Indiana State University Newsroom

A new graduate program will provide Indiana State University graduate students the opportunity to learn more about technology management in a variety of fields.

The Indiana Commission of Higher Education on Friday approved the proposed Master of Science in technology management, which the College of Technology at ISU will begin offering in the fall.

The program will replace and enhance the currently offered master's in industrial technology, which will be phased out as current students graduate. Students in the new program will start off with a core group of classes rounding out the curriculum and then specialize in one of these current concentration areas that will appear on their transcripts: automotive, manufacturing, mechanical engineering technology, packaging or quality.

"This is a professional level program that will prepare our graduates for advancement in their field to a higher level of managerial responsibility," said Robert English, professor and associate dean in the College of Technology. "They will learn and develop the skills that employers are looking for as they take on additional responsibilities in their profession."

Students can expect to complete the 36-hour program in about two years, English noted, though that will depend on the number of classes taken per semester. Courses are expected to be offered via distance education in addition to on campus.

"This program will be very much appreciated by employers," English said. "It should also be valued by the Indiana Commission of Higher Education, because we all know the importance of providing technical training to prepare people for future jobs, and this program will help meet that critical need."

Students also will learn about economic analysis in technological industries from a course that was an elective in the industrial technology program, but will be a core class in the technology management graduate program.

"Many industries in America are actually competing at a global level, and competition is steadily increasing," English said. "There has to be more emphasis on the economic aspects of what we do."

The graduate program's course offerings also will reflect growing trends in technological fields, said Bradford Sims, dean of the College of Technology.

"This new program will provide students with the advanced skills they need to succeed well into the future," Sims added. "In a rapidly changing world, it is very important that our students have the training and education sought by employers who conduct business on a global scale, and this new program will accomplish those goals."

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Campus-Scenes/Campus-Scenes/DSC5313Campus/828446238_3gpYo-L.jpg
Myers Technology Center at Indiana State University, which houses many College of Technology offices and programs.

Contact: Robert English, professor and associate dean, College of Technology, Indiana State University, 812-237-3881 or robert.english@indstate.edu

Writer: Austin Arceo, assistant director of media relations, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3790 or austin.arceo-negrich@indstate.edu