Michigan Tech Global Campus News

Author: Shelly Galliah

Tech Disruptions, AI-Driven Revenue, and Wildfires: Why Hybrid Technical Skills Matter Now More Than Ever

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On Feb 21, 2024, Change Healthcare—a main medical clearinghouse for United Healthcare Group—was hit by a ransomware attack that crippled electronic payments. Change Healthcare handled 15 billion dollars of claims annually. How did this attack happen? By exploiting a lack of industry-standard multifactor authentication on a legacy server, hackers took down a large chunk of United’s Healthcare system while compromising the health data of nearly 190 million Americans.

As a result, hospitals couldn’t process prescriptions or bills, forcing patients to pay out-of-pocket. This incident led to $100 million of daily losses for healthcare providers, supply-chain uncertainty, and an eventual federal investigation. The fallout exposed the shortage of cybersecurity professionals who can protect infrastructure while navigating the regulatory risks of healthcare data systems.

Old legacy systems were almost the downfall of online ticket vendor TickPick as well. In 2024, the company lost millions when its outdated fraud system blocked legitimate big-ticket purchases. For instance, someone buying high-value $20,000 Super Bowl tickets might be flagged as suspicious. As a fix, TickPick adopted Riskified’s “Adaptive Checkout.” This AI-powered fraud-detection system uses risk assessments to approve, decline, or flag transactions for verification. It helped TickPick recover three million dollars in revenue in only 90 days. The main point: online businesses require professionals who can strategically apply AI while balancing security, customer experience, and profit.

It’s not only healthcare and old legacy systems in need of employees with flexible, data-driven skills.

Fast forward to September 2024 and California’s Bridge Fire. This fire burned through 55,000 acres, threatening communities in San Bernardino County. Emergency crews used advanced GIS mapping tools to track fire spread, analyze terrain, and coordinate evacuations, saving both lives and property. As climate-driven disasters increase, the ability to interpret spatial data and translate it into actionable plans is more crucial than ever.

What Are Hybrid Technical Skills?

These three incidents, though seemingly disparate, highlight the increasing need for hybrid technical skills.

If you haven’t heard the phrase “hybrid technical skills,” the term originates from discussions in workforce development, education, and labor economics—especially since the early 2000s. The concept, a response to changing demands in the modern labor market, describes the fusion of technical (hard) skills and non-technical (soft) skills.

In short, hybrid technical skills comprise a blend of domain expertise (such as business, cybersecurity, and environmental science) with communication, digital literacy, and applied knowledge that cuts across industries.

People with these in-demand skills can understand the technology while speaking the language of strategy. For instance, if you’re a problem-solver with hybrid technical skills, you might not be coding AI models from scratch. But you know how to select the right tools, interpret data outputs, and apply them to diverse problems. You’re not solely a coder or an analyst—you’re an integrator, a translator. You know how to apply the right technology to solve the right problem.

For example, in the workplace, an employee with hybrid technical skills might be a

  • business analyst who can leverage AI models to optimize workflows
  • forester who can analyze GIS data to support conservation efforts
  • security professional who understands both network vulnerabilities and organizational risk
  • healthcare cybersecurity expert with compliance and regulatory knowledge

Workplace Demand for Those with Hybrid Technical Skills

To put it another way, hybrid technical professionals are the translators between advanced technologies and real-world impact. And you can tap into the demand for them, which is definitely soaring.

Cybersecurity professionals are equipped with hybrid technical skills.

MTU’s Newest Programs Help Fill the Hybrid Technical Skills Gap

Whether you want to defend digital infrastructure, leverage AI to drive smarter business decisions, or use GIS to protect natural resources, Michigan Technological University’s latest online graduate programs offer targeted, flexible pathways to equip you with hybrid technical skills for making that transition.

Why choose these programs?

  • Take 100% online programs designed for you, the working professional.
  • Learn from expert faculty with real-world experience.
  • Earn stackable credentials. Or choose to move on to an advanced degree.
  • You can apply for FREE and skip the GRE and GMAT.

Online MS in Cybersecurity

Cybercriminals are growing increasingly savvy and destructive. And cybercrime damages are expected to hit $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. Therefore, adaptable cybersecurity professionals are in high demand across industries. Along with ransomware, cybersecurity professionals must be ready to battle Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Phishing and Social Engineering, Zero-day attacks, high-profile data breaches, DDoS attacks, and many other types of cyber crime. The changing nature of cyber threats also requires organizations to continually improve their defenses and adapt to new attack vectors.

Cybersecurity professionals work in defense, finance, government, healthcare, and manufacturing. With MTU’s online master’s degree in cybersecurity, you can prepare you for several roles, such as security analyst, risk manager, cyberoperations specialist, cybersecurity architect, cybersecurity manager, cybercrime analyst, and more. And in this program, you can also earn a certificate in the Foundations of Cybersecurity along the way.

Need more details? Want to take a closer look at this program? Attend our virtual information session on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025.

Online Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence in Business and Information Systems

Artificial Intelligence is obviously not just for tech companies anymore. In business and information systems, AI can accelerate predictive analytics, identify patterns, trends, and correlations. All of these tasks can help businesses make detailed forecasts. Artificial Intelligence, then, adds “smart” capabilities. That is, instead of just collecting information, an AI-enhanced system can learn from data, spot patterns, and even make decisions or recommendations.

With Global Campus’s online certificate in AI in Business and Information Systems, you can bring advanced AI skills to decision-making, project management, and operations. This 3-course credential is ideal if you want to lead AI transformation projects, bridge business and technical teams, and advance into product and leadership roles. It also gives you the expertise to transition into careers, such as AI strategist, business intelligence analyst, or digital transformation lead. You can also apply these credits towards an Online Master of Business Administration.

Online Graduate Certificates in Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing

With climate change and land management in the spotlight, advanced GIS skills are becoming critical. To meet this demand, Global Campus previously rolled out the Online Foundations in Geographic Information Science Certificate in 2024. Joining it are two new certificates for natural-resource professionals: Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing.

In the Advanced GIS certificate, you will master sophisticated GIS concepts and methodologies, which are central to analyzing large and complex datasets, automating routine geospatial workflows, and effectively managing geodatabases. You’ll also get exposure to designing, executing, and communicating comprehensive geospatial projects. Remote sensing, the process of collecting information from the Earth’s surface and atmosphere without making physical contact is the focus of the second certificate. As a GIS professional, you’ll need to combine remotely sensed data with ground-based research to provide timely, accurate, and spatially extensive information that allows them to plan, predict, model, and make decisions.

All these GIS certificates empower you with hybrid technical skills for addressing real-world challenges, delivering innovative solutions, and excelling in professional and industry-level geospatial roles. They give you career choices: preparing you for roles in environmental consulting, forestry and land use planning, and emergency management and disaster response.

Upskill for the Careers of Tomorrow—Starting Today

From ransomware attacks to wildfire mapping to AI-driven business strategy, the workforce is facing a major skills gap. And as a professional with hybrid technical skills, you could be there to fill it. Several organizations are seeking flexible employees who blend tech fluency, critical thinking, communication skills, and domain-specific expertise. They want employees who can connect digital tools to business goals, apply AI in strategic decision-making, interpret cyber threats through an operational lens, or leverage GIS systems for environmental analysis.

Whether you’re looking to switch careers or elevate your current role, Michigan Tech’s Global Campus gives you the tools to lead in a world defined by data, systems, and strategic decision-making. These previously mentioned programs, though, are more than credentials—they’re launchpads for meaningful, future-ready work. And don’t forget our other flagship program that prioritizes hybrid technical skills: the Online MS in Applied Statistics.

