Building and Sustaining a Successful Graduate Degree in Technology

A Master’s degree program in technology that includes leadership and management component allows students to enhance their technical skills and knowledge, as well as help them develop new leadership and management skills. The Master of Science in Technology degree program was initiated and implemented at Purdue University Northwest in the year 2008. This relatively new program has graduated over 300 students in a short time, and enrolls over 150 students every semester. Purdue University Northwest, with two campuses in Northwest Indiana, has had ABET accredited undergraduate Engineering Technology programs since the 70’s, therefore, there was a large alumni base to start the new Master’s program. The Master’s program begun in 2008 with no additional faculty or administrative resources, and did not have any specific concentration. Currently, the MS degree program has six concentrations in various disciplines within engineering technology and offers three industry-based graduate certifications. In addition, a fixed plan of study with a technology leadership and management concentration is offered that is fully on-line. The program is housed at the College level and not at the academic department level. Most students enrolled in the program take a full load of 9 credit hours and the program graduates over 60 students per year. Over 95% of these graduates obtain employment within three months. This paper discusses the strategies of initiating, implementing, and sustaining such graduate degree program in Technology with various concentrations. Further, a fiscal model for the operation of the program by maintaining the program quality, high enrollment, and high employment rate of graduates is also discussed.