The master of science in product development is a leadership program for experienced engineers and technical specialists who aspire to high-level positions associated with product innovation. The program integrates business and engineering management courses, delivering them in online or on-campus where students continue to work while taking classes.

New products and services are the lifeblood of today's high technology firms, and companies need more technically grounded leaders to drive the engine for business growth. The product development master's degree integrates business and engineering courses consistent with cross-functional, end-to-end product development and the systems perspective critical to conceive, create, launch, and support today’s complex product portfolios. Participants acquire the foundation skills and strategic perspective necessary to become future leaders and senior managers responsible for driving business growth through new products and services. In short, the product development program prepares today’s technical experts for successful careers as project leaders and technically grounded senior managers of their enterprises.

To stay on the cutting edge, the program was designed by academic and industry leaders to integrate formal education with state-of-the-art research and best practices from industry. It includes a year-long capstone project that generates significant return-on-investment to sponsoring organizations. Electives and the capstone project provide flexibility to tailor the program's content to specific learning objectives of students and sponsoring organizations. The program is offered fully online or as a blend of online and on-campus courses. Students may start any term (fall, spring, summer) and complete courses at their own pace.

Format

Students may start the program during any semester and complete the course work at their own pace. Classes are available online but several courses may be taken on campus for local or full-time students. Students may take up to three courses on a nonmatriculated basis. Credits earned while enrolled as a nonmatriculated student may be applied to the degree program following formal admission.

Product Development, MS degree
Course    Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
DECS-743    Operations and Supply Chain Management    3
ISEE-751    Decision and Risk Benefit Analysis    3
ISEE-771    Engineering of Systems I    3
ISEE-772    Engineering of Systems II    3
ISEE-781    Excellence in New Product Development    3
Choose one of the following:    
3
   PROF-710       Project Management     
   PROF-714       Agile Project Management     
   ISEE-750       Systems and Project Management     
SecondYear    
 
MKTG-761    Marketing Concepts and Commercialization    3
Choose one of the following:    
3
   ACCT-603       Accounting for Decision Makers     
   ACCT-794       Cost Management in Technical Organizations     
Choose one of the following:    
3
   ISEE-798       Product Development Capstone     
   ISEE-792       Engineering Capstone     
     
Engineering or Business Elective 3
Total Semester Credit Hours    30
 

Elective courses

An elective course offers students the opportunity to better meet personal and organizational needs. Students may select from a long list of courses. Recommended electives include such offerings as Managing Research and Innovation, Lean Six Sigma Fundamentals, Advanced or International Project Management, Breakthrough Thinking and Creativity, Customer Centricity, and others.

Capstone project

Students complete a project during the final academic year of the program, based on a real problem often identified in the companies where they work. The corporate-oriented capstone project encompasses the broad integrative aspects of new product development – it synthesizes, increases, and demonstrates the student’s understanding of previous program material and underscores the behaviors essential to product development leadership. The capstone project generates immediate benefits to sponsoring organizations. View our list of capstone projects for examples of projects past students have completed as part of the program.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the MS program in product development, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete an online graduate application. Refer to Graduate Admission Deadlines and Requirements for information on application deadlines, entry terms, and more.
• Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
• Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college in engineering (or a related scientific or technical field),
• Recommended minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent).
• Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
• One letter of recommendation is required. Refer to Application Instructions and Requirements for additional information. 
• Not all programs require the submission of scores from entrance exams (GMAT or GRE). Please refer to the Graduate Admission Deadlines and Requirements page for more information.
• Submit a personal statement of educational objectives. Refer to Application Instructions and Requirements for additional information.
• Have at least two years of experience in product development or a related business environment.
• International applicants whose native language is not English must submit official test scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Refer to Graduate Admission Deadlines and Requirements for additional information on English requirements. International applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver. Refer to Additional Requirements for International Applicants to review waiver eligibility.

Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. No graduate entrance exam is required, although candidates are welcome to support their application with results from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and students may begin the program in any semester.

Tuition fee-2 years1,06,000

Total fee-2 years1,44,000