So, you’re considering becoming an engineer? In doing so, you are taking the initial step to make a difference in the world.
Everyone wants to make a lasting impact, but not all can. As an engineer, you will be at the forefront of innovating and shaping society and its future.
Engineers push the boundaries and solve technical issues that enable medicine, manufacturing, construction, and various industries to reach unprecedented heights.
That’s cool, but you might wonder how to get into engineering management. Is a master’s in engineering management worth it if taken through an online academic institution such as the University of Ottawa?
Surprisingly, it is. According to a CNN report, roughly 61% of business executives believe online education can deliver similar or even better quality learning than traditional education.
An online engineering management program allows for more focused learning.
This is needed because an engineering degree requires more math and physics than the majority of students desire to take. These subjects are the foundation of such a degree and what makes it more difficult than others.
The core of engineering is problem-solving in the real world. An engineer must be equipped with all the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions efficiently about relevant topics.
You may do precisely that with online classes. Online courses have the advantage of giving you total control over your education.
In-person, the situation is quite different. You have no control over your learning when you’re in a classroom.
You know that fleeting moment when you are seated in class, and your thoughts wander? Your professor made a crucial remark, but you missed it.
Have you ever wished you could go back in time and hear the lecture again? Online learning makes it possible.
Since you choose when you want to learn, you can comprehend complex concepts and breeze through the course material.
It also makes it easier for you to concentrate and contribute thoughts and queries, increasing your confidence to learn even more.
Moreover, studying engineering management online allows for more frequent assessments. Like it or not, constant evaluation can enhance student preparation and performance.
Through this process, students can set aside enough time to comprehend particular topics since they know what they must learn to fulfill the course’s learning objectives.
Online engineering management students are often tested right after completing the module to evaluate where they are in the learning process.
This is especially important for a student taking up an engineering management course since instructors need to find ways to enhance learning continuously.
In an engineering management course, students must learn specific skills, such as business and management strategies, procedures, and issues particular to the discipline to become more effective and stay competitive in this cutthroat industry.
Speaking of skills, here are the expertise and competencies you will learn and improve from studying an online engineering management program.
Problem-solving skills
The foundation of most disciplines is problem-solving, and engineering does this by putting a strong emphasis on science and technology.
Engineering problem-solving might entail creating innovations that improve our quality of life, boosting productivity by freeing up our time.
Moreover, it can involve future-proofing solutions such as designing sturdy, long-lasting structures and improving road designs to accommodate present-day and foreseeable commuter demands.
Either way, when you study engineering management, you will be exposed to issues related to machine learning and artificial intelligence that prompt you to think quickly and critically on your feet.
Whether it’s issues related to how everyone works together, a problem that has come up with the code, or a project potentially delivered past the due date, you will continuously deal with these issues and determine the best possible solution.
You’ll likely work on assignments throughout the semester leading to a final capstone project.
These activities could be a single project or a series of projects, but they almost always require extensive research.
You may be asked to display your findings in a written format or record an oral presentation, which you can also add to your portfolio.
Sounds daunting? Well, there is no getting around the fact that engineering is challenging, but facing these issues head-on when studying engineering management will prepare you for any problem.
The problems you face in the real world may even be more challenging than the ones you faced while studying.
However, you will have acquired or enhanced the skills and confidence required to deal with any problem.
You will know precisely how to approach problems and devise solutions. Regardless of how insurmountable the problem seems, you will find a way. Your engineering mindset will allow you to view every issue as a challenge and an opportunity to grow.
Ability to work as a team
The importance of teamwork is too hard to ignore, regardless of the industry. When everyone is on the same page, individuals can work as a cohesive unit to achieve organizational goals more quickly and efficiently.
How does studying engineering management foster teamwork? Well, depending on your chosen academic institution, you will likely participate in multiple group work activities.
Like an in-person education, an online engineering management course will require you to communicate virtually with classmates.
The frequency can differ based on the course subject and the instructor. Some engineering management programs provide classes that mix more individual and group work.
You can engage in more active learning through collaborative activities by exchanging knowledge and getting support from your community.
Online education can make you feel isolated, whether you like it or not. After all, you are missing out on the routine conversations that come with learning on campus.
However, group work exercises can help you feel more engaged in learning and foster teamwork with your classmates.
Further, working with your classmates can also help you gain a new perspective on different situations.
When you are part of a team, you experience different situations that prompt you to observe how the work is done.
In other words, studying engineering management online opens different doors and exposes you to innovative ideas while learning new perspectives from your classmates.
