Part-time Study
Product Development
Program Overview
The Master of Science in Product Development (MPD) program is for scientists, engineers, and technical professionals who aspire to reach product development leadership positions throughout their organizations. Emphasis is placed on cross-functional, end-to-end product development and the integrated systems perspective needed to conceive, create, launch, and support complex products. The two-year program, beginning each December, has been designed in an executive format where students continue to work at their companies while taking classes on Friday each week.
Designed by academic and industry leaders at MIT and its Center for Innovation in Product Development, the MPD curriculum integrates business and technical elements to develop leaders with the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and perspective to effectively deploy best-in-class product development methods, tools, and practices. The program integrates formal education, ongoing research, and industrial practice, and continuously refreshes the curriculum through active partnerships with other world-class universities, research centers, and companies.
Curriculum Review
The MPD program is a 60-credit program of 13 business and engineering courses (10 required courses and three electives) plus a capstone project. Students complete required courses in a defined sequence with the other members of their graduating class ("cohort" model).
Required Courses
Admission Requirements
Prerequisites
Candidates should have the following credentials: an undergraduate degree in engineering or a related scientific or technical field with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and at least five years experience related to product development. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. (No graduate entrance exam is required although candidates are welcome to support their application with results from the GMAT or GRE).