What to Expect

Get ready for a long haul. Most engineering management program are offered at the master's or PhD level. Even students who get a bachelor's degree in engineering management tend to go on to do a graduate degree.

Students can expect to combine a wide range of scientific, technical and management courses.

"Our engineering courses range from calculus or physics to thermodynamics or software design," says Dave Smith. He studied engineering management. "Business courses encompass marketing, accounting, finance, policy, strategic management and many more topics."

This mix of classes creates a well-rounded engineer. "Graduates are known as people who can solve a technical problem while maintaining a business view," says Smith.

Because of the variety of courses, Smith says it is difficult but important to balance your course load. "When it comes time to study, I would say that more emphasis is often placed on the tougher engineering classes, but this means that it is possible to fall behind in the 'easier' classes."

Elizabeth Whitby is a product of the University of Vermont's undergraduate engineering management program. She says she found her first year quite difficult because she was taking a lot of basic courses (calculus, physics and chemistry) and found it hard to stay interested. Her second year included what she calls "weeder" courses.

"Professors make the courses harder than humanly possible in an attempt to get rid of the not-so-good students," she says. "You'll get used to getting 40s and 50s -- out of 100 -- on exams and having the highest grade in the class. It's amazing when you first discover that a 45 is an A!"

How to Prepare

Take as much math and science in high school as possible. Business and economics courses are not as essential.

Courses in basic programming and English can also help.

Any sort of activity which gives exposure to the workings of the business world is worth getting involved in, says Smith. "Junior Achievement experience would be a great asset, but really anything that deals with producing, selling or distributing some sort of product or service would be excellent experience."