We’d love to connect with you and have a conversation about one of these programs. Global Campus has a committed, knowledgeable admissions manager, Amanda Irwin. Amanda is available to help you evaluate programs and to find the right fit for you. She’s also adept at answering tough questions and helping people navigate the application process.

And don’t forget. Applying online is free. And you don’t require GRE or GMAT scores, either.

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MTU’s Advanced Manufacturing Programs Prepare Graduates for Industry 4.0

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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 12% growth in manufacturing engineering jobs through 2033, indicating strong demand for professionals with these skills. ​ And many of these jobs will be derived from the advanced manufacturing of Industry 4.0.

Advanced manufacturing is the broad, encompassing term for the integration of innovative technologies, automation, cyber-physical systems, data analytics, and advanced materials into traditional manufacturing processes. One main goal of advanced manufacturing is improving products and processes in the manufacturing sector. Another is increasing efficiency and flexibility across the entire production lifecycle.

Both of these objectives are crucial to reshoring American manufacturing.

Take automation, for example. Automating processes reduces labor costs and makes industries more competitive, offsetting the incentive to outsource. Modern technologies also enable higher-quality, lower-defect products. This precision is especially important to high-tech industries that the U.S. is known and respected for: automotive, aerospace, defense, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment and devices. Advanced manufacturing also supports innovation ecosystems by encouraging creativity through Research and Development (R & D), prototyping, and customization.

And then there are responses to global disruptions (COVID-19) and geopolitical tensions. Advanced manufacturing, better able to support local, just-in-time production, also helps make the U.S. supply chain more resilient.

Because of all its benefits, it is clear that advanced manufacturing is crucial to the growth and sustainability of American industries. Or to put in another way, to reshore US manufacturing while carefully managing labor costs and operational expenses, companies must make significant investments in advanced manufacturing.

Investments in Advanced Manufacturing Accelerate

The benefits of advanced manufacturing are clear. A 2023 Deloitte report indicated that AI-driven automation could reduce operational costs by up to 30% and increase productivity by 20-25%. Similarly, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) emphasized that embracing advanced manufacturing is essential for U.S. businesses to stay competitive while building resilient domestic supply chains. ​

Admittedly, certain sectors have long been poised for advanced manufacturing. For instance, the semiconductor industry has invested heavily in both AI and automation. On April 15, 2025, Nvidia made a promising announcement. For the first time ever, it would produce its AI supercomputers and Blackwell chips in the U.S. To meet this goal, it will invest up to $500 billion over the next four years while partnering with local suppliers, foundries, and data center builders. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is putting $100 and Intel are also expanding domestic chip production.

These commitments mean that a large part of the computational power required for driving advanced manufacturing—that for robotics, predictive maintenance, or AI-driven production optimization—will be increasingly available on U.S. soil. This availability will support “smart factories” in America while helping to build the digital backbone of the United States.

But it’s not just semiconductor companies that are putting big dollars behind advanced manufacturing in the United States. For instance, Stellantis recently announced a $5 billion investment in its US manufacturing network. This plan includes re-opening its Belvidere, Illinois plant. Similarly, Kimberly-Clark has committed to expanding its U.S. operations, which includes a new advanced facility in Warren, Ohio. And closer to MTU’s home, Corning’s upcoming expansion of its Michigan manufacturing facility will mean 400 new high-paying advanced manufacturing jobs.

Advanced Manufacturing Requires a Highly Skilled Workforce

All of these examples across various industries underscore the critical role of advanced manufacturing in enhancing efficiency, reducing operational costs, and mitigating supply chain risks. These effects are pivotal to revitalizing domestic manufacturing in the era of Industry 4.0.

However, supporting advanced manufacturing goes far beyond building cool things and adopting new technologies. Companies must also put money into their workforces, training employees of all levels in advanced manufacturing techniques, AI, and robotics. Creating a U.S.-based ecosystem, then, that supports automated, lean, high-output production begins with this most important resource: PEOPLE.

Admittedly, low-skill jobs will be lost to AI and automation. But as industries incorporate new technologies, there will be a demand for high-skill occupations in engineering, software, and data science. For instance, when it comes to technical and engineering roles, companies will need engineers specializing in mechatronics, materials science, and additive manufacturing. To manage digitization and data, they will require more industrial data scientists, automation and controls systems engineers, and cybersecurity analysts.

Also, to troubleshoot automated and computer-controlled systems, companies must bring on additional robotics technicians and quality systems analysts. And of course, supply chain analysts must be on hand to manage the just-in-time inventory while mitigating possible disruptions. In other words, advanced manufacturing requires a highly skilled workforce composed of specialists and innovators from various fields.

Examples of MTU Programs that Support Industry 4.0 Manufacturing

Several programs at Michigan Tech, many of them interdisciplinary, reflect the university’s commitment to integrating advanced manufacturing concepts into its engineering education.

Thus, they prepare students for the evolving demands of manufacturing in Industry 4.0.

These include MTU’s bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, and Robotics Engineering.

MTU also has specific minors directly related to manufacturing. For instance, the university’s Manufacturing Minor has intensive coursework related to machining processes, design with plastics, micromanufacturing, metrology, metal casting, robotics, and mechatronics. And MTU’s Manufacturing Systems Minor focuses on manufacturing fundamentals and automated systems. Courses cover topics such as programmable logic controllers, simulation modeling, and discrete sequential controls. Complementing various engineering majors, this minor enhances students’ understanding of manufacturing operations and automation.

And through the Global Campus, Michigan Tech offers several online graduate certificates relevant to advanced manufacturing and its associated challenges. These include 9-credit programs in Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, Foundations of Cybersecurity, and Safety and Security of Autonomous Cyber-Physical Systems

Advanced Manufacturing Graduate Programs at MTU

In addition, MTU’s Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology has respected graduate degrees in manufacturing engineering. These programs are some of the few available in the United States. That is, as of 2025, there are only 75 industrial and manufacturing grad programs in the United States. And only 25 of these are available online.

MTU’s programs are not only unique, but also practical. They are created and taught by manufacturing engineers with decades of on-the-job experience from several industries.

And their up-to-date curriculum is also based on The Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge.

 

In particular, MMET’s unique programs focus on the fourth pillar–Manufacturing Competitiveness–which is at the hub of smart manufacturing, modeling, simulation, sustainability, additive manufacturing, and advanced materials.

As well, the program also strongly emphasizes the third pillar, Manufacturing Systems and Operations, which includes the two key areas of Production System Design and Industry 4.0 and Automated Systems. Coursework covers Manufacturing System Design, Planning/Plant Layout, Human Factors, Environmental Sustainability, and Safety Production. 

Furthermore, the program also supports several of the key knowledge areas that are integral to supporting advanced manufacturing: smart manufacturing, modeling and simulation, sustainability and additive manufacturing, advanced materials, and leadership.

Coursework Designed for Advanced Manufacturing and Industry 4.0

In fact, several core courses address these knowledge areas while preparing students for the specific challenges of as well as leadership roles in advanced manufacturing. Take Industry 4.0 Concepts) (MFGE 5200), for instance. This course covers smart factories, sensor networks, and intelligent decision-making systems. In so doing, it teaches students how to model and simulate digital factories and how to integrate these systems into existing operations.

And Organizational Leadership (MFGE 5000) helps students develop communication, emotional intelligence, and ethical decision-making. Educating engineers in communication and decision-making is key to the complex, changing tasks of not only training employees but also integrating advanced technologies and tools in the advanced manufacturing environment. This course prepares students for technical leadership roles, such as those of team leads, project managers, and cross-functional coordinators.

