Present State and Future Directions of Online Education within Engineering Management Programs

Abstract

The use of web-based technology for educational purposes has been increasingly popular within the past decade. With latest developments in technology, especially video and audio capabilities, web-based education is now within reach of anyone who has an internet connection. Engineering Management (EM) departments have increasingly been adopting online learning tools within their degree programs. In this paper, authors analyze the current state of online EM education based on research on EM degrees awarded. Universities that grant a B.S., M.S. and/or Ph.D. in Engineering Management are explored, and the programs are classified as Live, Hybrid or Online. Following this, a framework is developed and presented for EM programs that wish to adopt hybrid or online delivery systems. The value of the framework is discussed with respect to results from an application within University of Houston-Clear Lake. The paper concludes with a discussion of the significance of online education within engineering management and suggestions for future research opportunities.