As engineers progress in their careers, some remain focused within engineering organizations; others step into leadership roles with broader responsibility and influence, expanding into enterprise or cross‑functional leadership.
At the University of Wisconsin–Madison, that range of career paths is shaping closer collaboration between the College of Engineering and the Wisconsin School of Business.
The Master of Engineering Management (MEM) program is designed for engineers who plan to grow into leadership roles within engineering, including technical leads, managers, directors, and engineering vice presidents. Ranked #10 among Online Graduate Engineering Management Programs by U.S. News & World Report (2026), MEM coursework integrates leadership, communication, systems thinking, and financial decision‑making through an engineering lens, preparing graduates to lead technical organizations effectively.
For some engineers, career goals evolve over time. Those who later choose to lead beyond engineering may benefit from deeper immersion in business disciplines. To support that flexibility, the College of Engineering and the Wisconsin School of Business have established a new pathway allowing MEM alumni to apply up to six approved MEM credits toward the Wisconsin Professional MBA Program (PMBA).
“The Wisconsin School of Business welcomes the collaboration with the College of Engineering,” said Dani Bauer, senior associate dean at the Wisconsin School of Business. “Offering six credits off the 44-credit professional MBA represents both financial and time savings to MEM graduates.”
A hybrid, part-time program, the Wisconsin Professional MBA Program allows busy professionals to earn an MBA while working full time. Students attend online classes one night per week and come to campus for in-person classes one weekend per month. Featuring a customizable curriculum and timeline, the program is ranked the #14 public part-time MBA (U.S. News & World Report)—and it delivers strong outcomes to support that distinction. 77% of graduates report career advancement within four months of graduation, and 78% report salary increases within the same period (2025).
“This collaboration recognizes the strength of the MEM degree while creating an efficient option for engineers whose career paths expand over time,” said Heather Smith, director of online graduate programs in the College of Engineering. “MEM prepares engineers to lead within technical organizations. For those who later pursue broader leadership roles, this pathway reduces barriers while honoring the rigor of their engineering education.”
For MEM graduates who take advantage of the pathway, the benefits include time and cost savings, along with continuity across UW–Madison programs. For the university, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to serving working professionals through aligned, learner‑centered pathways.
The MEM remains a complete and robust degree for engineers committed to technical leadership. The MBA pathway simply provides added flexibility for those whose ambitions eventually extend beyond engineering, reinforcing UW–Madison’s commitment to collaboration, clarity, and career‑long learning.