In addition, the content of Statistical Methods (MA 5701) prepares students to lead Six Sigma and continuous improvement initiatives. Other core courses are Tolerance Analysis with Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (MFGE5100) and Industrial Safety (MFGE5500).

Beyond these required courses, others prepare students for some of the specific challenges of advanced manufacturing. For instance, Operations Management (BA 5610), which focuses on lean systems, ERP integration, and demand forecasting, trains students to analyze operations holistically, from inventory to logistics to production. Furthermore, Introduction to Sustainability and Resilience (ENG 5515) recognizes that sustainability is more than just a buzzword. Its content introduces engineers to ecological economics, sustainability metrics, and policy-driven design. Therefore, it builds those systems-thinking skills necessary for leading green transitions, which are crucial for industries like automotive, energy, aerospace, and consumer goods.

Examples of Current Students in MTU’s Online Manufacturing Program

According to John Irwin, Professor and Chair, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology, MTU’s online program is ideal for working professionals. Two of Global Campus’s current students are engineers at top-tier automotive companies. In their projects, they are supporting advanced manufacturing by developing methods for increased part production and safety.

For instance, shared spaces where humans and robots work and interact in close proximity are common in advanced manufacturing. One student is working to increase safety for collaborative robotic systems. Another MS Thesis student is collaborating with Pettibone, which produces material handling equipment. They are conducting a lean energy study to pinpoint both direct and indirect energy waste in production. The goal: increasing efficiency without sacrificing productivity.

Since the introduction of graduate degrees in MMET, we’ve had many full-time engineers pursue our programs. And these programs are growing. The Global Campus Fall 2025 enrollment has increased 100% over last spring semester. At MMET, we’re always looking to provide more opportunities for working professionals to pursue their research while earning a respected degree from Michigan Tech.

John Irwin

Learn More About Michigan Tech’s Online Graduate Program in Manufacturing Engineering

All in all, Michigan Technological University has programs that are strategically aligned to support the upskilling needed for manufacturing for Industry 4.0. Graduates of MTU’s online graduate manufacturing program, for instance, are well-positioned for various roles–especially those in leadership–across advanced manufacturing. 

Learn more and talk to subject matter experts by attending an upcoming virtual information session on Michigan Tech’s online graduate program in manufacturing engineering.

DETAILS:

  • Date: Thursday, June 19
  • Time: 11:30 AM (EDT)
  • Location: Zoom
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Cummins and Michigan Tech Sign Corporate Fellowship Agreement

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Cummins’ Chief Technical Officer, Jonathan (Jon) Wood stands next to MTU’s Vice President for Global Campus and Corporate Partnerships, David Lawrence at the Cummins’ Corporate Fellowship signing ceremony. Surrounding them are various leaders and representatives of both Cummins and Michigan Tech.

On Friday, May 9, 2025, the MTU Global Campus team, and a cohort of esteemed professors, program directors, and other leaders from Michigan Technological University travelled to Columbus, Indiana. 

Their goal: spending a very full day at the Cummins Corporate Headquarters. While there, they toured the impressive facilities, attended a signing ceremony for the Corporate Education Fellowship Program, and took in an alumni event.

Cummins Inc., a global power solutions leader, comprises five business segments: Components, Engine, Distribution, Power Systems, and Accelera by Cummins. These segments are supported by its global manufacturing and extensive service and support network, skilled workforce, and vast technological expertise. Cummins is dedicated to its Destination Zero strategy. The company has a commitment to sustainability and to helping its customers successfully navigate the energy transition with its broad portfolio of products. Cummins, which has approximately 69,900 employees, earned $3.9 billion on sales of $34.1 billion in 2024. (See how Cummins is leading the world toward a future of smarter, cleaner power.)

For all these reasons, Cummins is an ideal partner for Michigan Tech’s Corporate Fellowship Program.

The Corporate Education Fellowship supports Cummins’ employees in their pursuit of graduate education through MTU’s Global Campus. In short, eligible employees of Cummins will receive fellowships to enroll in one of Tech’s online graduate certificates or master’s degree programs. Thus, the fellowship enables the company’s employees to acquire industry-needed skills, follow areas of professional interest, and meet the diverse needs of their stakeholders.

Experiencing Cummins’ Rich History

The eventful day began with a tour of the Cummins Technical Center. This tour provided a view into the company’s operations, their special projects, and recent technological developments.

Next, the group viewed Cummins’ Corporate Office Building. This building’s lobby, which includes the company’s museum, features several impressive display cases documenting the company’s rich history and technological achievements.

For instance, the group enjoyed one wall featuring a mounted 1989 Ram D250 truck with a Cummins’ engine. This display highlighted the company’s long partnership with Ram for producing high-powered, on-highway pickup trucks. In fact, this 1989 truck began as a 1988 Model Year D250, built at Chrysler’s Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Detroit, Mich.

They also witnessed other impressive company firsts. For instance, one standout was Cummins’ red and yellow #28 Diesel Special IndyCar. Built to take advantage of the new 1952 Indy 500 race rules permitting four-cycle diesel engines, this experimental car featured a 6.6 inline-six, 380-horsepower diesel engine. At the time, in fact, it was the first turbocharged Indy racer!

Also, many were fascinated by the exploded engine installation. Strikingly merging art and technology, this sculpture deconstructs Cummins’ NTC-400 Big Cam into more than 500 unique parts suspended in midair. Thus, it celebrates both the achievement–and wonder–of Cummins’ technology. In the 1980s, the NTC-400 Big Cam was the company’s largest diesel engine. Another fact. The sculpture was designed by Rudolphe de Harake and Associates, but it was Cummins’ employees who painstakingly put it together in 1985.

Rick Berkey, Amanda Irwin, and Jin Choi marvel at Cummins’ 1958 diesel special.

The exploding engine installation.

David Lawrence and Rick Berkey stand next to the Valvoline Cummins Lola. Driven by Robby Gordon, this car placed 5th in the 1994 Indy 500.

The wall-mounted, Cummins-powered Ram 250 truck.

Signing the Fellowship Agreement

After this tour, the group attended lunch and then the formal signing ceremony. This second event solidified the Corporate Education Partnership agreement between Michigan Technological University and Cummins.

David Lawrence, Vice President for Global Campus and corporate partnerships; Rick Berkey, Director of Global Campus; and Will Cantrell, Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School represented for Michigan Tech. Also attending for MTU were Andrew Barnard, Jason Blough, Jin Choi, Jeff Naber, Brian Hannon, Nagesh Hatti, and Rob Waara.

Representing Cummins were Jonathan (Jon) Wood, Chief Technical Officer; Bob Sharpe, Executive Director, Enterprise Engineering Solutions; and Marc Greca, Technical Product Development Excellence Leader. Other members of the Global Campus team and several leaders from both organizations were also in attendance.

At the ceremony, Jonathan Wood, Bob Sharpe, David Lawrence, and Will Cantrell all spoke to the importance of continued learning and making advanced education attainable for employees.

On the fellowship program, Bob Sharpe, Executive Director, Enterprise Engineering Solutions, said, “We set up this program with Michigan Tech to leverage the numerous courses, certificate programs, and graduate programs focused on key skills and capabilities that we know Cummins needs for the future.”

In addition, Sharpe confirmed the preparedness of MTU graduates. “Michigan Tech delivers excellent research in our industry and, even more importantly, develops people with strong practical and hands-on engineering experience.  These engineers arrive ready to hit the ground running and deliver great technical work here at Cummins.” 

Wood and Lawrence shake hands at the Cummins' signing ceremony.

