MS/MBA — Product Development

The Mechanical Engineering Department and the Marriott School of Management program in interdisciplinary product development (PD) leads to a Masters of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree. The program takes an average of three years to complete. The degrees are approved and conferred separately by the two departments, but since course work for the two degrees may overlap and similarities between the two programs may be emphasized, the PD program offers students advantages to separate programs in these two fields.

The PD program addresses important needs for engineers, designers, and managers who excel in world-class product development, which is a cross-functional process requiring both technical and managerial skills. The program provides students who have undergraduate training in engineering, with the management skills of the MBA program along with advanced training in engineering. Courses teach specific expertise in product and process development through projects, industrial interaction, and research in development and interdisciplinary methods.

When admitted to the joint program, the student starts the first year in the Mechanical Engineering program. During this time the student will make major strides in thesis or project work prior to beginning MBA course work in the second year. A total of 64 credit hours are required to complete the MBA degree, and 30 hours (MS-Thesis) or 39 hours (MS-Project) for the ME degree. Both programs jointly count 12 credit hours.