Engineering Management
Farshad Rabib, Boeing
The best thing about this graduate program is that most professors teaching the courses have a strong background in the industry, bringing a wealth of hands-on experience and knowledge which helps seeing the practical side. I am honored and proud to be a University of Tennessee graduate. Wherever my career path takes me, I will be sure to always mention the greatness of this program and its people.
Jason Brawner,Product Engineering Specialist, ABB Installations Products
“The Master of Science degree in the Engineering Management program at UTSI was an invaluable program in that it provided a clear and concise perspective of how the manufacturing industry currently operates. As a practicing engineer of over twenty years, the curriculum paralleled activities I face in my day-to-day responsibilities and allowed me to not only succeed in completing the tasks at hand but offered a broader viewpoint of how to address them. Each professor provided a wealth of knowledge for their given course and demonstrated knowledge predicated upon real-world experiences.”
Alexandr M. Sokolov
“The online Ph.D. in Industrial Systems Engineering with a concentration in Engineering Management was extremely helpful for me to reach my full potential as I moved closer to becoming an entrepreneur. This Doctorate in Engineering has helped hone the knowledge that I needed to become a real expert in the field. The classes that they offered were beneficial to me as they allowed me to work full time as a professor and gave me the flexibility to work on starting my own company. I am delighted that the UTSI offers these types of distance education programs for working professionals who want to increase their education.”
Michelle Halsted, Research Assistant, Oak Ridge National Lab
I was thoroughly impressed with UTSI’s engineering management certificate program and have recommended it to numerous engineering friends. I loved the flexibility of the online courses and the professors/ the program was very sympathetic to the challenges of balancing school with a full-time job.
The online course format was excellent; despite the distance, I was able to my professors and successfully execute group projects. I believe this virtual experience will be valuable experience/preparation for engaging with colleagues in our global society. Platforms like google drive and slack do not let distance limit productivity, and google hangouts proved to be an effective way to host a virtual meeting.
After several excellent semesters in the engineering management certificate program, I chose to continue on with the MS Industrial engineering. This roll-up course format is ideal; it allows full-time professionals to test out whether they can balance work, school, and a personal life.
Lynn Reed, UT Center for Industrial Services
This program was a perfect match to my needs. It had to involve little to no travel and provide me with a means to an end while holding down a full-time job. I now hold a doctorate in industrial engineering and did both my masters and PhD on-line. I enjoyed the ride and now have something special to show for the trip.
Lynn Reed, UT Center for Industrial Services
Paul Rengifo
The Industrial engineering and engineering management program was very valuable to me. The classes allowed to improve my repertoire of analytical, finance, and economic-related tools. Some examples are: I now better understand the terminology and the finance calculations used in our budget sessions. I am better able to use my economics knowledge to put together project justifications. I use FMEAs and fishbone diagrams with more frequency to help me with problem solving, etc. Overall, the program was worth it. I want to thank the faculty for working with me and allowing me to mold my curriculum with classes that actually related to my job. – Paul Rengifo
Sarah Fried
The breadth of the Industrial Engineering with Engineering Management degree program allowed me the opportunity to focus on areas in engineering/management that were important to me, while ensuring a basic understanding of engineering and management. This degree program has increased my opportunities for job growth and development. With this degree (in process) I was able to move into a continuous improvement roll that I would not have had the opportunity to do without this degree program. I constantly apply the tools I have learned from ENMG 541, 534, 601, 536, IE 516, and 518 in my continuous improvement role. The feedback I have received from the professors, both knowledgeable and experienced in their fields, has molded me into a better engineer. – Sarah Fried
Benjamin Rothrock
The UTSI Engineering Management degree has been immediately impactful and very pertinent to my current and future work, benefiting me and my employer. For years I had worked for the same employer and through experience had come to develop a range of skills and techniques that I would use in the multiple projects I have been assigned to. With the UTSI Master’s degree program, I have learned several other techniques for project management and managerial skills that I have been able to utilize on a urgent, high impact project driven by top management at my employer. The skills and techniques I learned through this program have enabled me to not only provide better project and technical management, but have enabled me to discuss the project in terms and details that top management is familiar with, and even greatly advance the project in the eyes of top management. My employer has been immediately satisfied with their investment in my education and successful performance due to my enhanced skills and knowledge has had a positive impact on my career path. On top of these benefits, the offering by UTSI was less expensive than an alternate format offered by my employer and the flexibility of on-line courses allowed me to maintain a positive work-school-life balance with my wife and young child. I am proud of what I have accomplished and feel anyone looking to better their technical skills when it comes to engineering management would ultimately be happy with their decision to pursue this worthwhile degree. – Benjamin Rothrock
