Information on Graduate Degree Programs in Technology Management
Majors Overview July 18, 2015Both technical and business skill sets are in the master’s degree program in technology management. Engineering, biomedicine, or computer science may be among the technical skills. The most common graduate program in this field is the master’s program. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs in this field are rare.
Graduate Programs in Technology Management
Schools typically offer master’s degrees in technology management as professional programs or concentrations within Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) programs. Schools often offer this program as an executive master’s degree, aimed at providing updated technology knowledge to mid-career professionals with extensive experience in business.
This degree program may be offered by schools through their computer science, engineering, or business colleges, although both technological mastery and business practices are almost always in the program coursework. Some schools offer programs wholly online or in hybrid online/on-campus formats. Students will require about 48 credit hours of study.
The focus of many programs is on strategies to help students stay abreast of new and emerging technologies and show how business can use them. The technologies covered might be in fields such as nanotechnology, IT, bio-pharma technology, biotechnology, or biomedical technology. With both business markets and technology trending in a global direction, students are also taught about technology in a global context. In some programs, students are allowed to select an area of concentration, such as human resources management or health services management.
Educational Requirements
Some schools have extensive prerequisite requirements to be met by incoming students to master’s degree programs in technology management, as most of them are terminal, professional programs. Students might have to submit college transcripts, letters of recommendation and Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores, apart from meeting a GPA standard, and possessing leadership experience. A year of internship experience in a related field, such as technology, would be preferred. A personal statement is also a preference for most admissions committees.
Coursework
Program coursework combines business classes with engineering and computer science classes. Classroom lectures and hands-on learning are both in the program, and students are often required to participate in internships. Core coursework may cover topic areas such as:
•Software Engineering
•Computer programming
•Global markets and global economics
•Global communication
•Business development
•Entrepreneurship
•Information security
•Technology strategies in business
Career Choices
Program graduates can choose from a growing number of corporate positions that require both business and technical expertise. They can choose from possible job positions such as:
•Technology company entrepreneur
•Business and technology strategist
•Consultant
•Senior IT Analyst
•CEO
Job and Wage Outlook
Over the 2012 – 2022 decade, a job growth rate of 15% has been predicted for computer and information systems managers (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In 2012, these professionals brought in an average annual wage of $120,950 (BLS).
Continuing Education Choices
While few schools, if any, offer doctoral degrees in technology management, some offer technology management as a specialization in doctorate programs in management and organization. These degrees typically combine computer science, technology, and engineering classes with business classes. A heavy research requirement is a feature of these doctorate programs.
