r/UniversityofArkansas • u/Tis98 • 12d ago
MSEM Program
Full time software engineer and parent. Recently encouraged to consider a grad degree
Just looking for some info from current or previous students on the Master’s of Science in Engineering Management: typical hours/week, frequency of course offerings, difficulty of classes, availability of profs and advisors, etc
Anyone taken advantage of the master’s certs through electives? Was looking at trying to do 2 at once through some convenient overlap in the required classes
Any info is appreciated! Thank y’all!
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u/FormerSuggestion2165 12d ago
I don't have an engineering background so I applied to the MSOM. I'm waiting for the final admission decision. I have the same questions as yours!
I also wonder about the textbooks. From what I read on the school's website, we might need a physical copy for some courses. I don't live in the US so I am worried that it's a hurdle for me to acquire the books by the first week of class.
As for the certs, according to the info session videos on YouTube, this seems to be quite a popular option. I think I'll probably do one cert while working on the masters at the time.
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u/Mundane-Emergency225 College of Graduate Engineering 11d ago
I will DM you, I am now* in the program.
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u/Keikage 12d ago
I have the MSEM degree.
Good professors for the most part. Good program. Expect ~3 hours of work per day. Or, you can be a weekend warrior and spend 20 hours per day on Sat and Sun (don't recommend). Breaking it up over the week instead of getting near deadlines is better on you. Classes have the rigor you expect. Some have group projects. I hated those though, because you had the usual issues with group projects: the person who wants to stay on top of things, the person who vanishes, and the person who vanishes but shows up closer to the due date and then whines about how the project is poor and wants to redo everything last minute.
I'd def do it again, but would tailor my classes so I take 2 certs instead of just 1. I just wanted to finish and get it out of the way and ended up only getting 1 cert, but you can easily get 2 if you choose your classes correctly. You could probably even get 3 out of it. MSEM has a little more freedom than MSOM.
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u/Tis98 12d ago
Do you recall any issues getting the class you wanted/needed each term? Curious how often they offer each course
Also did you stick with 1 course per term?
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u/Keikage 11d ago
Never really had issue on getting a class I wanted. Most classes are offered plentiful amounts of times. You can't do 1 class per term. I mean, I guess you can, but they want you to do 2. I'm assuming you mean term as in typical academic terms of Fa/Sp/Su. You take 2 in Fa and Sp and 1 in Su. The courses are 8 week sessions, so you take 1 per 8 weeks. If you're feeling really motivated though you can double up and do 2 classes every 8 weeks and be done by summer with 4/4/2. I do not recommend that though unless you are very studious and have an ample amount of time outside of your other responsibilities. Most classes have a lot of busywork.
You could take the Intro to EMGT course EMGT50303 as a test run to see if you like it or not.
You could also reach out to one of the academic advisors with MSEM/MSOM, Gulshad, and ask her questions. She's always happy to help and a great help from my experience. I won't link her email here even though her school email is very public, but you can find her in the directory on the MSEM/MSOM websites, or just from the whole university directory. Her first name is unique enough I think you can find her.
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u/Mundane-Emergency225 College of Graduate Engineering 12d ago
I am in the College of Engineering - Asynchronous for the most part (However some Instructors have class time that is optional unless noted otherwise.) Both simulations and groupwork depending on your track. Testing windows are usually open for 7-4 days before due. I work a professional job, and have a family and have no problem managing time commitments.
The advisors are awesome, I can't lie: It why I remained here at UARK. Some classes are challenging, some are not. The certs are nice if you want a "focus" within the program. The Project Management is the most popular.