Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering
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The MS in Engineering with a concentration in Manufacturing Engineering program focuses on skills and expertise to help the graduate manage projects and processes in technical or production environment. As a practicing professional with an MS degree, you are able to accomplish more because of your greater level of skill. This can provide you with significant career satisfaction and opportunities to contribute to your organization. Manufacturing has, despite any real or perceived faults, leads to better, longer, and more enjoyable lives. Any society that chooses not to "make things" is a society at risk. As a manufacturing engineer, you can make a difference most often a difference that you can see, feel, and touch. An MS degree can help you to achieve more as an engineer and contribute to society in a more meaningful manner. This personal satisfaction is an important issue in planning your life and career as a professional.
MS in Manufacturing Engineering Degree Plan
PDF of a blank degree plan can be downloaded here: MS MANE Degree Plan
The MS in Manufacturing Engineering requires students to take a minimum of three courses, one from each of three different areas of Manufacturing:
- the quality area,
- the design area,
- the systems area, and
- the engineering management area.
Once this requirement is satisfied the student is free to select remaining courses from any area of Manufacturing Engineering. Further, the student may select additional approved courses from other areas of study. The student is free to choose between a thesis, a report option, or a course work only option. The degree requires 30 hours of graduate work. The plan of study for the MS in Manufacturing Engineering is used to plan the graduate program with the student’s advisor.
Why a MS in Manufacturing Engineering?
There are many reasons to go to graduate school, but the most often cited reasons are improved job or career opportunities. In fact, manufacturing engineering is one of the fastest growing fields in engineering. Recent data from the federal government's Bureau of Labor Statistics rank Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering as one of the greatest engineering specialties in demand. Across the nation, there is a strong and monumental movement to strengthen domestic manufacturing and to build resilient domestic supply chains, which are fundamental to our national security and economic prosperity. On February 24, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14017 to secure America’s critical supply chains. “The United States needs resilient, diverse, and secure supply chains to ensure our economic prosperity and national security. Pandemics, … cyber-attacks, climate shocks and extreme weather events, terrorist attacks, geopolitical and economic competition, and other conditions can reduce critical manufacturing capacity and the availability and integrity of critical goods, products, and services. Resilient American supply chains will revitalize and rebuild domestic manufacturing capacity, maintain America’s competitive edge in research and development, and create well-paying jobs … a world-class American manufacturing base and workforce ...”
Job opportunities are better with an MS degree because the holder of the degree has additional credentials, which make him/her more valuable to the employer. For example, if you wish to work in research and development, the MS degree is the initial credential; whereas, a Ph.D is the terminal credential. In other cases, industrial employers may limit employee assignments to only those with an MS degree for some parts of the organization. Further, many states give one year of credit towards the Professional Engineering license for a master's degree. Stated differently, an MS degree can get you assignments that would not be available to you with just a BS degree. Career opportunities are better with an MS degree.
As a practicing professional with an MS degree, you are able to accomplish more because of your greater level of skill. This can provide you with significant career satisfaction and opportunities to contribute to your organization. Manufacturing has, despite any real or perceived faults, lead to better, longer, and more enjoyable lives. Any society that chooses not to "make things" is a society at risk. As a manufacturing engineer, you can make a difference most often a difference that you can see, feel, and touch. An MS degree can help you to achieve more as an engineer and contribute to society in a more meaningful manner. This personal satisfaction is an important issue in planning your life and career as a professional.
If your undergraduate degree was in an area other than manufacturing engineering, you can "cross train" to make yourself much more valuable with an MS degree in a second area. For example, with a BS in Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, or other form of engineering, you can be "doubly qualified" by picking up a degree in Manufacturing Engineering or Engineering Management. The MS in Engineering Management helps students to prepare for a career as a manager, and especially as a manager of other engineers. So, with an MS in Engineering Management you are trained in both your undergraduate specialty and in the field of management. This argument represents another important reason for seeking an MS degree.
Another reason to go to graduate school and seek an MS degree is that Engineers with an MS degree earn more money. Multiple studies exist to substantiate the earning difference between a person with a BS degree and an MS degree, on average. Recent data of 2022 @ salary.com shows salaries of $137,613 - $145,121 for Industrial/Manufacturing Engineers with a Master degree.
So, you should conclude that the greater the level of engineering education, the greater the expected salary.
As another reason to seek an MS degree, some individuals may have been unable to find employment after completing an undergraduate degree, or that may be laid off due to poor economic conditions of the company. For the individual in this situation, he/she can improve their chances rather than having a period of unemployment on their resume. By going to graduate school, you give yourself a chance to improve your credentials and re-enter the job market when conditions are much better.
As another motivation to seek an MS degree, if your ultimate goal is a Ph.D. degree then you need an MS degree first. For engineering disciplines, a MS degree is a step along the way to a Ph.D. degree. Since the Ph.D. is a research focused degree, it is best to complete an MS thesis as a part of your masters' degree process. The Ph.D. degree allows you to teach and do research, if that is your ultimate goal.
So, there are many good reasons for seeking an MS degree in Manufacturing Engineering or Engineering Management. Each person's motivation may be slightly different, but it is clear that an MS degree can help the student to quickly achieve career and life's goals.