David Lawrence and Jonathan Wood hold up the official document at the Fellowship signing ceremony. Jason Blough and Andrew Barnard are on the left whereas Bob Sharpe and Will Cantrell are on the right.

Jon Wood from Cummins and David Lawrence shake hands

Jon Wood from Cummins and David Lawrence shake hands at the signing ceremony.

Further Touring and Then Networking with Alumni

After the formalities, the group visited Cummins’ impressive Fuel Systems Operations manufacturing facility. Armed with all the necessary safety equipment, they were privileged to witness the precise work that goes into creating new technologies.

In fact, this branch of the company, which has a very broad presence in the market, offers fuel system technologies for various engine applications. For instance, they produce and remanufacture both unit injectors and common rail systems. Thus, they support engines ranging from 6 to 78 liters. As well, they offer fuel system control modules that work with Electronic Control Modules (ECMs) to optimize fuel delivery, reduce emissions, and improve fuel economy across different fuel types. Learn more about Cummins’ fuel systems.

Finally, the group ended their day with a well-attended Michigan Tech Alumni Gathering. Close to 40 MTU Alumni joined the Michigan Tech and Cummins group. The gathering was an opportunity for MTU and Cummins leaders to network as well as engage with fellow Huskies. And, even better, there was cake!

An MTU-themed cake at the Alumni gathering.

An MTU-themed cake at the Alumni gathering.

A group of Alumni at the Cummins' event.

Attendees at the MTU Alumni event.

Collaborating and Growing with a Global, Respected Leader

This fellowship program is crucial to Global Campus’s mission of building relationships between academia and industry. It is also central to the objectives of making quality online education more accessible to adult learners and of helping professionals advance and grow with their workplaces.

Overall, the signing and the tour marked yet another milestone in Michigan Tech’s long history of collaborating with future-forward companies that are tackling pressing technological challenges in electricity, power generation, and mobility.

Michigan Technological University looks forward to continuing to collaborate with Cummins and to helping grow its success.

(Shelly Galliah would like to thank Lauren Odem, Executive Assistant to VP David Lawrence, for her superb notes and research.)

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MTU’s GI Science Program Promotes Data-Driven, Yet Inclusive Solutions

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Bringing GI Science to Suriname

Dr. Parth Bhatt, Assistant Teaching Professor/Researcher from the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Sciences (CFRES) breathes and lives Geographic Information Science. In fact, Bhatt, a team of researchers, and other MTU representatives recently returned from Suriname, South America. There, they led an immersive, 3-day workshop in Forest Field Research Methods at Anton de Kom Agricultural University’s Centre for Agricultural Research (CELOS). 

Suriname, endowed with vast tropical rainforests and rich biodiversity, faces several pressing technological, environmental, and socio-political challenges. And the country’s geographical features also make it vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as those of severe flooding and storms.

There are also the more obvious human-made damages to Suriname’s delicate ecosystem. Between 2019 and 2022, in fact, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) increased by 47%. This growth led to significant deforestation and environmental degradation. As a result, the region lost approximately 25 square kilometers of rainforest. Suriname’s remoteness further complicates regular data collection, hindering effective policy development and environmental protection efforts.

Exacerbating these issues is a serious skills gap. That is, Bhatt acknowledges that “a major challenge [Suriname] faces is a shortage of highly trained professionals to help manage and preserve these resources effectively. Strengthening educational and research collaborations can help bridge this gap by providing expertise in conservation, remote sensing, and sustainable resource management.”

In Suriname, Parth Bhatt and the rest of the team tried to bridge this gap. For instance, while he was there, Bhatt led workshops on the use of drones for collecting geospatial data in the country’s rainforests. This hands-on experience with UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) exemplifies the benefits of applying emerging technologies in natural resource management.

Ongoing Challenges in Geographical Information Science

Most obviously, these workshops demonstrated how Geographic Information Science provides approaches for managing natural resources. To Bhatt, though, “remote sensing are more than just tools—they’re gateways to understanding our world in ways that truly matter.”

Bhatt’s online certificates, through CFRES, certainly help with this understanding. In fact, their coursework addresses the complexities of applying GI Science to natural resource management in the US, Suriname, and beyond.

As an example, let’s take Dr. Bhatt’s inaugural online certificate from Michigan Tech Global Campus: Foundations in Geographic Information Science for Natural Resources.

GI Science Challenge #1: Working with Variable Data Sets

Data sets often vary in resolution, format, projection, and accuracy. This point is especially true when researchers combine historical data with newer sources (e.g., satellite vs. drone). Because of variations in data, it is often difficult to model ecosystems reliably. Or to make consistent decisions across jurisdictions or even time spans.

Furthermore, when it comes to geospatial information, there are additional difficulties with handling the volume, variety, and velocity of data. GI Scientists must contend with a stream of heterogenous data from sensors, satellites, smartphones, and social media. And they must collect and streamline this data while also creating real-time data analytics and visualizations.

GI Science Challenge #2: Contending with Uneven Data Quality and Uncertainty

To complicate things further, geographic data often come from multiple sources. Researchers must juggle information from satellites, GPS, surveys, user-generated content (e.g., OpenStreetMap), and government records. And each source may differ in accuracy, resolution, update frequency, and metadata standards, leading to uneven quality and results. For instance, combining high-resolution satellite imagery with outdated census data might produce misleading results in land-use change analysis.

There is also the problem of uncertainty and inconsistency in spatial data. This problem is especially tricky when boundaries or attributes are interpreted subjectively (e.g., informal settlement boundaries). And inconsistency in quality can result from human error, different measurement techniques, and varying classification systems.

Classification, for instance, is variable. Organizations, datasets, and researchers might categorize geographic features differently, even when referring to the same types of objects or areas. For instance, one land-cover dataset might classify land according to “forest,” “urban,” “agriculture,” and water. Another might use these categories: “deciduous forest,” “coniferous forest,” “low-density urban,” “high-density urban,” and “irrigated cropland.”

FW5550 (Geographic Information Science and Spatial Analysis)

Some of the course’s key topics address these challenges.

  • Metadata Standards and Quality Assessment. FW5550 emphasizes understanding metadata, particularly their provenance, processing, and reliability.
  • Spatial Data Models and Structures: Students learn how different types of spatial data (raster vs. vector, continuous vs. discrete) are structured, so that they can recognize the limitations and strengths of each. This skill is crucial when merging data from multiple sources that have inconsistent formats or resolutions.
  • Data Integration and Overlay Analysis: Combining datasets from multiple origins is stressed. The course addresses inconsistencies in classification systems, temporal mismatches, and spatial resolution. It also covers practical techniques of reclassification, resampling, and transformation.

GI Science Challenge #3: Collecting Data in the Field

Gathering data in the real world is definitely messy. Thus, another challenge is ensuring the collection of accurate, up-to-date, and context-sensitive data collection while in varied environments. Researchers must contend with several obstacles, such as poor signal in forests, variable terrain, or multipath interference.

Multipath interference is a common and important source of error in Geographic Information Science, particularly in GPS/GNSS data collection. This problem occurs when a GPS signal bounces off surfaces (buildings, water, terrain, dense forest canopies) before reaching the GPS receiver. This interference then causes delays and inaccuracies in position calculation. (If you’ve ever run in a dense forest with a Garmin watch that beeps out an impossibly fast 6-minute mile followed by an annoying slow, 13-minute one, you’ve experienced this phenomenon.)

