Engineering Management MS | College of Engineering

An engineering management master’s degree that combines your engineering knowledge with business insights to successfully manage engineering or technology initiatives.

Overview for Engineering Management MS

The master of science in engineering management uses a blend of industrial and systems engineering courses, and courses from Saunders College of Business, to focus on management of engineering and technological business challenges. It combines technological expertise with managerial skills.

RIT’s Engineering Management Master’s Degree

Engineering management is concerned with understanding the technology involved in an engineering project and the management process through which the technology is applied. This engineering management master’s degree deals with the dual role of the engineering manager, both as a technologist and a manager. The program provides a background in areas commonly needed in this role, such as organizational behavior, finance, and accounting, decision making under uncertainty, and the engineering product development value chain. Students may choose one of three focus areas: supply chain, production systems, or sustainability.

A Collaborative Master’s of Management for Engineers

The engineering management master’s degree is a blend of courses from the department of industrial and systems engineering in RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering and Saunders College of Business. This creates a hybrid curriculum combining technological expertise with managerial skills.

Students in the engineering management program often take advantage of cooperative education opportunities. Cooperative education is optional but strongly encouraged for graduate students in the engineering management master’s program. Co-op is hands-on, paid career experience where you can experience in industry before you graduate. Students’ co-op experiences enrich classroom discussions, and set our students apart in the job market.

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Careers and Experiential Learning

Cooperative Education and Internships

What makes an RIT education exceptional? It’s the opportunity to complete relevant, hands-on engineering co-ops and internships with top companies in every single industry. At the graduate level, and paired with an advanced degree, cooperative education and internships give you the unparalleled credentials that truly set you apart. Learn more about graduate co-op and how it provides you with the career experience employers look for in their next top hires.

Cooperative education is strongly encouraged for graduate students in the engineering management master’s program.

Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Engineering Management MS

Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements

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Engineering Management, MS degree, typical course sequence

