Engineering Management

Major

The Engineering Management major examines the engineering relationships between the management tasks of staffing, organizing, planning, and financing and the human element involved in production, research, and service.

Offered by the Department of Systems Engineering.

Are you into engineering but also like the idea of leading teams, organizing big projects, or solving real-world problems? The Engineering Management (EM) major at the United States Military Program at West Point is perfect for students who want to combine technical skills with leadership and management.

This program teaches you how to manage people, money, time, and technology - everything you need to succeed in both the Army and the civilian world. You learn how to plan missions, lead teams, and keep things running smoothly in high-pressure environments. The multidisciplinary program with in-depth instruction in management science, simulation, engineering design, data analytics, and six engineering electives of choice is an excellent undergraduate program that prepares you for a diverse array of technical and contemporary graduate programs.

EM is the only major to provide the foundation to obtain two highly regarded professional certifications. Within five years of graduation, you can apply for the Professional Engineer License and/or Project Management Professional certification.

What Is Engineering Management?

Engineering management combines technical engineering knowledge with leadership, decision-making, and business strategy. The major is designed for cadets who want to learn how to plan, organize, and manage complex systems, whether in the Army or the civilian world. Cadets study a mix of engineering principles, data analysis, operations research, project management, and systems thinking - preparing them to lead technical teams, manage logistics, and solve large-scale problems.

EM teaches the concepts and principles of engineering to manage the fundamentals of organizational leadership, personnel management, fiscal management, and systems understanding. EM is a highly relevant program which builds on the traditional roles of systems analysis and basic and applied sciences by emphasizing management functions in a technical setting.

Engineering management majors study the engineering relationships among the management tasks of staffing, organizing, planning, financing and the human element in production, research, engineering, and service organizations. By emphasizing leadership in a technical setting, the program builds on the traditional roles of the basic and applied sciences for engineering and technology management. Engineering managers must understand the interaction of organizational, technical, and behavioral variables in order to build a productive engineering team. Majors get a technical foundation in a specific engineering field of their choice: civil, electrical, nuclear, infrastructure, environmental, software, chemical, or general engineering. The program also provides a solid base of courses in engineering economy, production operations management, supply chain engineering, quantitative business analysis, project management, and computer modeling to prepare graduates to lead in a technical environment.

This major offers an honors track.

Why Choose Engineering Management at USMA?

Bridge Between Tech and Leadership
EM teaches cadets to understand technical challenges while also managing budgets, timelines, and people - key skills for military and civilian leaders.
Lead Complex Projects
From running a forward operating base to managing Army supply chains or building infrastructure, graduates will be ready to lead logistics, engineering, or operational missions.
Hands-On Problem Solving
Cadets take part in team-based projects, labs, and simulations where they analyze real-world systems and improve how they function.
Versatile Career Paths
EM sets graduates up for success in Army branches like Engineers, Ordnance, Aviation, Cyber, or Acquisition. It also translates easily to civilian roles in consulting, project management, and operations.
In-Demand Skills for Today’s World
Cadets earn about data analysis, risk assessment, process improvement, systems engineering, and leadership - skills that are critical in every industry.

What To Do With This Major?

As EM majors and Army officers, graduates could:

Lead engineering or logistics units
Manage Army construction, supply, or acquisition programs
Serve in roles that involve technology planning, systems integration, or operations strategy
After service, pursue careers in project management, business, or engineering consulting
Attend grad school for MBA, systems engineering, or operations research

Interested Cadets

Learn about the Department of Systems Engineering
Contact the department

Do you like solving problems, working with technology, and leading teams? The Engineering Management (EM) major at West Point is all about learning how to manage people, projects, and resources to get big things done - especially when the stakes are high.

At West Point, the Engineering Management major is about more than just learning how systems work - it’s about learning how to lead them. Whether you’re coordinating battlefield operations or managing multi-million-dollar Army programs, this major trains you to think strategically and lead effectively.

Why Consider This Major

Numerous internship opportunities
Complementary Support Course (Engineering) Track
Flexible scheduling of courses and electives
Excellent preparatory major for serving as an officer (complex problem solving, critical thinking, practical applications)
Widely applicable for leadership careers as an ORSA in the Army, within the business world, industrial engineering settings, and in government
EM majors LEAD interdisciplinary teams of engineers
Studying EM will prepare graduates for an MBA or master's degree in business management, finance, industrial engineering, operations management, operations research, or systems engineering
Excellent foundation for becoming a Professional Engineer and/or Project Management Professional

What Cadets Learn

Engineering Management gives cadets a foundation in math, science, and technology, plus leadership and management. Topics include:

Project Management – How to plan and lead large-scale operations
Systems Engineering – How different parts of a system work together
Data Analytics – Using numbers to make smart decisions
Operations Research – Solving real-world challenges with math and logic
Leadership in Technical Environments – Leading teams through complex tasks

Cadets also complete a capstone project, often partnering with real-world organizations to solve complex operational or logistical problems.

Choice of Electives

Cadets can customize their major with electives like:

Engineering Economy – Learn how to make smart financial decisions in engineering and logistics
Decision Analysis – Understand how to weigh risks and make strategic calls
Quality Control & Process Improvement – Find ways to make systems work better and faster
Supply Chain & Logistics – Study how to get the right materials to the right place at the right time
Energy Systems Management – Explore how to run efficient, sustainable energy operations

Learn More

View the full Engineering Management major curriculum
Meet the Engineering Management faculty

Cadets in this major have the opportunity to apply for a summer Academic Individual Advanced Development (AIAD) program, USMA-run academic enrichment experience. Within five years of graduation, cadets can apply for the Professional Engineer License and/or Project Management Professional certification. Cadets have the opportunity to join the Association of Engineering Management club and to apply to the Epsilon Mu Eta -Alpha Chi Chapter Honor Society, the Alpha Pi Mu - Industrial Engineering Honor Society, or the Tau Beta Pi - National Engineering Honor Society.

Additional Honor Societies:

To learn more about enrichment for this area of study, visit the Department of Systems Engineering, System Design and Analysis Center, or the Operations Research Center.

The Engineering Management (B.S.) program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Engineering Management and similarly named engineering programs.

EM Program Educational Objectives (PEOs)

The Engineering Management Program seeks to prepare future Army officers for productive and rewarding careers in engineering or related professions for service to the nation. Five to seven years after graduation, cadets who majored in Engineering Management will have been successful Army officers who:

Successfully lead and participate as members of multi-disciplinary teams in a diverse cultural environment.
Apply critical thinking to their engineering, management, and leadership skills to design solutions to complex problems.
Demonstrate intellectual growth and continuous self-improvement through self-study, continuing education, and professional development.
Demonstrate effective communication skills across a variety of mediums and cultures.
Act responsibly by upholding strict ethical and moral standards and by considering the impacts of decisions on social, political, economic, and technological issues.

Current ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) Student Outcomes

An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.