The M.S. degree in Technology Management (MSTM) is designed
to provide a program of advanced study in technically oriented disciplines for
candidates anticipating a managerial career. It is a multi-disciplinary
applications-oriented degree, which draws from the fields of engineering,
management, business, operations research and management science.
The intent of the program is to provide an interface between
training received in engineering and scientific disciplines
with the management of resources and personnel in a technical environment. Flexibility is built into the program
in order to provide an optimum educational experience to students. Graduates of the TM program are likely to find
an initial position as a mid level supervisor within a broad range of applications requiring the use of quantitative models to integrate human and material resources necessary to perform an integrated function.
Technology Management programs became popular several years ago as a response to an
industrial need. The technical nature of a business enterprise
often requires managers to have a solid grounding in business, management, and
technology. In today's global economy companies require managers who can
communicate effectively, who have a solid understanding of current management
and business theory, who can effectively organize personnel and resources, and
who have a thorough understanding of the technology with which they are working
as well as the quantitative decision tools necessary to effectively manage that
technology. A rather simplified conceptual framework for the program is
shown in the graphic below.
An individual with a background in business administration is
likely to be very good at managing resources, developing budgets, and
implementing decisions based on sound economics. However, many do not have
the necessary background in the appropriate technology or the quantitative
decision tools necessary to effectively manage that technology.
An individual specializing in operations research will almost
certainly have the background necessary to model systems and develop
quantitative decision tools needed to manage that system. However, they
may not have the management or business background necessary to effectively
implement a solution to a problem. Management science attempts to
apply the quantitative decision tools developed in operations research in an
industrial or business environment. As such, it is more applications and
modeling oriented. However, managers with a strong background in
management science may lack of the business tools and supervisory skills
necessary for today's business climate.
Technology Management is an attempt to effectively integrate
decision theory with business, management, and organizational skills necessary
to effectively manage in today's business environment. Because of this
integration, technology management programs remain popular with corporations
operating in a technical or global environment.
Although Technology Management serves a more narrow market, demand has
remained relatively strong. At the same time MBA programs have been downsizing
enrollment trends in engineering management and technology management have been
on the rise. Technology management programs are particularly popular with
individuals with a background in engineering or science who suddenly find
themselves in a supervisory position. For these individuals, the ability to add
business and management tools while simultaneously enhancing their quantitative
decision making tools seems to be an attractive alternative to a more
traditional management program. Enrollment in technology management at the
School of Mines has steadily increased by 8-10 percent over the last 10 years.
Prospective students often have a mistaken belief that the Technology
Management degree is an engineering master's degree. While there is often
considerable overlap between technology management and engineering
management programs, they are different in a number of respects.
Indeed, there is probably as much difference between engineering management and
technology management as there is between technology management and an
MBA. Students in the technology management program come from a variety of
backgrounds including engineering, science, computer science, mathematics,
social science, and liberal arts. What is perhaps more interesting is
that, in general, one's undergraduate degree is not a very useful predictor of
one's performance in the program. The charts below show the relative shift
in enrollment demographics from 1996 to 2005.
The technology management program is geared towards the non-traditional graduate
student. All TM courses are available both onsite and in distance
mode. Onsite courses are typically offered one night a week, generally
from 6:00-9:00 pm. Some students are full time traditional graduate
students. Others are local students who prefer the structure of an onsite
traditional course. Still others are true distance learners who prefer the
flexibility and organizational structure of the technology management
program. While onsite learners still constitute a significant portion of
the student enrollment in a particular course, nearly 2/3 of the students are
now completing coursework in distance mode. Currently, the fastest growing
segment of this population is the distance learner. In addition to local
non-traditional graduate students, the technology management program has served
students in Texas, Idaho, Ohio, Illinois, Florida, California, Germany, Norway,
Korea, Mongolia, and Thailand. The chart below shows the current breakdown
of students by mode of delivery.
Students with a Technology Management degree typically find positions with medium to large sized firms in a midlevel supervisory role. Most of the Technology Management students at Tech have viewed the program as a means to sharpen their quantitative management skills within the context of existing employment. We have also had good success for those students seeking long employment opportunities upon completing their degree.
Since 1990, over 180 students have graduated from the Technology Management program. Of these, roughly one-third have either been Norwegian students returning to Norway or Air Force Officers looking towards career progression. Another third have been individuals looking to advance their technical and management skills within their existing organizations. The remaining third have completed the degree requirements with the intention of searching for an entry level supervisory position. Companies that have hired TM graduates include Gateway, Powder River Coal, Boeing, Lincoln Abrasives, City of Rapid City, Black Hills Power and Light, Grant Thorton, Mastel Designs, Rockwell, and
others.
I have a degree in engineering. Is it better to get
an MBA or a degree in TM?
Q2:
I have just finished my undergraduate degree. Is it
better to work on my graduate degree now or is it better to work for a
few years and then seek a graduate degree?
Q3:
I have a undergraduate degree in a field other than
engineering or business, is this the right degree for me?
Q4:
I work 50-60 hours a week and have to travel a great
deal, can I handle this degree program?
Q5:
How long does it usually take to complete the TM degree?
Q6:
How much are tuition and fees?
Q7:
Is there a possibility of financial aid or a gta
position?