Course		Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
ISEE-750	Systems and Project Management This course ensures progress toward objectives, proper deployment and conservation of human and financial resources, and achievement of cost and schedule targets. The focus of the course is on the utilization of a diverse set of project management methods and tools. Topics include strategic project management, project and organization learning, chartering, adaptive project management methodologies, structuring of performance measures and metrics, technical teams and project management, risk management, and process control. Course delivery consists of lectures, speakers, case studies, and experience sharing, and reinforces collaborative project-based learning and continuous improvement. (Prerequisites: ISEE-350 or equivalent course or students in ISEE-MS, ENGMGT-MS, PRODDEV-MS, MFLEAD-MS, or MIE-PHD programs or BIME-BS students with a BIMEISEE-U subplan.) Lecture 3 (Fall).	3
ISEE-752	Decision Analysis This course presents the primary concepts of decision analysis. Topics important to the practical assessment of probability and preference information needed to implement decision analysis are considered. Decision models represented by a sequence of interrelated decisions, stochastic processes, and multiple criteria are also addressed. We cover EMV and Non-EMV decision-making concepts. Finally, the organizational use of decision analysis and its application in real-world case studies is presented. (Srerequisites: ISEE-325 or MATH-251 or MATH-252 or STAT-205 or MCEE-205 or equivalent course or students in ISEE-MS, ENGMGT-ME, or MIE-PHD programs.) Lecture 3 (Spring).	3
ISEE-771	Engineering of Systems I The engineering of a system is focused on the identification of value and the value chain, requirements management and engineering, understanding the limitations of current systems, the development of the overall concept, and continually improving the robustness of the defined solution. EOS I & II is a 2-semester course sequence focused on the creation of systems that generate value for both the customer and the enterprise. Through systematic analysis and synthesis methods, novel solutions to problems are proposed and selected. This first course in the sequence focuses on the definition of the system requirements by systematic analysis of the existing problems, issues and solutions, to create an improved vision for a new system. Based on this new vision, new high-level solutions will be identified and selected for (hypothetical) further development. The focus is to learn systems engineering through a focus on an actual artifact (This course is restricted to students in ISEE-MS, PRODDEV-MS, MFLEAD-MS, ENGMGT-MS, MIE-PHD, BIME-BS students with a BIMEISEE-U subplan, ISEE-BS students with a ISEEMS-U or ISEEEGMT-U subplan, or those with 5th year standing in ISEE-BS or ISEEDU-BS.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).	3
ISEE-795	Graduate Seminar* This class introduces students to state of the art research and research methods in industrial and systems engineering. Presentations include off campus speakers and students/faculty presentations on current research under way in the department. (This course is restricted to students in ISEE-MS, ENGMGT-MS, BIME-BS students with a BIMEISEE-U subplan, or ISEE-BS students with a ISEEMS-U or ISEEEGMT-U subplan.) Seminar 1 (Fall, Spring).	0
MGMT-740	Leading Teams in Organizations This course examines why people behave as they do in organizations and what managers can do to improve organizational performance by influencing people's behavior. Students will learn a number of frameworks for diagnosing and dealing with managerial challenges dynamics at the individual, group and organizational level. Topics include leadership, motivation, team building, conflict, organizational change, cultures, decision making, and ethical leadership. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).	3
	Focus Area Electives	6
Second Year
ISEE-773	Engineering Value Creation This course focuses on the role of engineering in value creation. In particular, the effective integration of engineering activities for the transformation of novel ideas and technologies into marketable products and services. Topics include value engineering and value analysis, the engineering value chain, the innovation process, engineering sustainable value, and the technology development and management process. (This course is restricted to students in ISEE-MS, ENGMGT-MS, MIE-PHD, BIME-BS students with a BIMEISEE-U subplan, ISEE-BS students with a ISEEMS-U or ISEEEGMT-U subplan, or those with 5th year standing in ISEE-BS or ISEEDU-BS.) Lecture 3 (Fall).	3
	KGCOE or SCB Elective	3
Choose one of the following:		6
ISEE-788	Project with Paper, plus one KGCOE or SCB Elective This course is used by students as a capstone experience. The student must demonstrate an acquired competence in a topic that is chosen in conference with a faculty advisor. The work may involve a research and/or design project with demonstration of acquired knowledge. A written paper and an oral presentation of the work are required. Project 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
ISEE-790	Thesis In conference with a faculty adviser, an independent engineering project or research problem is selected. The work may be of a theoretical and/or computational nature. A state-of-the-art literature search in the area is normally expected. A formal written thesis and an oral defense with a faculty thesis committee are required. Submission of bound copies of the thesis to the library and to the department and preparation of a written paper in a short format suitable for submission for publication in a refereed journal are also required. Approval of department head and faculty adviser needed to enroll. (Enrollment in this course requires permission from the department offering the course.) Thesis (Fall, Spring, Summer).
ISEE-792	Engineering Capstone, plus one KGCOE or SCB Elective Students must investigate a discipline-related topic in industrial and systems engineering. The general intent of the engineering capstone is to demonstrate the students' knowledge of the integrative aspects of a particular area. The capstone should draw upon skills and knowledge acquired in the program. (This course is restricted to students in ISEE-MS, ENGMGT-MS, PRODDEV-MS, MFLEAD-MS, BIME-BS students with a BIMEISEE-U subplan, or ISEE-BS students with a ISEEMS-U or ISEEEGMT-U subplan.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
Total Semester Credit Hours		30

* Students in Thesis Option take ISEE-795 (Graduate Seminar) twice.

