COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master’s in Engineering Management at SJSU requires a total of 30 units and is designed to build advanced skills in engineering leadership, financial decision-making, systems thinking, and process improvement. The program is structured into three main components: core courses, approved electives, and a culminating experience.The core requirement consists of 15 units and includes five key courses. These are ISE 200 (Financial Methods for Engineers), which focuses on financial analysis and decision-making in engineering contexts, and ISE 213 (Principles of Engineering Management), which introduces foundational management concepts for engineers. Students also take ISE 222 (Advanced Systems Engineering), which emphasizes complex system design and integration. In addition, ISE 250 (Leading the Six Sigma Improvement Project) and ISE 251 (Managing the Lean Enterprise Improvement Program, GWAR) focus on quality improvement methodologies, Lean systems, and advanced process optimization techniques used in modern industries.The program also requires 12 units of approved electives, chosen in consultation with a graduate advisor. These electives allow students to customize their learning path according to career goals. Typically, students complete a combination of Business (BUS) electives and Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) electives. The structure requires at least 3 to 6 units from Business courses and 6 to 9 units from ISE courses, ensuring a balance between managerial and technical expertise.Finally, students must complete a 3-unit culminating experience, which can be either Plan A (Thesis) or Plan B (Special Problems/Project). Plan A involves completing ISE 299 (Master’s Thesis), while Plan B requires ISE 298 (Special Problems). Both options are designed to demonstrate mastery of engineering management concepts through independent research or applied project work.Overall, the program is structured to develop professionals who can integrate engineering knowledge with business strategy, systems thinking, and leadership skills to solve complex real-world problems.