Streamlined Admissions Process
A bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution (or international equivalent) and a minimum GPA of 2.7 is required. The GRE/GMAT is not required.
Design a career that works for you
M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering
The M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering is a 10 course (30 credit) program. Our program develops individuals with leadership depth and technical breadth for engineering management positions in a manufacturing or service industry. Coursework focuses on manufacturing engineering problem solving, strategic quality and performance management and decision making. This program helps you acquire a great network and competitive edge by working through challenging assignments and responsibilities.
The Manufacturing Engineering program offers professionals with engineering, science or liberal arts backgrounds an opportunity to strengthen their engineering management and leadership skills. Students learn to view their organizations as systems — networks of customers, technologies, markets, distribution channels and people. Through study of best practices and ideas in the context of real-world manufacturing and service systems, students gain the skills and confidence to handle daily operations and make well-informed decisions.
Our flexible master's curriculum offers two different degree plans to choose from depending on your educational background:
- For students who already have a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering or related program.
- For students who have a bachelor's degree in other areas of study.
Contact
Robert Bach
Clinical Professor and Director, M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering Program
Program Advantages
Theory Balanced by Practice
As you manage multiple and complex functions, you need ideas and approaches that make sense in the context of your career. You'll study a variety of manufacturing engineering theories and practices, and immediately integrate what you learn to your business or organization.
Systems Perspective
Our students say that our program's operations emphasis on broad, systems thinking makes them better decision makers and leaders. You'll examine an integrated process of complex technologies, human relationships, distribution networks and financial systems.
Instructors with industry experience
Our full-time and adjunct faculty members bring both academic credentials and industry experience to the classroom. These executives, managers and engineers share a passion for teaching and improving the industrial welfare of our society. They emphasize hands-on learning, promote interaction among students and encourage the free exchange of ideas.
Applications oriented, industry-focused curriculum
Our program serves working professionals with busy lives. Set your own pace and start fall, spring or summer. Most graduate students take one to two classes per semester. Classes are offered evenings, weekends, or online.
Opportunities to specialize
You will work with your program director to select electives that align with your career goals. You can choose to study in areas such as quality, lean operations, medical devices, automation, product development, manufacturing process improvement and engineering management.
Theory Balanced by Practice
As you manage multiple and complex functions, you need ideas and approaches that make sense in the context of your career. You'll study a variety of manufacturing engineering theories and practices, and immediately integrate what you learn to your business or organization.
Systems Perspective
Our students say that our program's operations emphasis on broad, systems thinking makes them better decision makers and leaders. You'll examine an integrated process of complex technologies, human relationships, distribution networks and financial systems.
Instructors with industry experience
Our full-time and adjunct faculty members bring both academic credentials and industry experience to the classroom. These executives, managers and engineers share a passion for teaching and improving the industrial welfare of our society. They emphasize hands-on learning, promote interaction among students and encourage the free exchange of ideas.
Applications oriented, industry-focused curriculum
Our program serves working professionals with busy lives. Set your own pace and start fall, spring or summer. Most graduate students take one to two classes per semester. Classes are offered evenings, weekends, or online.
Opportunities to specialize
You will work with your program director to select electives that align with your career goals. You can choose to study in areas such as quality, lean operations, medical devices, automation, product development, manufacturing process improvement and engineering management.
Alumni Testimonial
"After meeting with the director Robert Bach and reviewing the coursework, I knew St. Thomas would be the perfect fit for my professional development. Every course that I attended in the M.S. program was directly related to real-world manufacturing challenges and best practices being used in the industry today," said Jared Britton '22, M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering alumnus and New Product Development Engineering Manager at Integer.
Jared Britton - MS in Manufacturing Engineering alumnus
Graduate Programs That Work For You
Our evening class schedules allow both industry professionals and career changers to achieve their educational goals. And each class meets just once per week.
Admission Requirements
Convenient Schedule
Our programs serve working professionals with busy lives. You choose how quickly you move through the curriculum. And you may start in any of our three starts: fall, spring or summer.
View Our Course Schedule
Coursework and Degree Requirements
The M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering is a 10 course program (30 graduate credits). Students must successfully complete all program requirements and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.7. The coursework for this master's degree is based upon the undergraduate major of the student.
Students with a bachelor's degree in manufacturing or mechanical engineering (or related program), select two Leadership courses, three courses in Manufacturing Engineering & Technical Skills category, three courses in Manufacturing Operations & Management category, and two engineering electives that best fits the student’s learning and career goals.
Students with a bachelor's degree and who do not have a manufacturing engineering background are required to take four graduate foundational courses, three courses in Manufacturing Engineering & Technical Skills category, and three courses in Manufacturing Operations & Management category.
