 or higher GPA (a GPA of 2.75 is acceptable with a GRE quantitative reasoning score of 155 or higher).
Two letters of recommendation, one preferably from the applicant’s current supervisor and another from an individual who has supervised, mentored, or taught the applicant.

Those who don’t meet these benchmarks can contact Ohio University and request to discuss background and eligibility to see if they may still qualify for admission.

To graduate from the degree program, students must complete the 10 courses and 34 credits with a grade of “C” or above and earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The Master of Engineering Graduate Certificate

The online Master of Engineering Management Graduate Certificate at Ohio University is designed to strengthen knowledge and skills in specialized areas of engineering. A graduate engineering certificate is a focused program to gain in-demand expertise. It introduces students to the key elements of engineering management as well as to business-related functions such as research and development, planning and managing production activity, ethics, and the effects of globalization on technical processes and markets.

Composed of three courses from the master’s degree program, the certificate is an affordable way to learn new skills and quickly earn a recognized industry credential. The certificate is valuable on its own or can serve as a stepping-stone to the master’s degree. (Completing the certificate fulfills three of the 10 courses found in the full Master of Engineering Management degree program.)

Students may be able to complete the program in as few as two or three semesters by taking one or two courses a semester. Like the degree program, students may start classes in the spring, summer, or fall.

Students who are admitted to an engineering certificate program may later seek admission to the degree program. They may also pursue one or both of the program’s other four certificates — Engineering Leadership, Certified Lean Six Sigma, Engineering Analytics, and Six Sigma Black Belt — which also “stack” toward the degree.

In effect, this means students need not choose between the engineering certificate versus the degree. If they wish to earn the full degree later, their completed certificate will count toward it.

Core Certificate Courses

Courses in the online Master of Engineering Management Graduate Certificate program are drawn from the master’s degree program. The engineering certificate includes courses such as:

EMGT 6000 Foundations in Engineering Management
EMGT 6300 Project Management
EMGT 6400 Engineering Law

Unlike the engineering management degree, the engineering management certificate program does not have a capstone project. However, the curriculum does offer smaller projects that provide students opportunities to apply the knowledge they have learned.

Certificate Program Requirements

Admission requirements for the engineering management certificate program are the same as those for the degree program, except that the eight semester credit hours in calculus or post-calculus math are not required.

To complete the certificate program, students must complete their three courses with a grade of “C” or better and earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students have three years to complete the certificate from the time they are admitted to the program.

Career Opportunities in Engineering Management

Supplementing your engineering skills with management expertise can greatly enhance your opportunities for advancement, within your current company and with other employers.

Architectural and engineering manager positions are projected to grow 4% from 2020 to 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Most of the openings within the field are projected to stem from positions left open by workers who are retiring or transferring to different occupations.

Growth in this field will likely depend on the growth of the various industries in which engineering managers are employed. For instance, it’s projected that civil engineering services will continue to be in demand because of the potential issues associated with the country’s aging infrastructure. As the country places more emphasis on renewable energy, it’s projected there may also be a particular need for mechanical and electrical engineering managers.

The competition for engineering management jobs is expected to be high in the coming years because employers find these roles so desirable. The job seekers who are best positioned to land those positions will be engineering managers who have the most education and work experience.

Engineering Management Degree vs. Certificate

The online Master of Engineering Management degree and certificate programs have a lot in common. Both teach valuable skills you can use in your current job today. Both are taught by experienced faculty and are online, offering you the flexibility to complete your coursework while having time for work and family.

In the final analysis, the decision of which credential to choose depends on your own career goals, interests, and schedule.

The Master of Engineering Management degree program provides a comprehensive education. It encompasses all aspects of engineering management yet can be completed in fewer than two years. If you are serious about taking your engineering management career as far as it can go, the master’s program may be for you.

On the other hand, if you are looking to boost your skills but are not yet ready or interested in pursuing a full master’s degree, the graduate certificate program may be a good choice. Its focused curriculum and shorter completion time make it a convenient and affordable way to quickly earn a valuable credential. Plus, certificate courses and credits can be applied toward earning the full Master of Engineering Management degree later.

Regardless of whether you choose a certificate versus a degree, you will take a step forward in building your career as a trusted leader in engineering. This also means you’ll take an important step toward helping an organization move to the forefront of engineering efficiency. This can ultimately make earning a certificate or a degree a satisfying decision that pays dividends for years to come.

Take Your Engineering Career to the Next Level

Once you’ve made up your mind to pursue a career in engineering management, you’ve set a course for the opportunity and future advancement. The best part is you can choose how far and how fast you want to go. Engineering management certificate or engineering management degree? As it turns out, you can have both if you wish.

To learn more about the online Master of Engineering Management program at Ohio University, visit the program page. Also, check out the recommended reading list below.