Shane Buchanan, GM of Corporate Production Engineering, Kasai North America
UTSI Engineering Management Program has been extremely helpful in my professional career. My current position requires me to work closely with strategic planning for my company. Many of the classes gave me the knowledge of the data and analysis required to make informed decisions. Dr. Simonton’s classes were very practical. He dealt with real world problems that I face every day in my current position. Another focus that has been extremely helpful was the business and accounting classes. We built our knowledge to better relate with the accounting department. I would encourage any engineer interested in getting their MBA to instead consider getting a Master’s in Engineering Management at UTSI. – Shane Buchanan, GM of Corporate Production Engineering, Kasai North America
Ben Gassman, Sr. Manager Test Lab Operations, Nissan North America
The UTSI Industrial and Systems Engineering/Engineering Management graduate program has been a game changer for me. The methodologies and leadership skills I learned help me daily in my career in the auto industry.
In many situations, real-life experiences have allowed me to solve challenging issues. However, when new issues arise that I have not experienced nor have my team members, I am able to utilize the methodologies and leadership skills I learned at UTSI to find the solutions. This has granted me the opportunity to move between different business functions at Nissan. I started the graduate program in the fall of 2014, since that time I have moved from Quality Manufacturing to Quality Engineering, and I recently moved to a new position, Sr. Manager Test Lab Operations at Nissan Technical Center North America in Farmington Hills, MI.
I would encourage anyone who wants to improve his or her career opportunities to consider UTSI. The Engineering Management Faculty and Staff are true professionals, and they care about their students. The flexibility to complete the coursework at the beautiful campus or online, is great too! – Ben Gassman, Sr. Manager Test Lab Operations, Nissan North America
Nicholas Stephens, Civil Engineer, TDOT
After completing my undergraduate degree in the UT system, I knew that UT would be my only choice for graduate level education. The professors at UTSI are not only experts in their fields of study, but they have real world work experiences that directly related to me as a practicing professional. The distance education option allowed me to attend classes on my terms and it was a perfect fit for my chaotic schedule. The virtual classrooms, along with the one on one instruction from the professors, made me feel like I never left campus. If you’re looking to create value for yourself, while also developing the expertise necessary to lead technical organizations, then the Engineering Management program at UTSI is the place for you. – Nicholas Stephens, Civil Engineer, TDOT
Jared McCoy
About a month after graduation my company came to me to see if I’d be interested in a new job that would be a promotion. Before I could get started a Sr. VP was brought in and began making changes and restructuring several departments including mine. Because of that my promotion was put on hold. I was since offered an even better position as a project manager by the Sr. VP despite several co-workers seeing their positions cut. I’m going through the hiring process to satisfy HR requirements but it looks as if I’ll be in my new role within the next month. I’m very grateful that I completed the EM program because I was immediately presented with a new career opportunity, and ultimately it is helping me to a promotion and new career path when others are leaving the company.
I was not an engineer and did not have an engineering undergraduate degree. But I believed that the EM program would allow me to pivot into a new career path and give me the needed skills to compete for jobs requiring an engineering degree. It has 100% helped me achieve my goals even sooner than I anticipated. – Jared McCoy
Phil Buell, Assistant Professor
I chose to pursue the engineering management degree at UTSI because of the convenience of its online format. Being employed full-time, the ability to view the classes when I wanted was invaluable. I also enjoyed having an actual instructor teach each class instead of only having reading requirements and writing assignments. The convenience was why I started, but the faculty and staff were the reasons I finished. They are very attentive to the student’s needs and provide a great environment for distance learning. The degree has helped me to pursue the career I never envisioned I would be able to achieve. It has allowed me to become an assistant professor in Construction Management. Without UTSI and the convenience of the Engineering Management program, I would never have been able to reach this position that I envisioned many years ago as an undergraduate engineering student. – Phil Buell, Assistant Professor
Farshad Rabib, Boeing
The best thing about this graduate program is that most professors teaching the courses have a strong background in the industry, bringing a wealth of hands-on experience and knowledge which helps seeing the practical side. I am honored and proud to be a University of Tennessee graduate. Wherever my career path takes me, I will be sure to always mention the greatness of this program and its people.