Creative skills
Your creativity is another skill that will benefit from studying engineering management.
Engineers must continuously enhance ideas to continue advancing in this constantly changing world.
Creativity can significantly improve an engineer’s ability to develop new ideas and improve old ones.
As mentioned above, engineering management classes are full of problem-solving tasks and activities.
Usually, these problem-solving tasks are foreign to students, even those taking advanced degrees online.
Students will discover innovative ways to approach these tasks and uncover solutions that would otherwise be unavailable.
When students nurture their creative skills at school, they can become skilled engineers who successfully develop solutions to problems while driving economic and societal triumphs.
Leadership skills
Expect your leadership skills to be polished by studying engineering management online.
This is because an engineering management course will allow you to evaluate your leadership attributes and decision-making styles.
Through this process, you can enhance essential influencing, motivation, and communication skills while planning for future personal success and growth in managing project and technical teams.
In some courses, you will be asked to evaluate your default decision-making style using a data-driven tool.
This allows you to determine the quality of your past decisions and help you effectively take action to improve your analytical skills.
Furthermore, you will be taking multiple approaches to leadership development. You will look into the future and create personalized development goals to reduce risks and uncover opportunities within a specific domain.
What does an engineering management curriculum look like?
Now that we’ve established the skills you will enhance by studying engineering management, let’s find out what an online curriculum looks like.
An online engineering management program will differ depending on the academic institution. But usually, top universities provide at least four core courses in addition to six electives.
Below are the courses you will most likely take while working toward an engineering management degree online.
Introduction to Engineering Management
This course teaches the organizational structure of engineering firms, the significance of accounting and finance, interpersonal abilities, making decisions in the face of ambiguity, and the ethical, technological, legal, and global contexts that influence management choices.
Principles of Accounting and Finance for Engineers
A comprehensive view of managerial accounting is presented in this course, along with different costing methods, cost behavior patterns, cost structures, budgeting systems, and variances.
It uses accounting to evaluate product, managerial, and divisional performance to better comprehend what accounting can accomplish for decision-makers.
The strategic significance of accounting system alignment with business goals and technology is emphasized. Along with risk and return rates, it also discusses financial management and the financial climate.
Principles of Management and Leadership for Engineers
In this course, you will discover the distinction between management and leadership. It will improve your comprehension of and ability to work with participant preferences for handling interpersonal and team-based problems and procedures in the workplace.
Additionally, it discusses diversity and ethics in a team setting. Effective business communications and presentation abilities for top-notch business talks are also covered.
Project Management
This course walks you through the management project life cycle, from identification, design, and planning to realization and close-out. It includes project management practices based on the most stringent engineering standards.
Portfolio management, risk management, identification of needs and solutions, quality management, communication management, and design methodologies are some of the areas of emphasis.
Tips to succeed in studying engineering management
Before we close this article, here are some tips for how to succeed in studying engineering management. Keep scrolling to find out.
Find the right online university
Selecting the correct engineering university is crucial to prepare for a career in engineering management.
But where should you look for the best engineering school? There are no hard and fast rules for choosing the best university, but a top engineering academic institution will prioritize excellent teaching and frequently conduct crucial engineering research.
It’s useful to consider accreditation. Does the academic institution adhere to Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology’s (ABET) basic requirements for educational attainment?
Any program in engineering management must be ABET-accredited. An engineering management online program accredited by ABET has been examined by engineers and industry leaders for high-quality instruction.
Evaluate educational structure
You should also carefully review the academic structure of the university you’ve chosen.
Numerous online engineering management programs provide you with a suggested weekly class schedule.
The more structure an engineering university puts in place, the better it is for you. You must also consider the location and time requirements for live online discussions.
Also, check out how frequently your instructor will provide feedback. This is crucial as you must solicit critical input when pursuing your engineering management degree online.
Doing so allows you to assess your development and pinpoint possible areas for development.
Additionally, it can enhance knowledge retention, encourage self-reflection, and facilitate productive dialogue between teachers and other online students.
Get your admission requirements ready
Once you have decided on the academic institution where you’ll pursue your engineering management degree, preparation for the admissions process comes next.
Similar to a traditional university, there are several requirements you must fulfill to be accepted into the academic program of your choice.
Requirements to enroll in an engineering management program online will always differ depending on the institution you choose to attend.
But at the most basic level, you may need to prepare your resume, official transcripts of records from all academic institutions attended, and a letter of recommendation.
Get your engineering management degree today
Studying engineering management offers a wide range of opportunities to improve your overall skill set. You can work toward earning your engineering management degree by signing up today.