In other words, collecting data in the real world means recognizing environmental context, positional accuracy, and uncertainty. Therefore, researchers must understand how to quantify and mitigate locational error in spatial datasets. This need is especially true of data in high-precision applications, such as autonomous navigation. Drones used in forest-fire management, for instance, must quickly get to where they need to be. Furthermore, field-collected data must also be integrated with other geospatial datasets: aerial/satellite imagery, census records, or remote sensing products

How FW5554 (GPS Field Techniques) Helps Students Address the Complexities of Data Collection

This hands-on course, which focuses on GPS technology and its applications, emphasizes data collection, processing, and management. Students gain practical experience with various GPS units, learning to ensure data accuracy and quality. They also get experience integrating GPS data with GIS systems–vital for working with UAVs and IoT devices.

Some of the course’s key features include the following:

  • Data Collection in the Real World: Students work with state-of-the-art handheld Trimble GPS unit and industry-standard mobile applications, such as FieldMaps, Survey123 and QuickCapture which are crucial for their portfolios (as part of the Modern GeoApps). Thus, they gain hands-on experience using GPS devices and collecting precise spatial data in challenging, obstacle-filled settings.
  • Positional Accuracy and Uncertainty: The course covers differential correction techniques and the use of real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning, which are both essential for high-accuracy mapping.
  • Integration of Field Data with Other Geospatial Data: Students learn how to format, import, and manage GPS data in GIS platforms, such as ArcGIS. The course also prepares students to handle data transformation, projection alignment, and temporal matching, which are increasingly important for multi-source data fusion in GI Science. The emphasis on using GPS and mobile mapping technologies gives learners a strong base for adapting to newer geospatial tools (drones, IoT, GIS apps).

The pictures below, taken from Dr. Bhatt’s trip to Suriname, represent the challenges of collecting data in the field while respecting the input of local knowledge.

GIS Challenge #4: Ensuring Human-Centered and Participatory GI Science

Data of any kind is not neutral. It is not without bias. Therefore, one ongoing challenge to GI Science is ensuring that data collection is more inclusive, especially to underrepresented communities. For inclusive GI Science to happen, though, GIS interfaces and tools must be user-friendly. If they are, participatory mapping, community engagement, and indigenous mapping can deepen both the collection and analysis of spatial data.

HOW FW 4545 (Map Design with GIS) Helps Make GI Science More Inclusive

This course teaches the principles of effective map-making. It also focuses on clear communication for decision-making and inclusive natural resource management. That is, students learn advanced visualization techniques to create accessible, informative maps for diverse audiences, supporting participatory approaches.

Ethical issues in GI Science, such as geoprivacy, data anonymization, equity, and bias in spatial algorithms, are another important topic. On the responsible use of spatial data, the course highlights opportunities to empower local and Indigenous communities by integrating traditional knowledge.

GI Science Challenge #5: Addressing the Effects of Climate Change

Overall, the curriculum of Dr. Bhatt’s first online certificate–Foundations in GI Science for Natural Resources–emphasizes applying GI Science to monitor and analyze changing natural systems. By engaging with real-world datasets and case studies, students develop the skills to update and interpret GIS models. They become adept at analyzing environmental conditions, ongoing trends, and the impacts of climate change.

They also learn to integrate ecological and climatic data. In doing so, they develop comprehensive analyses and predictive models so that they can make informed decisions in natural resource management.

Integrating remote sensing techniques with GIS is also stressed. This skill is pivotal to monitoring deforestation, tracking wildlife movements, and assessing fire risks. ​Also, through the program’s emphasis on the societal applications of GI Science, students learn how to engage with communities, incorporate local knowledge, and support collaborative natural resource management.

GI Science at MTU: Looking Forward.

All in all, Michigan Technological University’s Online Graduate Certificate in Foundations in Geographic Information Science for Natural Resources is structured to build foundational GIS skills while addressing common technical barriers.

This certificate is just the first of the stackable three that will constitute Michigan Tech’s forthcoming Online Master of Geographic Information Science (MGIS) program. The subsequent certificates will delve deeper into advanced GI Science and remote sensing topics. Their content will further equip students to navigate and utilize modern GIS tools and technologies as they apply natural resource management.

Currently, Dr. Bhatt is running these courses from the first certificate in the Summer: FW5550 (Geographic Information Science) and FW5554 (GPS Field Techniques). And in Fall 2025, these three courses will be available: FW5550, FW5554, as well as FW5553 (Python Programming for GIS). This last course is from the second very-soon-to-be-released certificate: Advanced Geographic Information Science for Natural Resources.

And he’s proud of these courses, too, and their graduates. He enjoys giving his students “hands-on experience with spatial technologies while exploring their real-world applications, from environmental monitoring in the forests and wetlands to solving local and global resource challenges.”

Through Michigan Tech’s global learning opportunities and hands-on programs, I’ve been able to offer a valuable education to students, which helps them not only transform curiosity into capability, but also data into meaningful change. 

Dr. Parth Bhatt

Learn More About Michigan Tech’s Online GI Science Program.

If you’re interested in diving deeper into this online program and discovering how it can align with your specific career goals or research interests, please contact Dr. Parth Bhatt at ppbhatt@mtu.edu.

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Linear Algebra Bridge Course Returns for Fall 2025

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A graphic of a bar chart and a trend line, which represents some of the tools used in the application of linear algebra to Applied Statistics.

On Sept. 15, 2025, students can once again enroll in Linear Algebra: A Bridge Course for Prospective Applied Statistics Students.

Bridge courses, which are short, intensive, preparatory courses, help learners acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to enter advanced study. Advanced study might mean an undergraduate program, graduate degree, or graduate certificate. Often, these courses are aimed at applicants who have been provisionally accepted into a program.

This noncredit bridge course is an effective, low-cost option for those needing the linear algebra requirement to enroll in MTU’s Online Master of Science in Applied Statistics program. In particular, it will help students get ready for a Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 program start.

The practical curriculum covers the fundamentals of linear algebra as they pertain to applied statistics. Some of the topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • systems of equations
  • vectors
  • matrices
  • orthogonality
  • subspaces
  • the eigenvalue problem

The asynchronous 10-week format will help learners quickly master the fundamentals of linear algebra. The course consists of helpful instructor-led videos, extensive auto-graded exercises in Pearson’s MyLab Math learning environment, periodic review assignments, and regular instructor feedback.

Teresa Woods, associate teaching professor and academic coordinator in the Department of Mathematical Science, is helming this course. Woods is an engaging instructor with not only a passion for math and linear algebra, but also a wealth of practical experience: she holds both an MS in Mathematical Sciences and a MS in Education. With her guidance, students are assured a robust, interactive learning experience that will make even the trickiest concepts stick.

Why Linear Algebra? And What Does It Have to Do With Statistics?

Linear algebra, a specialized branch of algebra, focuses on the study of vectors, vector spaces (or linear spaces), matrices, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, linear transformations, and systems of linear equations.

This foundational area of mathematics has applications in several fields, such as physics, computer science, engineering, economics, and applied statistics.

And, of course, applied statistics.

Applied statistics professional making a presentation.

Applied statistics is the implementation of statistical methods, techniques, and theories to real-world problems and situations in healthcare, science, engineering, business, finance, medicine, social sciences, and more. This discipline involves collecting, summarizing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data to make informed decisions, analyze scenarios, solve problems, and answer questions.

Applied statisticians also use advanced techniques, such as machine learning algorithms, to extract insights and patterns from large datasets. That is, they work in a wide range of places: research institutions, the government, business and finance, universities, healthcare systems, and more.

These experts regularly apply linear algebra, primarily because of its ability to handle large datasets and complex calculations efficiently. 

What Are Some Real-World Examples of Linear Algebra and Applied Statistics?

