Engineering Systems Management is an interdisciplinary, 30-semester hour program that emphasizes course work the areas of management, industrial engineering, systems of systems, and behavioral sciences. Thesis and non-thesis options available.

The program is designed to provide today's professional with a rigorous intellectual experience that is committed to leadership and academic excellence. Many technical enterprises in manufacturing and service industries, in the government, and in the military, require excellence in analyzing and managing people, equipment, computers, and processes. The blend of the systems approach--a global view of engineering problems--engineering management, economics and finance, and human factors courses in the ESM program provides graduates with effective tools for optimization. The engineering systems concepts that you will learn and develop will provide you with a broad view, "big picture" approach to practical problem solving.

Graduates of the Master of Science degree in Engineering Systems Management are well-prepared to pursue a variety of fields. The degree is an effective blend of engineering, management and behavioral sciences.

In the private sector, career options include system analyst; manufacturing, production and industrial engineer; project manager, facility manager; systems administrator; marketing analyst; ergonomics/human factors specialist; and research and development specialist. Graduates make significant contributions to their employers by saving money while, at the same time, making the workplace better for fellow workers.

They have found positions in the industry such as an industrial engineer at Federal Express and a manufacturing engineer at Clarke American. In the military, appropriate assignments in scientific and development areas include positions in Air Force career fields such as Acquisition Program Management, Development Engineering, Computer Systems, Civil Engineering, Communications, Intelligence, Security Police.

The degree is also offered at Lackland Airforce Base in San Antonio. For more information about the Lackland program, contact the Graduate School Representative at Lackland by calling (210) 677-8300 or e-mail stmulafb@stmarytx.edu.

To apply online, click here. For more information about the graduate school, click here.

Program of Study

The Master of Science degree in Engineering Systems Management is designed for mature, professionals wishing to improve their skills in managing a variety of research, engineering and development systems, and related activities.

Thesis and project options

The program has a 30-hour thesis option and a 30-hour project option.

MSESM 30-hour project option

Required: 30 hours EC 6382 Corporate Economics
EG 8300 Engineering Systems Management
BA 7353 or EG 7353 Project management
EG 7351 Systems Engineering
EG 6303 Lean Production
EC 6381 Cost benefit Analysis
EG 63XX Lean Supply Chain
EG 7306 Six-sigma Quality
BA 7325 or EG 6354 Management Info Tech
EG/PS 6309 Human Factors and Ergonomics
Required: Completion of a masters project

MSESM 30-hour thesis option

Required: 18 hours (take all of the following)
EG 6339 Thesis
EG 6303 Lean Production
EG7306 Six-sigma Quality
EG 8300 Engineering Systems Management
EG63XX Lean Supply Chain
EC 6382 Corporate Economics
Required: 12 hours (select four out of following five courses)
EC 6381 Cost Benefit Analysis
BA7311 or EG7353 Project management
EG7351 Systems Engineering
EG/PS 6309 Human Factors and Ergonomics
BA7325/EG6354 Man Info Tech


Objectives are to develop and enhance ability to:

1. Develop logical objectives and make sound decisions in complex, dynamic and non-structured environments.
2. Analyze complex problems, assess alternatives, and develop and implement decisions considering appropriate legal, economic, political and societal constraints.
3. Communicate effectively.
4. Utilize human, material, and financial resources efficiently and effectively.
5. Design and use management information systems; use the computer in management decisions.

Courses

The department also offers a unique combined MSESM in just five years. An intensive course of study, undergraduate students begin graduate course work during their senior years and pursue a master's degree in one year.

Students can earn the 30-hour degree in 1.5 to 2 years.

All courses, including engineering, are self-contained blocks of instruction, so students are not required to complete courses in any particular sequence. All course work for degree credit must be completed within five years.

EG 6303 Lean Production Systems - 3 semester hours
This course covers forecasting, inventory planning and control, aggregate planning, deterministic and stochastic inventory models, master scheduling, just-in-time and lean, theory of constraints, sequencing and scheduling, and assembly line balancing.

BA 7311 Managing Business Projects or EG 7353 Project Management - 3 semester hours
This course provides a management perspective on managing projects. It examines the basic nature of managing business, public, engineering and information systems projects, including the specific insights and techniques required. Issues such as the selection and management of the project team, project initiation, implementation and termination are addressed. This course is cross-listed with BA 7353. Students who have previously received credit for BA 7311 may not enroll in this course.

EC 6381 Cost Benefit Analysis - 3 semester hours
This course studies the theory and the application of cost benefit analysis to the evaluation of investment projects.

EG6338 Lean Supply Chain Management- 3 semester hours
Supply chain systems. Lean. Logistics.

EG 7306 Six Sigma Quality - 3 semester hours
This course provides the student with (1) an awareness of the history and evolution of the Quality Management philosophy and its principles and methodologies, (2) a thorough knowledge of the quality design and planning process, (3) the ability to deploy basic and advanced quality methods and functions in various organizational settings, and (4) the skills to analyze and develop strategies using relevant case studies and ways to transition organizations to the quality.

EG 6354 Computer Sys. Management or BA 7325 Management of Information Technology - 3 semester hours
This course examines a broad range of topics in the management of technology, information systems and organizational issues in exploiting new technology. The course explores concepts of applying computer information systems and communications technology to provide an effective frame work for managing competitiveness in an environment of rapid global change. Managing R&D, systems acquisition, decision-making, and links to other functional areas in the corporation are emphasized.

PS 6309 Human Factors and Ergonomics- 3 semester hours
This course is a comprehensive and practical review of basic concepts in the integration of the human component into the design, development and evaluation of man-machine systems and sub-systems. It emphasizes the data and practices of human engineering (same as EG 6309).

EC 6382 Corporate Economics - 3 semester hours
A study of the economic decisions faced by the modern corporation and Chief Financial Officer, this course covers topics such as working capital management, financing, cost of capital, dividend policy, and risk management. Practical application is emphasized.

EG 8300 Engineering Systems Management - 3 semester hours
This is a comprehensive course for the Engineering Systems Management graduate program. It incorporates case studies to permit integration of the functional areas studied in the program and engineering ethics. Class activities typically focus on practical applications of engineering systems management (systems of systems) concepts.

EG 7351 Systems Engineering - 3 semester hours
This course deals with systems analysis, engineering economics, and systems engineering and their impact on decision making.

Admission and Prerequisites

Admission is granted only to those with high promise for success in graduate study. Applicants demonstrate this potential through previous academic records and testing. To be considered for admission to the MS ESM program, an applicant must fulfill the following:

1. Have a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in engineering, the physical sciences or mathematics. Students with a degree in other disciplines may be admitted on a contingency basis provided they complete prerequisite courses including engineering calculus I and II, probability and statistics, and engineering programming.
2. Have
   1. a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 (A=4.00) in their BS degree; and
   2. a minimum quantitative GRE score of 600;
      
      
   Applicants who fail to meet any of the above standards may be admitted on a conditional basis. The graduate programs director evaluates these cases on an individual basis.
3. International students must submit minimum TOEFL scores of 213 on the computer-based test, 550 on the paper-based test, or 79 on the Internet-based test. Alternative, they must score at least 6.5 on the IELSE test.
4. Submit a completed application form, a written statement of purpose indicating the applicant's interests and objectives, two letters of recommendation, and official transcripts of all college level work. Admission is granted only to those with high promise for success in graduate study. Applicants demonstrate this potential through pervious schooling and testing.

To apply online, click here. For more information about the graduate school, click here.

Faculty