Focus Areas

Supply Chain

ISEE-703	Supply Chain Management Supply chain management is unique in that it is one of the oldest business activities and yet has been recently discovered as a potentially powerful source of competitive advantage. Supply chain system activities, such as planning production levels, forecasting demand, managing inventory, warehousing, transportation, and locating facilities have been performed since the start of commercial activity. It is difficult to visualize any product that could reach a customer without a consciously designed supply chain. Yet it is only recently that many firms have started focusing on supply chain management. There is a realization that no company can do any better than its supply chain and logistics systems. This becomes even more important given that product life cycles are shrinking and competition is intense. Logistics and supply chain management today represents a great challenge as well as a tremendous opportunity for most firms. (Prerequisites: ISEE-420 or equivalent course or degree-seeking graduate students or BIME-BS students with a BIMEISEE-U subplan.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
ISEE-704	Logistics This course discusses several strategic, tactical, and operational concepts used in improving the distribution of goods and services by companies worldwide. The course emphasis is on understanding when and how these concepts are applied, as well as on using mathematical programming and optimization methods for their adequate implementation. (Prerequisites: ISEE-420 or ISEE-601 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
ISEE-720	Production Control This course covers the process and the analysis methods used to produce goods and services to support of the production and operations management functions. Topics include: forecasting, inventory policies and models, job shop scheduling, aggregate production planning, and ERP systems. Students will understand the importance of production control and its relationship to other functions within the organization, and the role of mathematical optimization to support production planning. The course emphasizes how a production process can be characterized by a process that requires answering a sequence of decision-making problems. The course will show how the production functions integrate with each other and how their coordination can be automated through mathematical programming. Identifying opportunities for improvement through optimization is also highlighted. (Prerequisites: ISEE-601 or (ISEE-301 and (STAT-251 or MATH-251)) or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
ISEE-723	Global Facilities Planning Facilities planning determines how an activity's tangible fixed assets best support achieving the activity's objective. This course will provide knowledge of the principles and practices of facility layout, material handling, storage and warehousing, and facility location for manufacturing and support facilities. Tools for sizing the resources needed, planning, design, evaluation, selection, and implementation will be covered. The focus of the course will cover both management and design aspects, with the focus being more heavily on the management aspects. (This course is available to RIT degree-seeking graduate students.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
ISEE-761	Forecasting Methods Forecasting Methods will provide the engineering student with the skills necessary to perform data driven time series analysis from an engineering applications perspective. A process driven approach will be used covering the entire forecasting process from data preparation and pre-processing techniques to model selection, performance evaluation, and monitoring. A special emphasis will be placed on performance evaluation and improvement of models used to predict RIT energy demand and peak load days. The course will cover topics in data cleansing, data transformation, trend and seasonality analysis, smoothing techniques, regression analysis for forecasting, seasonal and non-seasonal ARIMA models, dynamic regression, neural networks and advanced modeling techniques for multivariate time series analysis. Lectures and assignments will focus on predicting RIT energy demand considering circuits with 2MW solar fields or similar data sets. (Prerequisites: ISEE-561 or ISEE-661 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Biannual).

Production Systems

ISEE-626	Lean System Design In today’s competitive business environment, organizations strive to deliver high-quality products and services efficiently while continuously improving their processes. This course explores the principles and methodologies of lean manufacturing and service systems design, providing students with the knowledge and skills to improve operational systems across various industries. Topics covered include value stream mapping, just-in-time production, pull systems, continuous improvement, standardization, and visual management. The course also explores strategies for aligning operational systems with customer needs and market demands, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, to drive change and innovation. (This course is restricted to students in ISEE-MS, ENGMGT-MS, MIE-PHD, BIME-BS students with a BIMEISEE-U subplan, ISEE-BS students with a ISEEMS-U or ISEEEGMT-U subplan, or those with 5th year standing in ISEE-BS or ISEEDU-BS.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
ISEE-660	Applied Statistical Quality Control An applied approach to statistical quality control utilizing theoretical tools acquired in other math and statistics courses. Heavy emphasis on understanding and applying statistical analysis methods in real-world quality control situations in engineering. Topics include process capability analysis, acceptance sampling, hypothesis testing and control charts. Contemporary topics such as six-sigma are included within the context of the course. Note: Students required to take ISEE-560 for credit may not take ISEE-660 for credit. (This course is restricted to students in ISEE-MS, ENGMGT-MS, STATQL-ACT, MIE-PHD, or BIME-BS students with a BIMEISEE-U subplan that have completed STAT-205 or MATH-251 or ISEE-325 or MCEE-205 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
ISEE-682	Lean Six Sigma Fundamentals This course presents the philosophy and methods that enable participants to develop quality strategies and drive process improvements. The fundamental elements of Lean Six Sigma are covered along with many problem solving and statistical tools that are valuable in driving process improvements in a broad range of business environments and industries. Successful completion of this course is accompanied by “yellow belt” certification and provides a solid foundation for those who also wish to pursue a “green belt.” (Green belt certification requires completion of an approved project which is beyond the scope of this course). (This course is restricted to degree-seeking graduate students and dual degree BS/MS or BS/ME students in KGCOE.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
ISEE-728	Production Systems Management The focus of this course is Lean. Students who take this course should be interested in building on their basic knowledge of (lean) contemporary production systems and developing the breadth and depth of their understanding, with a focus on the managerial, quantitative, and systems aspects. It will also address value streams beyond manufacturing - specifically logistics. This course should enable the student to practice the application of lean concepts in the context of systems design at the enterprise level. (Prerequisites: ISEE-420 or ISEE-626 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