Here are a few scenarios in which linear algebra and applied statistics work together:

  • A statistician working for Netflix might collect and then simplify data on user ratings for various movies. Next, they would represent that data as a matrix and train the model. By uncovering patterns in the ratings, they could then use the model to generate an effective recommendation system. This approach is also widely used in e-commerce sites and music streaming services.
  • Furthermore, a real estate agent might use linear regression, a common method for determining outcomes, to predict how housing prices will increase or decrease in the next year. This information would help them price houses in their portfolio, estimate their commission, and so on.
  • Healthcare professionals regularly use linear algebra and applied statistics. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) helps reduce the complexity of a large dataset by identifying key patterns and relationships between variables. Through this approach, health officials can then predict and intervene on disease outbreaks more effectively.
  • And, of course, linear algebra and applied statistics work together in several processes involving elections. These include voter segmentation and targeting, predictive modeling, analyzing voting patterns, polling analysis, and redistricting and gerrymandering.

Learn More About This Bridge Course and The Online MS in Applied Statistics.

Need advice on whether this course is right for you? If so, please contact Teresa Woods at tmthomps@mtu.edu.

This blog, though, offered just a few examples of the need for data professionals with applied statistics expertise. MTU’s online MSAS program can help you fill that talent gap while earning your degree more quickly.

That is, our online MSAS program consists of ten 7-week compact courses, which were carefully designed to be online and to meet quality standards. You can take courses in both Track A and Track B of most semesters, completing your degree in fewer semesters.

If you’d like an overview of the online MSAS program, watch this recording. But, if you have specific questions, contact program director Dr. Kui Zhang or program assistant Shanna Reynolds.

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Michigan Tech Global Campus Launches Third Thursday Interest Session Series

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Discover Michigan Tech’s Online Programs

Curious about whether an advanced degree is the right fit for you? Want to learn more about Michigan Technological University’s online graduate programs? What sets MTU’s programs apart from the rest? Then, attend one of the 45-minute Third Thursday virtual information sessions from Michigan Tech Global Campus.

These online information sessions, held on the third Thursday of most months, will feature some of Michigan Tech’s most popular online graduate certificates and master’s programs, such as the Tech MBAⓇ. They’ll also highlight new(er) online ones, such as foundational certificates in GIS and Cybersecurity and the manufacturing engineering degrees.

In these sessions, attendees will learn about

  • key reasons for earning this certificate and/or degree from Michigan Tech
  • the online program’s content, structure, and course delivery
  • exciting trends in the discipline and/or field
  • important deadlines and program start dates

Advisors will also be on hand to answer questions about admissions requirements and the application process.

Although the sessions are 45-minutes long, the hosts will stay for the full hour to address all your concerns and questions.

First on Deck for Third Thursday: The Online Tech MBAⓇ and MEM Programs.

Join the Global Campus Team on Thursday, March 20, at 11:30 AM (ET). This session will spotlight the online Tech MBAⓇ and the Master of Engineering Management (MEM) programs. The Tech MBA (online and in-person), in fact, is one of the Graduate School’s fastest growing and most respected programs.

The Tech MBA® and MEM have been here awhile. For several years, MTU has offered respected in-person versions of these programs. For instance, the Tech MBA® in its current form (30 credits) began in 2017. Next came the in-person and online versions of the MEM (2020, 2022).

What makes these programs stand out is their accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), an honor bestowed on only 5% of the nation’s business schools. And like their in-person equivalents, the online MBA and MEM programs meet a strict set of standards, ensuring quality in curriculum, rigor, and research.

At this Third Thursday session, Dr. Mari Buche will discuss program details, such as degree plans and flexible course delivery options. You’ll discover which degree equips you with foundational business skills and which interdisciplinary degree best bridges business and engineering.

Next Up for April: The Online MS in Civil Engineering.

Alternatively, drop by on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 11:30 AM (ET) to dive into the MTU’s popular, respected online master’s degree in Civil Engineering.

What sets this degree apart is its instructional team: professional engineers with decades of practical experience. Also, along with offering two in-demand focus areas–structural engineering and water resources engineering–the program also contains unique, sought-after certificates in both bridge design and timber building design.

At this information session, program experts will unpack how you can stack structural engineering certificates to customize a civil master’s that both builds on your undergraduate degree and strengthens your project management and leadership skills.

You’ll also learn about how you can integrate an asset management certification into your program. Asset management, the science and coordinated activity for the long-term care and maintenance of infrastructure systems, facilities, and other civil assets, is an in-demand skillset.

Visit the Third Thursday Page.

You can also read more about Third Thursdays, register for the online Civil MS event as well as additional upcoming sessions, and join the Global Campus mailing list on the event webpage.

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EV Excitement Brought to Students by MEDC and MTU

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LEARN, CODE, INNOVATE: this was the motto of 2024’s MEDC-sponsored EV Husky outreach events for both middle and high-school students.

In 2024, students and staff from Michigan Technological University‘s Electrical & Computer Engineering Department partnered with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering Department. Michigan Tech’s engineering ambassadors wowed with several interactive lesson plans–thanks to the generous funding of Michigan Economic Development Corporations (MEDC)’s Talent Action Team (TAT) Strategic Investment Grants.

Making a Difference with MEDC’s Funding

The MEDC grant to Michigan Tech is part of a combined total of nearly $30 million that MEDC has invested with Michigan’s higher education institutions since last year. These partners work with advanced manufacturing employers to design and deliver a curriculum that prepares students for in-demand mobility-related careers.

The MEDC’s Talent Solutions division consortium of EV/mobility and semiconductors partners includes more than 20 major employers and national industry groups, 17 higher education partners including Michigan Tech, and workforce and PK-12 leaders across Michigan.

This division of MEDC has also created cohorts for skills building and networking. 1,100 university students, including 300 MTU students, are leveraging these to connect to Michigan’s strategic industries and employers.

We are committed to creating stronger pathway to 21st-century careers. Together, we’re helping cultivate, attract, and retain young talent while showcasing Michigan as a hub for a future-ready workforce essential to building a stronger economy.

Kerry Ebersole Singh, MEDC Executive Vice President & Chief of Talent Solutions and Engagement Officer

Visiting Saline High School to Share an EV Lesson

MEDC’s funding has helped Michigan Tech’s enthusiastic STEM ambassadors put on several, well-attended outreach events.

The main objective of MTU’s lessons and activities: use EV technology to get middle- and high-school students–the next generation of innovators and leaders–excited about STEM. Eager students learned about EV technology through interacting and coding with Arduinos. (If you’re not familiar with Arduinos, they are ingenious [and inexpensive] tools combining physical circuit boards (microcontrollers) and open-source software. With them, users can learn to code, designing and building devices that interact with external hardware, such as lights, sensors, and speakers.)

Another goal was introducing certain groups to Michigan Tech and all that the Copper Country has to offer.

Most recently, over the holiday break (Dec. 17, 2024), Tory Cantrell (Mechanical Engineering) travelled to Saline High School. There, she hosted an hour-long Arduino workshop for 25 high school students. The group learned about how engineers design and implement ultrasonic sensors in electric vehicles (EVs) and other products. Then, the students built and tested a circuit that used an ultrasonic sensor. This sensor read the distance an object was from the breadboard and plotted the distance over time.

And the learning didn’t stop there. After the lesson, each student received an Arduino Super Starter kit and a list of at-home projects.

I really enjoyed the overall experience. It was very fun to get a bit more hands-on experience than I would usually get on a regular day. It was also a very nice introduction to the basics of Arduino, something I have been wanting to try for a while.

