Mission Statement

The mission of UConn’s MEM major is to develop professionals with a solid foundation in engineering and business skills, plus a total enterprise vision, and intimate knowledge of production in manufacturing and in the service industry.

About MEM

The Management & Engineering for Manufacturing (MEM) major is an independent academic major that is part of both the College of Engineering and the School of Business. Students graduate with a B.S. degree conferred by both the College of Engineering and the School of Business.

MEM graduates have immense flexibility to work as practicing engineers or to focus more on the business side. Companies find MEM graduates to be well-rounded engineers that see the “big picture” due to their unique curriculum. This positions our graduates to be very successful in getting coveted internships and “Leadership Development Pro­gram” positions at major companies, introducing them to multiple facets of the business, and preparing them for a “fast track” to promotion. Due to this, MEM graduates tend to secure higher starting salaries than their peers who pursue other engineering and business majors. Given the level of competition in seeking employment, employers look to hire people who are educationally well-suited for their fields. MEM provides the tools needed to be competitive.

History of the MEM Major

The College of Engineering and the School of Business at the University of Connecticut educate undergraduates who are highly valued in their respective fields. Both schools, however, have recognized that students who plan to pursue careers in manufacturing can benefit from a perspective that integrates subjects that have traditionally been available only in business programs or engineering programs. Given the level of competition in many manufacturing sectors, it is essential that firms employ people who are educationally well suited for the challenges to be faced.

In 1990, a task force composed of leaders from industry, state government and academia worked with faculty from the University of Connecticut’s College of Engineering and the School of Business to develop an innovative manufacturing education program – the Management & Engineering for Manufacturing (MEM) major. The MEM major integrates business and engineering, with an emphasis on preparing students for careers with firms engaged in manufacturing at a world-class global level.

MEM students graduate with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree conferred by both the College of Engineering and the School of Business. At graduation our students are part of an elite cohort who have earned the right to hang two tassels from their mortarboards: an orange one for the College of Engineering and a pale brown one (official color name: drab) for the School of Business!