See course descriptions in our course catalog
STEM Approved Program
Complete a total of ten 3-credit courses (30 graduate credits) in the following categories:
Leadership category - Complete these three (3) required courses:
- ETLS 703 Advanced Manufacturing Methods and Technologies (new course)
- ETLS 660 Leadership for Engineers
- ETLS 858 Engineering Capstone (taken near the end of the program)
Manufacturing Engineering & Technical Skills category - Select three (3) elective courses:
- ETLS 662 Computer-Aided Manufacturing and Machining Optimization
- ETLS 506 Statistical Methods for Manufacturing Quality
- ETLS 520 Design and Manufacturing in the Medical Device Industry
- ETLS 555 Advanced Product Design
- ETLS 640 Lean Six Sigma
- ETLS 701 Design of Experiments (pre-req: ETLS 506, or prior competency)
- ETLS 720 Anatomy and Physiology for Medical Devices
- ETLS 723 Biomaterials in the Design of Medical Devices
- ETLS 748 Renewable Energy Generation
- ETLS 770 Automated Control of Manufacturing Processes
- ETLS 771 Materials Engineering
- ETLS 774 Introduction to Mechatronics
- ETLS 777 Finite Element Analysis
- ETLS 779 FEA in Manufacturing
- ETLS 789 Simulation & Visualization of Dynamic Systems
- ETLS 810 Advanced Controls * (*check with Instructor before enrolling)
Manufacturing Operations & Management category - Select three (3) elective courses:
- ETLS 501 Production and Operations Systems
- ETLS 504 Excellence in Operations
- ETLS 505 Managerial Accounting and Performance Management
- ETLS 551 Strategic Quality Management
or: ETLS 722 Medical Device Quality Systems - ETLS 552 Supply Chain Synchronization and Forecasting
or: ETLS 570 Purchasing, Logistics and Distribution - ETLS 601 Program / Project / Team Management
or: ETLS 671 Human Aspects of Technical Management - ETLS 739 EV Market and Technologies
- ETLS 853 Managing Intellectual Property
Free electives category - Select one ETLS course:
Choose any additional course from the Graduate Engineering (ETLS) course catalog that best fits your learning and career goals. Please communicate and/or meet with the program director for guidance.
Complete a total of ten 3-credit courses (30 graduate credits) in the following categories:
Foundational category - Complete these four (4) required courses:
- ETLS 502 Manufacturing Processes
- ETLS 503 Engineering Mechanics
- ETLS 513 Technical Communications
- ETLS 660 Leadership for Engineers
Manufacturing Engineering & Technical Skills category - Select three (3) elective courses:
- ETLS 506 Statistical Methods for Manufacturing Quality
- ETLS 520 Design and Manufacturing in the Medical Device Industry
- ETLS 555 Advanced Product Design
- ETLS 640 Lean Six Sigma
- ETLS 701 Design of Experiments (pre-req: ETLS 506, or prior competency)
- ETLS 720 Anatomy and Physiology for Medical Devices
- ETLS 723 Biomaterials in the Design of Medical Devices
- ETLS 770 Automated Control of Manufacturing Processes
- ETLS 771 Materials Engineering
- ETLS 774 Introduction to Mechatronics
Manufacturing Operations & Management category - Select three (3) elective courses:
- ETLS 501 Production and Operations Systems
- ETLS 505 Managerial Accounting and Performance Management
- ETLS 551 Strategic Quality Management
or: ETLS 722 Medical Device Quality Systems - ETLS 552 Supply Chain Synchronization and Forecasting
or: ETLS 570 Purchasing, Logistics and Distribution - ETLS 601 Program / Project / Team Management
or: ETLS 671 Human Aspects of Technical Management - ETLS 739 EV Market and Technologies
- ETLS 853 Managing Intellectual Property
- ETLS 858 Engineering Capstone
Note: The electives listed above are suggested as best-fit to the degree program. Contact the program director if a different graduate engineering course best fits your goals.
Attend an Information Session
Attend an online information session to learn program details. Our programs serve working professionals with busy lives. Set your own pace and start fall, spring or summer. Classes are offered in the evenings. We look forward to meeting you.
Faculty
Robert Bach
Mr. Bach serves as a clinical professor and program director for the M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering program at St. Thomas Prior to teaching at St. Thomas, Bob was a senior manufacturing engineer at St. Jude Medical and Honeywell. He has expertise in tool & machine design, and process validation using designed experiments (DOE).
Dr. John Wentz
Dr. Wentz joined the University of St. Thomas in 2009 with the goal of developing engineering graduates that have a global perspective of engineering as well as being technically excellent. Before joining St. Thomas, John was a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Illinois where he worked on various projects related to fluid dynamics and sustainable manufacturing.
Thomas Becker
Mr. Becker has extensive experience as a product line manager, budgeting manager, marketing manager, distribution channel manager, customer service manager and sales manager. He has worked at Fortune 1000 companies such as Andersen Windows, 3M, Cummins Power Generation and Donaldson Company.