Temple University Rome as gateway to the Philadelphia based MS Engineering Management

Temple University in Philadelphia in partnership with Temple University Rome Campus is launching its first ever international Engineering Management program. “We are very excited to start a program in Engineering Management at Temple Rome,” said Emilia Zankina, Dean of Temple University Rome and Vice Provost for Global Engagement, Temple University. “We believe such program would fill an important niche in the industry where technical skills need to be combined with all important aspects of management, from people relations to finances, to strategy and compliance.”

We interviewed Dr. Thomas Edwards (Jr, DPS), Chair of the Department of Engineering, Technology, and Management for Temple University’s College of Engineering to find out more about this innovative program.

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Q. How did the idea to have an MS in Engineering Management program that starts in Rome and continues in Philadelphia develop?
A. When I came to Temple University to establish the Engineering Management program it was always in the back of my mind that Temple University’s Rome campus presents an opportunity for an internationally-based Engineering Management program. This would be somewhat unique, actually very unique, and could be a competitive advantage to both the program and to our students. Then I attended a briefing where Temple Rome’s Dean Emilia Zankina discussed the Rome campus with newly-appointed department chairs. I contacted Dean Zankina, and we had a terrific discussion on how we could cooperate to build a program that would start in Rome and finish in Philadelphia. That was the initial conversation that lead to the point where we can actually offer the program to students (starting September 2025).

Q. What is the MS Engineering Management’s program format in Rome and the benefits to students?
A. The format being offered in Rome is a hybrid face-to-face with intensive online learning in between the face-to-face elements. For instance, a three-credit course would first meet on a Friday and Saturday for the entire day. Then there would be two weeks of intense online interaction followed by a second weekend of both Friday and Saturday all day. This format is accessible to a broad category of students. Full-time students can certainly engage with this format and also part-time students who are working full-time could also engage in this format. 

Q. Who will be teaching the program in Rome?
A. I have always felt that Engineering Management needs to be taught with the right balance of theoretical background and practical applications. This argues for a mix of both coursework and faculty. The Temple University Engineering Management faculty is a mix of scholars with deep understanding of the theory as well as adjunct faculty who are practicing professionals with a passion for educating the next generation of Engineering Management professionals. The faculty who will be teaching in Rome will be a mix of Temple University Philadelphia-based faculty and Temple University Rome-based faculty. I believe this will present a unique value proposition to our students to understand how the profession is practiced not only in the United States but also in Europe.

Q. What are the advantages of starting the 12-credit program in Rome to then pursue the remaining 18 MS Engineering Management credits in Philadelphia or online?
A. Adding the Rome portion of the program presents Temple students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of how the profession is practiced both in Europe and in the United States. This is a natural byproduct of putting practicing professionals in the classroom. They naturally bring their professional experience to help students interpret the theory of Engineering Management. Adding adjunct faculty who have practiced in Europe brings an additional understanding to our students.

Q. Who are the students you envision participating in this program?
A. We designed this program to be accessible to as many types of students as possible. We envisioned international students with an interest in Temple University's Engineering Management program who could take advantage of the opportunity to begin their studies in Rome and then transfer to Philadelphia. We joke about this being the opportunity to experience both the Spanish Steps and the Rocky Steps! American citizens who are stationed in Europe with either American companies or American government installations could also participate in this format based on the weekend/online format. These students could finish the degree with our online option without the necessity to relocate to Philadelphia. Additionally, I have been surprised by the number of Philly-based people with an interest in doing the first 12 credits of the degree in Rome! Sometimes these are working professionals who have the opportunity to work remotely and spend time in Rome prior to finishing the degree back home in Philadelphia. One of the benefits of these varied groups of students is that it promises opportunities for rich classroom interactions. I must admit that this is my favorite part of teaching!

Q. What are the some possible professional/career outlets/opportunities for students who undertake the MS in Engineering Management program?
A. Since the MS Engineering Management is a STEM degree, our graduates often thrive at the intersection of technology and business. A partial list of positions secured by our recent graduates includes:

• Senior Pricing Marketing Engineer
• Business Solutions Consultant
• Manager (at EY Consulting)
• Program manager (pharma industry)
• Sales Engineer
• Sales and Marketing Analyst
• Business Analyst (financial)
• Quality Assurance Engineer
• Process Engineer
• Engineering Supervisor
• Continuous Improvement manager
• Project manager
• Operations Manager
• Section Manager (second level of management)
• Branch Manager (30 engineers report to a Branch Manager)
• Project Manager
• Technology and Applications Engineer
   

More information

About the program: https://rome.temple.edu/academics-programs/adult-education/engineering-management-ms

Applying: The Fall 2025 application is now open! Students can apply at https://connect.temple.edu/portal/gr_applytoday. They will need to create a username and a password before starting their application, and should select the MS Engineering Management (not the online option) on their application. 

Contacts: If accepted to the program, students should then email Ms. Liz Spadaro stating their interest in the Temple Rome program. The Fall 2025 application deadline for international students or students interested in pursuing this MS Engineering Rome option is March 1, 2025.