Individual Courses

3 semester credits
Engineering and technical managers are often confronted with problems dealing with variability and uncertainty. This course focuses on analyzing and using data to understand situations and processes so decisions can be made under terms of variability and uncertainty. Students learn to read and interpret statistical literature; apply statistical methods in evaluating data; make decisions based on the data collected; and identify and manage variability and uncertainty in engineering and management systems. This course prepares students with diverse technical backgrounds and objectives with fundamental probabilistic and statistical concepts, methods, and techniques for use in engineering management through a balance of theory and application involving engineering decision-making, including situations in which uncertainty and risk are important. Emphasis is placed on problem definition, solution, and interpretation of results.

Elective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
Today, it is nearly impossible for an engineer to perform without considering the financial implications of the project design, manufacturing, construction, sales, and the company’s strategic plan. Traditional accounting and financial decision making are not always helpful to the engineer who needs to cut through the paper work and get to the bottom line. As a result, engineering and cost accounting are usually at odds with each other. A smart approach to finance, its implications to technical processes, and financial management of the technical firm are needed and are covered in this course.

Core Selective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
Provides the career technical or engineering manager with a general understanding and knowledge of business law and the legal environment. The course covers generally the laws of the constitution, contracts, sales, business organizations, agency and employment, property, torts, crimes, government regulation, government contracting, and litigation.

Required for:
Certificate: Project Management
Elective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
Solving technical problems often involves the contributions of human resources. Leaders recognize the involvement of human beings, who bring with them more than just the knowledge and skills desired by some managers. This course is a study of the roles of leader and supervisor and the dimensions of effective supervision in business and technical environments. Human relations, leadership, counseling, motivation, communication skills, problem solving, and decision making are covered. The primary goal is to introduce the fundamentals of supervisory management and provide practical advice on how to handle real-life, on-the-job situations. The course covers terminology necessary for business and professional communication; planning and organizing; staffing, training, motivation theory and practice; appraisal and counseling of employees; and managing a diverse work force.

Required for:
Certificate: Project Management
Core Selective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
This course introduces the student to the Theory of Constraints. Students learn the formal analysis techniques that find the limiting factor in any system, to clearly identify the goal and necessary conditions that must be met to achieve success, and to think logically and formulate cause and effect relationships. They learn to differentiate between the many annoying problems that exist in a system and to find the core problem or root cause of the many negative effects. Students learn how to find breakthrough injections that open the way for solutions that eliminate the conflict that has always prevented the core problem from being solved. They also learn how to break down the obstacles that prevent near impossible tasks and how to cause change to occur within the system.

Required for:
Certificate: Constraints Management
Certificate: Industrial Leadership
Core Selective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
Every system can be characterized as a chain of interlocking activities or a network of interlinked events. The operation or productivity of such a linkage is limited by its weakest link. Constraint Management has a broad application for a variety of management problems. The Theory of Constraints provides powerful tools for finding the problem, creating breakthrough solutions, and planning the implementation. This course focuses on proven solutions generated from applying the Theory of Constraints to a large number of real-world problems. The proven solutions offer innovative, successful solutions that are superior to previous methods.

Required for:
Certificate: Constraints Management
Certificate: Supply Chain Management
Selective for:
Certificate: Project Management
Elective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
This course covers methods of improving production with using lean manufacturing and six sigma principles and introduces the “Theory of Constraints” to select which projects to apply the lean and six sigma principles.

Required for:
Certificate: Industrial Leadership
Selective for:
Certificate: Six Sigma Quality Management
Elective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
Applying linear, integer, goal programming; network optimization; queuing analysis; dynamic programming; simulation; Markov analysis; and forecasting to engineering management decisions are covered in this course. This course introduces a number of models that are effective in solving certain classes of managerial problems. Students will learn how to apply these tools to various representative sample problems. The tools include linear programming, network models, scheduling models, integer and goal programming, dynamic programming, stochastic models, decision theory, queuing models, digital simulation and inventory systems. The course also discusses how models are integrated into decision support systems, heuristics, and expert systems.

Core Selective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
Every organization has internal supply chains and links to external suppliers and customers. The structured dependency of chains, the uncertainty of forecasts, and systemic delays are amplified as individual links in the supply chain. Modern operation theories and information systems hold the promise of stabilizing variability by providing visibility along the whole supply chain. Additional control and operational performance factors are needed to provide a complete solution. This course examines the strategy and tactics of supply chain management to include “how to” techniques to implement, measure, and reward the individual links in the supply chain.

Required for:
Certificate: Supply Chain Management
Certificate: Industrial Leadership
Core Selective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
The objective of the course is to help students understand the strengths and pitfalls of project management. The ultimate goal is to improve the effectiveness of the students at all levels of project management: from project selection and chartering at the highest managerial levels, to day-to-day skills for the project manager, and meaningful contribution and participation for project team members.

Required for:
Certificate: Project Management
Core Selective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
The design, manufacture, and operation of complex systems present a major challenge for today’s managers. These complex systems, encumbered with schedule and cost constraints while pushing state of the art technology, require a systems approach to project planning, leading, organizing, monitoring, and controlling. This course is designed to assist technical leaders, managers, and engineers with projects involving complex systems planning and development. The course includes case studies to relate concepts to real world practice and demonstrate the effectiveness of a systems approach.