Caleb Summers, high school student at the Saline event

Interacting With EVs at the Copper Trails STEM Festival

And just a week earlier, Michigan Tech brought their EV ambassadors to the Copper Trails STEM Festival (Dec. 10, 2024). This dynamic event was jointly sponsored by these generous partners–Mind Trekkers, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the MiSTEM Network, and UP Michigan Works!. Aimed at students and educators from 15 area schools, this event showcased in-demand STEM careers, resources, and cutting-edge applications.

Students create their own tracks for EVs at MTU's table at the Copper Trails STEM event.

Skyler Brawley (Computer Engineering) and Tory Cantrell impressed the middle-school crowd with an interactive demonstration that highlighted EVs and mobility. They hosted a table in which students spent 10-15 minutes creating their own line tracks.

Through this activity, students learned about sensors and robotics with line-tracking vehicle robots. Many students walked away with their own small line-tracking bot! 

How cool is that?

Building Bridges to First-Generation College Students

Michigan Tech has also used MEDC funding to create opportunities for first-generation college students.

That is, on November 23-24, 2024, MTU’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and the Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering Department partnered with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) to host the Hope College TRIO Upward Bound visit to our campus. SWE advisor Jacyln Johnson graciously led this project. Crucial to the success of this project was Outreach Specialist, Lauren Huested, who volunteered many long hours.

TRIO Upward Bound is a pre-college preparatory program aimed at empowering grades 8-12 students who will be first-generation college students. This program helps students from income-eligible homes develop the motivation and skills to not only complete high school, but also to move on to postsecondary education.

In this visit, this student cohort had the full Michigan Tech experience. On their tour of the campus, they sampled MTU’s research. They met with MTU Enterprise teams focused on EV engineering and previewed robotics research. Then, they had an interactive lesson in which they built their own wheeled electrical robot in the ECE department Plexus Innovation Lab. For added inspiration, these students also spent time with Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI)’s McNair Scholars. 

The group completed their MTU trip by visiting the local area. Lauren Huested graciously led the Saturday outing, in which the group explored the natural beauty of the Keweenaw.

Engaging Future STEM Leaders

Crucial to the success of these events was not only MEDC, but also the dedication, leadership, and spirit of Michigan Tech’s student ambassadors, such as Skyler Brawley. 

In October, in fact, Skyler Brawley was honored for her very impressive contributions to SWE, the community, and to Michigan Tech.

And like Brawley, Tory Cantrell likewise knows the importance of giving back, of paying it forward. In fact, it was also an outreach event–Girl Scout Day from the local SWE Chapter– that first exposed Cantrell to the wonders of engineering. Continuing this tradition, SWE (March 2024) hosted Girl Scout Engineering Days at both MTU and Grand Rapids.

Attending Girl Scout Day opened Tory’s eyes to the opportunities in STEM fields, an excitement she wants to graciously pass on to others. “Hosting these events,” Cantrell says, “I love watching students get involved in the activity they’re doing, and I enjoy watching how their curiosity leads them to try new ideas to solve problems.”

The MEDC has been grateful to help with these outreach efforts that benefit both students and the state of Michigan.

We’re excited about the continued partnership with Michigan Technological University to nurture and develop the next generation of mobility professionals. Our aim is to promote these cool careers and in Michigan that offer high pay and career advancement. At the same time, we’re also building a strong pipeline of future Michigan mobility leaders.

Kerry Ebersole Singh, MEDC Executive Vice President & Chief of Talent Solutions and Engagement Officer

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Manufacturing Engineering Programs From MTU Go Online.

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The Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MMET) has recently announced two new online programs: the MS and the PhD in Manufacturing Engineering. Previously, these programs were available only on campus. 

Both Michigan Tech’s online master’s degree and PhD program, designed in partnership with industry, stress manufacturing competitiveness. This competitiveness is central to smart manufacturing, modeling, simulation, sustainability, additive manufacturing, and advanced materials. All of these areas are crucial to Industry 4.0.

The programs’ practical core curriculum, which covers both the breadth and depth of manufacturing engineering, is inspired by Society of Manufacturing Engineer’s Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge:

  • Materials and manufacturing processes
  • Product, tooling, and assembly engineering
  • Manufacturing systems and operations
  • Manufacturing competitiveness

Flexible Manufacturing Engineering Degrees for Working Professionals

But according to John Irwin, Professor and Department Chair of MMET, these programs are not solely for manufacturing engineers.

That is, similar to Michigan Tech’s online manufacturing engineering certificate, these in-demand programs have been designed to attract people from a wide range of undergraduate backgrounds. Students might come from mechanical engineering, electrical or computer engineering, materials science and engineering, manufacturing engineering technology, biomedical engineering, and robotics.

In other words, many can enroll in and then benefit from these degrees, which provide the tools and knowledge to take the next step: earning SME certifications, which are available in Lean, Additive, and Robotics Manufacturing.

In addition, the master’s and the PhD programs are both flexible and customizable. You may choose from three pathways for the 30-credit master’s degree (thesis, report, or course-work only). Also, there are two options for the doctoral degree (60 credits or 30 credits). Options depend on whether you begin with an undergraduate or a master’s degree. Beyond the core courses, you can also choose electives from four fundamental manufacturing areas. Thus, you can customize a degree that matches your educational and professional goals.

These online programs allow students from Michigan and beyond to benefit from this rigorous curriculum while working part or full-time. In fact, both programs are designed so that those enrolled can collaborate with their employers to complete workplace-based projects or conduct thesis or dissertation research.

 Students in the GD&T course work virtually in teams taking a component of a system from their workplace to perform tolerance analysis and conversion of traditional dimensions to GD&T in order to improve part functionality and minimize manufacturing errors.

John Irwin, Professor and Department Chair of MMET

In-Demand Knowledge for Current and Future Manufacturing Engineering Challenges

In 2021, the waves of the pandemic started to quickly unravel supply chains across the world. Manufacturing plants slowed or even closed, ports experienced unprecedented back-ups, and transportation costs and inflation raised prices dramatically.

According to NAM’s (National Association of Manufacturer’s) Q3 2023 Manufacturer’s Outlook Survey, 72.1% of the respondents indicated that the biggest challenge facing manufacturers was attracting and retaining a quality workforce. 

And manufacturing engineers are obviously a crucial part of that quality workforce. The US BLS stated that the job growth for industrial engineers (one possible career path) between 2023-2033 is 12%. This growth is much faster than average. Currently, there are over 241,977 manufacturing engineers employed in the US, but there still is a need for more. 

Why? The drive to incorporate Lean manufacturing processes, advances in additive manufacturing, the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry, and the reshoring of manufacturing in the US have all magnified the demand for manufacturing engineers.

In particular, the manufacturing industry needs engineers with expertise in IOT (Internet of Things) technologies and smart factory solutions, which are essential to manufacturing competitiveness. Michigan Tech, in fact, has a long history in advanced these and other manufacturing solutions.

That is, both the MS and PhD in manufacturing support efforts highlighted by Automation Alley, Michigan’s Industry 4.0 knowledge center. This center has helped manufacturers of all sizes understand the rapid technological changes associated with digital technology in manufacturing, so that both Michigan and the nation remain globally competitive.

Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.

Henry Ford, American industrialist, founder of the Ford Motor Company

Get Started On Your Program Now.

Michigan Tech’s online manufacturing programs can help you accelerate your career while making a difference in Industry 4.0.

There is still time to begin a graduate program for Spring 2025. Alternatively, you can start with an online graduate certificate in manufacturing engineering, and then apply these credits towards an advanced degree.

