Engineering Inc. - September/October 2008 - 30

b Traverse City, Mich., office, and a graduate of Northwestern’s MEM program. “It was nice to get engineering and construction management packaged that way,” says DeGood. “With only an undergraduate degree, you may know how to get things done, but you may not know how to make sure the project is profitable.” Other Master’s Options usiness issues are rarely covered in undergraduate engineering programs. PhyllIs elIkaI mckIm & creed Far more recognizable than the MEM is the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Indeed, many engineers have used MBA degrees as stepping stones to key leadership roles at their firms. “We’re a professional service firm, so our employees should understand what that means,” says Phyllis Elikai, vice president of McKim & Creed in Bolivia, N.C., which encourages employees to pursue graduate degrees. “Business issues are rarely covered in undergraduate engineering programs.” Having an MBA on one’s resume suggests the ability to see the big picture and to navigate the intricacies of business management, from analyzing financial reports to making strategic decisions. Other firms that promote graduate work focus on more technical areas. Chicago-based H.W. Lochner encourages its design professionals to pursue a Master of Science (M.S.) degree with an emphasis on structural engineering. “Graduate-level design courses are perfect for our bridge and transportation projects because they provide an advanced analytical perspective,” says John Cook, director of human resources for H.W. Lochner. “Some of our offices won’t interview structural engineers who don’t have an M.S.” Specialized M.S. ith only an programs provide more in-depth appliundergraduate degree, cations and exposure you may know how to get to new technologies, says Elikai. “Students things done, but you may not have the opportunity know how to make sure the to associate with project is profitable. research profes chrIs degood sors and experience urs corP. things they didn’t get as undergraduates. They come back with skills and knowledge of technologies that we can offer to clients or develop in our firm.” professional flexibility to pursue a master’s degree have a host of alternatives from which to choose. Many universities offer Executive MBA programs. ACEC’s SEI program features five weeklong learning sessions spread out over two years. “The schedule was far more efficient [than a full-time MBA program],” says SEI graduate Kurt Fraese, CEO of GeoEngineers, a 400-person Seattle-based firm. “I needed to stay on the job. Even with all this training, I needed to stay engaged with our leadership.” SEI begins a new two-year program each fall. Class sizes are limited to 28 participants. SEI holds each five-day session in a different location nationwide, and the curriculum focuses on establishing leadership skills and building a learning organization. SEI’s status as an elite program attracts top students. “I asked one of my SEI classmates who has an MBA how the two compared, and he found the quality of the classmates was the most significant difference,” says Scott Franklin, senior vice president at Life Cycle Engineering in Charleston, S.C. “Firms tend to be highly selective in whom they send [to SEI]. Business of Design Consulting W ACEC’s Business of Design Consulting (BDC) program offers an even more intense learning experience. Over the course of just four days, participants immerse themselves in all phases of operating an engineering business: leadership and human resources; finance, business management and ownership transition; information technology; contracts and risk management; and marketing. “It was time well spent,” says program participant Brian Dench of Pate Engineers, Inc. “I learned a wealth of information from the speakers, as well as from the interaction with industry peers from diverse markets and geographic locations.” Degrees of Distinction Senior Executives Institute Engineers who don’t have the time or 30 ENGINEERING INC. sEptEmbER / oCtobER 2008 For many engineers, selecting from among these options is a matter of preference. “Whereas the MBA is primarily about functional areas of business—finance, marketing, accounting and so forth—the MEM is about integrating technical disciplines within business contexts,” says FIT’s Shaw. “Because most MBA programs offer very little technical content, it will not make you a better engineer.” But, he adds, “for those who want to stick with design and technology, the M.S. is better.”

Engineering Inc. - September/October 2008

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