Required for:
Certificate: Systems Engineering Management
Core Selective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
Systems Engineering Analysis and Practice employs an interdisciplinary approach and means to enable the realization of successful systems. The course covers: a) models and approaches for system analyses, b) design for operational feasibility, and c) evaluation and comparison of a set of feasible system design alternatives early in the system development life cycle. The course proceeds with design synthesis and reliability improvement while considering the complete problem including operations, performance, test, verification, manufacturing, cost, schedule, disposal and the related specialties. The course includes practical exercises to link systems engineering to decision theory, statistics, and optimization techniques. Current successful processes, methods, and tools for systems engineering are introduced. Students will gain mastery in planning the design and analysis of optimal and affordable system solutions.

Required for:
Certificate: Systems Engineering Management
Core Elective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
The theory and practice of logistics engineering and management includes systems which are composed of hardware, software, people, processes and other elements which are necessarily interdisciplinary and complex. The emphasis in this class is on the role of logistics engineering and management in a system life cycle, from concept to retirement, the design of logistics subsystems and logistics oriented systems and the logistics management functions of planning, organizing, directing and controlling. Also included are the application techniques and best practices associated with topics in the logistics domain such as reliability, maintainability, supportability and sustainability.

Required for:
Certificate: Supply Chain Management
Elective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
Risk assessment and management is the identification, analysis, and prioritization of risks; as well as the coordinated treatment of risk to prevent, minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of undesirable events and consequences. This graduate course covers the principles and applications of risk assessment and management in the context of engineering management and systems engineering. This course is about the systematic approach to the management of risk as applied to engineering, operations, and management decisions. The goal of the course is to engage students in the active discovery of risk assessment and management concepts and tools. Students will be prepared to function in a business environment, developing an awareness of the challenges, the tools, and the process of designing and implementing risk assessment and management strategies. In addition to specialized topics in risk, this course will also discuss topics in economics, statistics, decision science, social science and other fields related to managing risks, in order to provide relevant basis to the methodological development of the risk body of knowledge.

Required for:
Systems Engineering Management Certificate
Elective for:
Master’s Degree
Selective for:
Project Management Certificate
Certificate: Industrial Leadership

3 semester credits
The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is used for identifying a system’s limiting factor and focusing efforts to eliminate that constraint in order to improve throughput, reduce inventory, or lower operating expenses. Next, Six Sigma is a problem solving methodology that uses the structured approach of Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control to reduce variability. Finally, Lean is a management approach that focuses on continuous improvement and respect for people in order to improve the performance of a system by eliminating waste. TOC, Six Sigma, and Lean work synergistically by applying TOC for identifying what to improve, using the Six Sigma structured problems solving approach, and applying Lean tools for managing continuous improvement. Students will develop a management approach that integrates TOC, Six Sigma, and Lean that promotes workforce engagement, and you will learn how to apply Deming’s principles of creating cultural change by insisting on “driving out fear” so workers know they are will be needed in other areas for continuous improvement in order to promote “pride of workmanship” without fear of working themselves out of a job.

Required for:
Certificate: Six Sigma Quality Management
Elective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
To be sustainable over time, organizations must continuously learn and evolve while also effectively translating the organizational strategy to actionable goals and performance at all levels of the organization. This course provides students with processes and tools to design and implement performance management systems that align with the organizational strategy, using principles of the learning organization and the balanced scorecard. The course covers the performance management process including performance analytics, employee development, human performance management, and reward systems. Students master the design and implementation of successful world-class performance management systems.

Core Selective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
This course covers quality improvement analysis for process and product quality; statistical process control, capability studies; acceptance sampling concepts; and reliability models for prediction and testing. The class addresses statistical methods used in quality analysis, and modeling process and product quality.

Required for:
Certificate: Six Sigma Quality Management
Core Selective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
Analysis of variance using design of experiments provides a systematic and efficient method of designing and analyzing experiments to determine the conditions that directly affect variation in measured and observed data. Determining the factors that result in significant improvements is a critical tool in research and development, and reducing variability is essential for improving quality. In this course students will develop the ability perform in-depth analyses of variance using the techniques that partition variability in order to make data-driven decisions based on statistically significant differences and interactions.

Required for:
Certificate: Six Sigma Quality Management
Core Selective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits
Leading Design and Innovation covers techniques to identify opportunities for innovation and methods to lead comprehensive product design and development. Key topics include: Design for Manufacturability, Concurrent Engineering, Designing the Product, Designing for Lean and Build-to-order, Standardization, Minimizing Cost by Design, and Design for Quality.

Selective for:
Certificate: Supply Chain Management
Certificate: Industrial Leadership
Certificate: Six Sigma Quality Management
Elective for:
Master’s Degree

This course covers construction project management principles relating to the people, processes, and tools used to plan, manage, and construct complex projects. Topics include preconstruction services, project controls, scope management, resource planning, earned value analysis, change management and risk assessment. Objectives for the class include establishing the benefits of a consistent, well-articulated project management program from design through construction. This includes understanding the use of alternate project delivery methods, technology, and integration of the project team.

Selective for:
Certificate: Project Management
Elective for:
Master’s Degree

3 semester credits (By arrangement only.)

Students must complete 3 semester credits of E M 701 to graduate.  The EM 701 capstone course extends the students’ knowledge and understanding of the multidisciplinary nature of engineering management and provides students the opportunity to demonstrate their depth and breadth of understanding of their courses of study, research, and ability to synthesize and apply what they have learned throughout the ETM program. EM 701 is completed during the student’s final semester of their master’s program under the guidance of a committee chair (ETM faculty) and two ETM faculty committee members and includes the analysis of a set of four case studies followed by a final executive summary and a final oral presentation presented to their faculty committee. EM 701 is not available in summer sessions.

Learn more about the capstone.

Required for:
Master’s Degree

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Videos

THE BULLWHIP EFFECT

Learn about the “Bullwhip Effect” and why managing supply chains is so difficult.