I’ve been starting to look at colleges and I would like to get into a business field at some point in my life as a career. My grades haven’t been as good as they should be but when I was looking at schools I found it was easier to get into the good engineering schools than the good business schools (like NC State over UNC, VTech over UVA…). Anyway engineering management seems like a cool degree, as I can learn the business stuff and I get to learn engineering which is something I’ve wanted to do, plus I can go to a better school. What schools offer that degree for undergrads?
Kentucky has a combination Engineering/MBA 5 year program.
That seems like a good option. I’d prefer to stay closer to home (CT) but I can stretch
Lehigh has an Integrated Business and Engg. Program…not easy to get into though.
http://www.lehigh.edu/engineering/academics/undergraduate/majors/ibe.html
If “grades haven’t been as good as they should be”, then Lehigh IBE is out. It’s an elite honors program.
Miami of Ohio has undergrad engineering management. They claim very high job placement, but I’m not sure into what. If you want to manage engineers, you first need to be one.
Might want to look into operations management, which is a business major with a hint of engineering. Going to an engineering school or choosing an engineering major just because it’s “better” is a recipe for failure.
I’ll note that a degree in “engineering management” would contain a fairly light dose of actual engineering and would focus more on the business and management side as far as I have seen. For the life of me, I don’t even honestly know what jobs a person with just a bachelor degree in engineering management would be able to get. You certainly aren’t going to manage engineers without experience first, and if that is all your degree is designed to do, then I don’t really know where someone like that would start.
For clarification, I don’t want to “manage engineers” but I like business and have an interest in engineering and would like to do something like sales engineering or something in R&D
Also my grades are a 3.4 GPA and 1940 SAT score. So Miami of Ohio is a little too low
Lots of managers in engineering organizations started as engineers; it is not required to have a business degree to be a manager.
Well, “something in R&D” would almost certainly require an actual engineering degree, and oftentimes even graduate level engineering degree(s). Engineering sales might work with a degree like that though. I am not really sure. My point was simply that an engineering management degree is not really a full engineering degree usually.
It is always worthwhile to remember that schools put more effort into creating programs that attract students than they are at creating programs that feed industry! An undergrad in engineering management might have substantial problems getting a job, much less one with the advancement opportunities of a more conventional business or engineering degree.
Regardless, the intersections between business and engineering are actually pretty thin, and often well filled by people trained in one at the undergrad level and the other at the grad level.
Agree with others. There really aren’t a lot (if any) job options for half-engineer, half-manager majors. You either go full engineer and work your way into management, or go full management (think MBA).
I’m honestly a little surprised any school offers this degree…
Good MBA schools often look for applicants with post-bachelor’s work experience.
Seems like the route to management in an engineering organization is to study engineering at the bachelor’s level, then enter the workforce in engineering. Eventually, work one’s way into management (taking time off work for an MBA may or may not be useful, depending on the situation).
It is unlikely you would be admitted to Virginia Tech engineering with a 3.4 GPA. The average recent admitted students have had 3.9 + GPA’s (most recent common data set year the average GPA was 3.95). Virginia Tech engineering is pretty competitive for admission. Good luck.
Lally at RPI is an excellent school and within reach with your grades. I know a few graduates scattered around the country.
If you are not 100% committed to being an engineer, do not subject yourself to the curriculum with the goal of having a career in something else.