New MS in Product Design & Manufacture Addresses 21st Century Needs
by Emily Wade
Advanced interdisciplinary training in modern processes
The College of Engineering announces a new MS degree that will prepare students broadly for a career in product design and production. The primary goal is to create a cadre of engineers who have the talent and training needed to generate compelling new ideas—as well as the passion and skill they will need to translate those ideas into the practical design and mass production of innovative and cost-effective new products to benefit society.
Offered through the Department of Mechanical Engineering and developed in partnership with industry experts, the Master of Science in Product Design and Manufacture will expose students to contemporary issues in manufacturing engineering and reinforce the intimate relationship between product design and manufacturability. Students will develop knowledge of both contemporary manufacturing tactics as well as strategic manufacturing practice. They will learn the process of converting customer needs into engineering specifications and how to predict and leverage technological and societal trends. Analytic, communication, and team-building skills will be emphasized.
The program will take full advantage of the College’s Engineering Product Innovation Center (EPIC), BU’s 15,000-square-foot makerspace, where students can get hands-on experience with advanced prototyping methods to shorten design cycles and narrow alternatives without restricting innovation. They will learn to incorporate “Design for Manufucture” and “Design for Supply Chain” early in the engineering process. Courses will be taught by faculty with extensive industrial and research experience.
Product designs that fail to incorporate an understanding of high-volume manufacturing can lead to failed product launches, costly iterations, inefficient processes and high material costs.
“Many U.S. companies are making fundamental changes to their business models to reflect this understanding,” said EPIC Director and Professor of the Practice, Gerald Fine (ME, MSE). “We have designed the MS degree in Product Design and Manufacture to cultivate modern engineers prepared to lead a design-to-manufacture renaissance in the US and abroad.”
Critical Knowledge. Customizable Program.
This new degree gives students a foundation in contemporary manufacturing and product design techniques and trends, while a wide selection of electives in allows students to tailor the program to their own interests and career aspirations. In addition to the practical experience gained at EPIC, students can further enhance their degrees by adding an Engineering Practice designation — developing and applying technical, project management and leadership skills via an internship with a local company. Students also have the option of adding specializations in the rapidly emerging fields of data analytics, cybersecurity or robotics.
Ideal for new graduates and industry professionals.
The 32-credit program, which can be completed in as little as one year, is geared to rising seniors seeking a capstone to the academic foundation acquired in their undergraduate program, as well as to industry professionals pursuing career advancement in companies large and small.
Students seeking to enroll in the fall and who wish to be considered for financial aid must apply by Jan. 15. All other applications for the fall semester are due March 15.