Sustainability

ISEE-785

Fundamentals of Sustainable Engineering

This is a high level survey course that reviews the product lifecycle from various perspectives and highlights the leverage over material, process, and environmental impacts available at the design phase. Tools and strategies for reducing the environmental impacts associated with the sourcing, manufacture, use, and retirement of products will be reviewed and evaluated. (This course is restricted to students in ISEE-MS, ENGMGT-MS, MECE-MS, MECE-ME, SUSPRD-MN, MIE-PHD, BIME-BS with a BIMEISEE-U subplan, ISEE-BS with a ISEEMS-U or ISEEEGMT-U subplan, or those with at least 4th year standing in ISEE-BS or ISEEDU-BS.) Lecture 3 (Fall).

ISEE-786

Lifecycle Assessment

This course introduces students to the challenges posed when trying to determine the total lifecycle impacts associated with a product or a process design. Various costing models and their inherent assumptions will be reviewed and critiqued. The inability of traditional costing models to account for important environmental and social externalities will be highlighted. The Lifecycle Assessment approach for quantifying environmental and social externalities will be reviewed and specific LCA techniques (Streamlined Lifecycle Assessment, SimaPro) will be covered. (This course is restricted to students in ISEE-MS, SUSTAIN-MS, ENGMGT-ME, MECE-MS, MECE-ME, SUSPRD-MN, MIE-PHD or those with at least 4th year standing in ISEE-BS or ISEEDU-BS.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

Admissions and Financial Aid

This program is available on-campus only.

Offered	Admit Term(s)	Application Deadline	STEM Designated
Full‑time	Fall or Spring	Rolling	Yes
Part‑time	Fall or Spring	Rolling	No

Full-time study is 9+ semester credit hours. Part-time study is 1‑8 semester credit hours. International students requiring a visa to study at the RIT Rochester campus must study full‑time.

Application Details

To be considered for admission to the Engineering Management MS program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

Complete an online graduate application.
Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college in engineering, mathematics, or science. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) is recommended.
Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
Submit a personal statement of educational objectives.
Submit two letters of recommendation.
Entrance exam requirements: GRE required. No minimum score requirement.
Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required. Details are below.

English Language Test Scores

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver.

TOEFL	IELTS	PTE Academic
88	6.5	60

International students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.

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August 8, 2024

Rochester imaging startup provides intelligent road signs to prevent car crashes

Rochester Business Journal speaks to Tim Hogan '13 (engineering management) about his startup, SaferStreet Solutions, and how he hopes it will change driver behavior. (This content will require a subscription to view.)
October 2, 2023

Kate Gleason College of Engineering appoints two new department heads

Brian Landi and Katie McConky have been named department heads of the chemical engineering and industrial and systems engineering programs in the college. Both bring extensive teaching, research, and company experience to the academic leadership positions in the engineering college.