Jason Brawner,Product Engineering Specialist, ABB Installations Products
“The Master of Science degree in the Engineering Management program at UTSI was an invaluable program in that it provided a clear and concise perspective of how the manufacturing industry currently operates. As a practicing engineer of over twenty years, the curriculum paralleled activities I face in my day-to-day responsibilities and allowed me to not only succeed in completing the tasks at hand but offered a broader viewpoint of how to address them. Each professor provided a wealth of knowledge for their given course and demonstrated knowledge predicated upon real-world experiences.”
Alexandr M. Sokolov
“The online Ph.D. in Industrial Systems Engineering with a concentration in Engineering Management was extremely helpful for me to reach my full potential as I moved closer to becoming an entrepreneur. This Doctorate in Engineering has helped hone the knowledge that I needed to become a real expert in the field. The classes that they offered were beneficial to me as they allowed me to work full time as a professor and gave me the flexibility to work on starting my own company. I am delighted that the UTSI offers these types of distance education programs for working professionals who want to increase their education.”
Michelle Halsted, Research Assistant, Oak Ridge National Lab
I was thoroughly impressed with UTSI’s engineering management certificate program and have recommended it to numerous engineering friends. I loved the flexibility of the online courses and the professors/ the program was very sympathetic to the challenges of balancing school with a full-time job.
The online course format was excellent; despite the distance, I was able to my professors and successfully execute group projects. I believe this virtual experience will be valuable experience/preparation for engaging with colleagues in our global society. Platforms like google drive and slack do not let distance limit productivity, and google hangouts proved to be an effective way to host a virtual meeting.
After several excellent semesters in the engineering management certificate program, I chose to continue on with the MS Industrial engineering. This roll-up course format is ideal; it allows full-time professionals to test out whether they can balance work, school, and a personal life.
Lynn Reed, UT Center for Industrial Services
This program was a perfect match to my needs. It had to involve little to no travel and provide me with a means to an end while holding down a full-time job. I now hold a doctorate in industrial engineering and did both my masters and PhD on-line. I enjoyed the ride and now have something special to show for the trip.
Lynn Reed, UT Center for Industrial Services
Paul Rengifo
The Industrial engineering and engineering management program was very valuable to me. The classes allowed to improve my repertoire of analytical, finance, and economic-related tools. Some examples are: I now better understand the terminology and the finance calculations used in our budget sessions. I am better able to use my economics knowledge to put together project justifications. I use FMEAs and fishbone diagrams with more frequency to help me with problem solving, etc. Overall, the program was worth it. I want to thank the faculty for working with me and allowing me to mold my curriculum with classes that actually related to my job. – Paul Rengifo
Sarah Fried
The breadth of the Industrial Engineering with Engineering Management degree program allowed me the opportunity to focus on areas in engineering/management that were important to me, while ensuring a basic understanding of engineering and management. This degree program has increased my opportunities for job growth and development. With this degree (in process) I was able to move into a continuous improvement roll that I would not have had the opportunity to do without this degree program. I constantly apply the tools I have learned from ENMG 541, 534, 601, 536, IE 516, and 518 in my continuous improvement role. The feedback I have received from the professors, both knowledgeable and experienced in their fields, has molded me into a better engineer. – Sarah Fried
Benjamin Rothrock
The UTSI Engineering Management degree has been immediately impactful and very pertinent to my current and future work, benefiting me and my employer. For years I had worked for the same employer and through experience had come to develop a range of skills and techniques that I would use in the multiple projects I have been assigned to. With the UTSI Master’s degree program, I have learned several other techniques for project management and managerial skills that I have been able to utilize on a urgent, high impact project driven by top management at my employer. The skills and techniques I learned through this program have enabled me to not only provide better project and technical management, but have enabled me to discuss the project in terms and details that top management is familiar with, and even greatly advance the project in the eyes of top management. My employer has been immediately satisfied with their investment in my education and successful performance due to my enhanced skills and knowledge has had a positive impact on my career path. On top of these benefits, the offering by UTSI was less expensive than an alternate format offered by my employer and the flexibility of on-line courses allowed me to maintain a positive work-school-life balance with my wife and young child. I am proud of what I have accomplished and feel anyone looking to better their technical skills when it comes to engineering management would ultimately be happy with their decision to pursue this worthwhile degree. – Benjamin Rothrock
