Product Development (MS)

Description

Where is this program available?
Authorized States for
Online Programs.

The Master of Science in Product Development was developed in cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and five major U.S. corporations. The program is focused largely on the automobile industry although it prepares anyone involved in the development of complex engineered products and systems. The program targets experienced engineers who will lead product development/manufacturing activities into the future. The curriculum is designed to be challenging and rigorous. The program is beneficial for both product and manufacturing personnel – product development, manufacturing, research, quality, and supply management among others.

Target Outcomes for the Product Development Program
The Product Development Program is a comprehensive and highly integrated set of learning experiences which develop the engineering professional into a future leader of product development/manufacturing activities. It achieves this mission to advance the theory and practice of product development and manufacturing by combining the best ideas and experiences of academia and industry.

The program develops the engineer's ability to use new and innovative approaches to design and deliver products and services. Teamwork and cross-disciplinary work skills are cultivated in this program. The cross-disciplinary nature of the program involves not only various technical disciplines, but it also teaches students the latest business and economic theories and techniques as they apply to the product development process.

The student outcomes of the MPD Program are:

  • Ability to apply systems thinking/engineering with customer focus and total enterprise perspective.
  • Understanding of and ability to apply current and advanced tools and techniques for design, analysis and management in product development and manufacturing
  • Ability to routinely develop innovative and robust solutions to system design problems
  • Ability to develop and execute complex system architectures
  • Ability to function in a high-performing, multidisciplinary team
  • Ability to transform customer/market requirements into competitive product portfolios and product functions and features

Competitiveness in the global market depends on capabilities to bring to market innovative products in the most cost-effective and timely manner and ahead of the competition. The MPD Program was designed to develop such expertise in US engineers. Systemic impact on product development/manufacturing teams can be achieved by aggressive infusion of advanced product development/manufacturing methods and strategies that are taught to the MPD students. The two-year cohort-based program begins only once every year – during January – and classes typically meet two evenings per week. Students may participate either on campus or via distance technology, but an in-person, two-week full-time kickoff experience is required.

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    Admission Requirements

    Applicants will be considered if they have excellent academic records, a bachelor's degree or higher in engineering or a closely related field and five or more years of work experience in industry, government or academia. Alternate qualifications include an MS in engineering with three or more years of work experience in industry, government or academia.

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    Degree Requirements

    The Master of Science in Product Development requires 36 credit hours consisting of 33 credit hours of course work and a 3 credit hour capstone project/thesis. The program is a two calendar-year (six semester) experience beginning with an intensive full-time two week launch experience, followed by two courses per semester for six semesters.

    Required Courses (27 credit hours)

    • MPD 5050 (or AEV 5050) Systems Architecture (3 credits)
    • MPD 5100 (or AEV 5070) Systems Engineering (3 credits)
    • MPD 5200 System and Project Management (3 credits)
    • MPD 5300 System Optimization (3 credits)
    • MPD 5350 Organizational Processes (3 credits)
    • MPD 5400 Finance and Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
    • MPD 5450 Marketing Management (3 credits)
    • MPD 5500 Operations Management (3 credits)
    • MPD 5600 Product Planning & Development (3 credits)
    • MPD 5990 Capstone Thesis and Project (3 credits)

    Elective Courses - Choose two* (6 credit hours)

    • EMGT 5460 Product and Process Improvement: Lean Six Sigma I (3 credits)
    • ENGR 5790 Mechatronics: Modeling and Simulation (3 credits)
    • EMGT 5040 Administration of Technical Businesses (3 credits)
    • MPD 5750 Design for X (3 credits)

Program Contact Information

Graduate Programs Office
Engineering 270
Telephone: 313-993-3378
Fax: 313-993-1187

Director: Dr. Darrell Kleinke
Engineering 214
Telephone: (313) 993-1140
Email: kleinked@udmercy.edu

Valarie Steppes-Glisson, Administrator
Engineering Management Program Office - Engineering 270
Telephone: 313-993-1128
Fax: 313-993-1955
Email: glissovs@udmercy.edu