A new undergraduate program that integrates the study of engineering and business launched today at the University of California, Berkeley. The Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology Program (M.E.T.) will be taught at Berkeley’s top-ranked Haas School of Business and College of Engineering.
The M.E.T. Program is designed to give students a seamless understanding of technology innovation, preparing future leaders who will create real-world impact – be it at new startups, at social impact ventures or within established companies.
“Our industry partners tell us they face a significant gap in their search for talent - those with technical backgrounds need the expertise to bring a great idea to market, while those with business backgrounds must have a stronger grasp of the technologies that drive innovation,” says S. Shankar Sastry, dean of Berkeley Engineering. “We want to close this gap.”
The M.E.T. Program is looking for inquisitive, self-motivated students from diverse backgrounds with a passion for finding and solving big problems. The UC Berkeley application website for fall 2017 enrollment opens today.
M.E.T. students will enroll in one program but earn two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in engineering and one in business administration. The integrated curriculum consists of liberal arts, engineering and business courses and can be completed in four years.
“The long-term purpose of this program is to develop leaders with an integrated mindset and tools to address our largest challenges and opportunities,” says Rich Lyons, dean of Berkeley-Haas. “Their M.E.T. education will greatly expand their capacity to shape parts of our future that we cannot even see today."
Each M.E.T. cohort will be small, about 30 students at first, allowing for close mentoring relationships and a tight-knit community. Opportunities to pursue internships, career coaching and other enrichment will provide students with ample opportunities for hands-on learning in innovation and entrepreneurship.
At the same time, students will have access to the extensive resources of Berkeley-Haas, Berkeley Engineering and Berkeley as a whole, from student clubs and start-up incubators to alumni networks around the world.
Both Berkeley Engineering and Berkeley-Haas maintain robust relationships with Silicon Valley and other innovation hubs around the world. Their undergraduate programs hold top-tier national rankings by U.S. News & World Report.
Students in the M.E.T. Program choose between two tracks, each one opening up a wide range of career options:
- Business + Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences (EECS): By combining study in these two areas, students can pursue interests in creating new technologies, software or mobile apps, as well as ventures that take these products to market and deliver significant social impact.
- Business + Industrial Engineering & Operations Research (IEOR): In this dual-degree program, students can hone their expertise in building and managing complex systems, such as financial networks, energy grids and healthcare delivery, and improving their reliability and cost-effectiveness.
The UC Berkeley application process closes on Nov. 30, 2016, for fall 2017 freshman admission. Applicants are able to mark their preference for this program and the track of their choice on the UC Berkeley application.