Shane Buchanan, GM of Corporate Production Engineering, Kasai North America
UTSI Engineering Management Program has been extremely helpful in my professional career. My current position requires me to work closely with strategic planning for my company. Many of the classes gave me the knowledge of the data and analysis required to make informed decisions. Dr. Simonton’s classes were very practical. He dealt with real world problems that I face every day in my current position. Another focus that has been extremely helpful was the business and accounting classes. We built our knowledge to better relate with the accounting department. I would encourage any engineer interested in getting their MBA to instead consider getting a Master’s in Engineering Management at UTSI. – Shane Buchanan, GM of Corporate Production Engineering, Kasai North America
Ben Gassman, Sr. Manager Test Lab Operations, Nissan North America
The UTSI Industrial and Systems Engineering/Engineering Management graduate program has been a game changer for me. The methodologies and leadership skills I learned help me daily in my career in the auto industry.
In many situations, real-life experiences have allowed me to solve challenging issues. However, when new issues arise that I have not experienced nor have my team members, I am able to utilize the methodologies and leadership skills I learned at UTSI to find the solutions. This has granted me the opportunity to move between different business functions at Nissan. I started the graduate program in the fall of 2014, since that time I have moved from Quality Manufacturing to Quality Engineering, and I recently moved to a new position, Sr. Manager Test Lab Operations at Nissan Technical Center North America in Farmington Hills, MI.
I would encourage anyone who wants to improve his or her career opportunities to consider UTSI. The Engineering Management Faculty and Staff are true professionals, and they care about their students. The flexibility to complete the coursework at the beautiful campus or online, is great too! – Ben Gassman, Sr. Manager Test Lab Operations, Nissan North America
Nicholas Stephens, Civil Engineer, TDOT
After completing my undergraduate degree in the UT system, I knew that UT would be my only choice for graduate level education. The professors at UTSI are not only experts in their fields of study, but they have real world work experiences that directly related to me as a practicing professional. The distance education option allowed me to attend classes on my terms and it was a perfect fit for my chaotic schedule. The virtual classrooms, along with the one on one instruction from the professors, made me feel like I never left campus. If you’re looking to create value for yourself, while also developing the expertise necessary to lead technical organizations, then the Engineering Management program at UTSI is the place for you. – Nicholas Stephens, Civil Engineer, TDOT
Jared McCoy
About a month after graduation my company came to me to see if I’d be interested in a new job that would be a promotion. Before I could get started a Sr. VP was brought in and began making changes and restructuring several departments including mine. Because of that my promotion was put on hold. I was since offered an even better position as a project manager by the Sr. VP despite several co-workers seeing their positions cut. I’m going through the hiring process to satisfy HR requirements but it looks as if I’ll be in my new role within the next month. I’m very grateful that I completed the EM program because I was immediately presented with a new career opportunity, and ultimately it is helping me to a promotion and new career path when others are leaving the company.
I was not an engineer and did not have an engineering undergraduate degree. But I believed that the EM program would allow me to pivot into a new career path and give me the needed skills to compete for jobs requiring an engineering degree. It has 100% helped me achieve my goals even sooner than I anticipated. – Jared McCoy
Phil Buell, Assistant Professor
I chose to pursue the engineering management degree at UTSI because of the convenience of its online format. Being employed full-time, the ability to view the classes when I wanted was invaluable. I also enjoyed having an actual instructor teach each class instead of only having reading requirements and writing assignments. The convenience was why I started, but the faculty and staff were the reasons I finished. They are very attentive to the student’s needs and provide a great environment for distance learning. The degree has helped me to pursue the career I never envisioned I would be able to achieve. It has allowed me to become an assistant professor in Construction Management. Without UTSI and the convenience of the Engineering Management program, I would never have been able to reach this position that I envisioned many years ago as an undergraduate engineering student. – Phil Buell, Assistant Professor
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