For Spring 2025, MMET is offering Industry for 4.0 Concepts (MFGE 5200), Design for Additive Manufacturing (MFGE 5300), which are core courses for both the certificate and master’s degree. Industrial Safety (MFGE 5500), a core course for the master’s program, is also on deck.

For more information about these programs, please contact David Wanless, Associate Teaching Professor MET and Program Director; and visit the web page on Global Campus.

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Bridge Design Course Added for Spring 2025

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You can drive over a failed roadway. Failed bridges, though, are a different story–one that qualified structural engineers are responsible for preventing through good design practices and thorough bridge inspection, evaluation, and management.

Dr. Chris Gilbertson

Dr. Chris Gilbertson, PE, knows, lives bridges. Really respects their importance, too, in keeping us safe and getting us where we need to go. He is bringing his significant experience, expertise, and passion to Michigan Tech. He is teaching the Spring 2025 hybrid online/on-campus course CEE 5261, Bridge Construction and Design for CEGE. This course runs from January 6 to April 18.

Get an Overview AASHTO Bridge Design Specifications.

This fundamental course, required for Michigan Tech’s bridge analysis and design certificate, will provide an overview of the AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) bridge design specifications. These specifications include loading and load effects, as well as the design of steel and concrete superstructure and substructure components. CEE 5261 also introduces students to related bridge-management topics, such as inspection, load rating, and asset management.

If you haven’t heard of AASHTO, it “is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing highway and transportation departments in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.” Although AASHTO covers all transportation modes, “its primary goal is to foster the development, operation, and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system.” It is a leader in setting standards for the design, construction, and maintenance of highways and materials.

“Most structural engineering curricula are focused on aspects of building design. This course will provide content focused on bridge design and the AASHTO specifications for both bridge design and evaluation,” Gilberston confirmed. Another unique aspect of CEE 5261 is the focus on bridge management. Bridge management is complex; it involves the inspection, load rating, and asset management that goes into maintaining an agency’s bridge network.

Students will gain real-world experience through a class project involving a local case study. That is, they will take a set of plans from a bridge located in the Western Upper Peninsula. Next, they will use those plans and inspection reports to produce a load rating. Finally, they will determine the safe load carrying capacity of the structure as it stands, deterioration and all.

Learn About Bridge Design from an Experienced Instructor.

Dr. Chris Gilbertson, PE., is not only an adjunct associate professor for the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE), but also an associate director at CEGE’s Center for Technology and Training.

An expert in bridge design, load rating, and asset management, Gilbertson is a versatile, seasoned instructor who has taught college, practitioner-level, and high school audiences. Pre-college outreach is also his passion. In particular, he is active in the AASHTO’s hands-on TRAC (Transportation and Civil Engineering) outreach program. This innovative program integrates real-world engineering problems into 7th-12th grade STEM curriculum. For instance, previous students have designed bridges and analyzed the environmental and economic effects of building highways.

Gilbertson is also involved with NSTI (National Summer Transportation Institute), an interactive program that introduces students to STEM-based transportation careers.

Use the Bridge Analysis and Design Certificate to Launch into Graduate Study.

After completing the required CEE 5261 course, students can then broaden their knowledge. They will take two additional structural design elective courses to complete the certificate: Bridge Analysis and Design. They may choose from three options: Prestressed Concrete Design, Steel Design II, or Concrete and Masonry Building Systems. These three electives provided material that is of related depth.

The Bridge Analysis and Design certificate was also developed to introduce engineers to the AASHTO LRFD (Load Resistance Factor Design) bridge design specification.

This certificate is flexible, too. Graduates can stop after earning it, using the credential to help them progress in their careers. Whether they work in structural engineering, transportation, bridge project management, and more, this certificate will be an asset.

Alternatively, graduates may use this certificate to launch into a master’s program. That is, they can stack their bridge design credential with other structural engineering certificates, such as Advanced Analysis, to build a customizable master’s degree in civil engineering.

Chart demonstrating how students can stack their bridge design certificate with others to create a master's degree in structural engineering.
Examples of how students can stack their bridge building and design certificate with others to create an online master’s degree in civil engineering.

Get Training for Pressing Infrastructure Challenges.

Whether students choose to earn only the certificate or advance to a master’s, they should know that structural engineers with advanced education are needed now more than ever. First, the world needs engineers who can develop solutions for the effects of natural hazards, increasing extreme-weather events, and climate change.

And in the US, especially, there is a demand for engineers who can contend with infrastructure deterioration and maintenance. Bridges are a critical piece of infrastructure that must be designed safely and sustainably.

In their 2021 report card, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave US infrastructure the overall grade of C-. This grade, at the bottom end of average, reflected the poor condition and performance of American roads, levees, parks, transit, inland waters, ports, rail, and more.

Whereas rail had the highest grade (B), and transit the lowest (D-), that for bridges was a C. Of the over 617,000 bridges in the United States, 42% of them are at least 50 years old. And 7.5% (or 46,154) are considered structurally deficient, or in poor condition. The ASCE report card also revealed a 2.5 trillion-dollar funding gap in US infrastructure.

However, the situation in Michigan is bleaker. In Michigan’s last ASCE Report Card, the bridge grade was D+. In 2022, the state had 11,314 bridges, with 11% being in poor condition, which is higher than the national average (7.5%). These bridges include heavily traveled structures, such as I-696’s overpass and ramps with I-75.  And only 34% of these structures are in good condition, which is a drop from 43.5% in 2018.

According to Gilbertson, the condition of these bridges is largely due to limited availability of funding, what the ASCE refers to as chronic underinvestment in infrastructure.

Learn More About Making a Difference in Bridge Construction and Design.

Civil engineers who specialize in infrastructure, then, definitely have their hands full. They must find innovative solutions to fixing, maintaining, and increasing the lifespan of existing structures, such as bridges, roads, and buildings. And while designing and enacting these solutions, they must make difficult decisions about priorities and budgets while preserving safety and improving functionality. Tough jobs indeed!

Michigan Tech’s CEE 5261 course and certificate in Bridge Analysis and Design can educate civil engineers to meet these upcoming challenges.

To get more information about the certificate and master’s degree in structural engineering, visit their corresponding pages in Global Campus. To ask specific questions about any of the structural engineering programs, contact cege@mtu.edu or use the Request Information Button Below.

Structural engineering underpins wealth creation; it provides a bedrock of infrastructure that supports civilized living: homes for people to live in, places to work, and the lifeline systems we all need.

Allan Mann, 2011
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How to Become a Medical Statistician

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Accurate measurements and data analyses are invaluable throughout healthcare systems. That is, sound statistical methods in clinical trials, university research, and hospital operations are crucial to better patient outcomes. Medical statisticians – also known as biostatisticians – are key to setting the foundations of medical research and to clinical decision-making.

Medical statisticians regularly require both applied statistics expertise and healthcare industry knowledge. Merging these knowledge areas is possible with a graduate-level education. If this career intrigues you, read on about the responsibilities in this role.

A Medical Statistician’s Job Responsibilities

Medical statisticians design clinical studies and quality improvement projects. They also perform other data-gathering methods in healthcare settings. That is, they are involved in every step of a project’s development from study design through publication of research results.

Typical employers for medical statisticians include the following:

  • Integrated healthcare systems
  • Pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies
  • Public health departments
  • University research institutes and medical schools

Statisticians in healthcare settings may simultaneously oversee studies and projects in different stages. For instance, take the example of a medical statistician employed by a pharmaceutical company. This statistics professional might work on one of more of the following tasks in a day:

  • Optimizing sample sizes for upcoming clinical trials of new medications and products
  • Updating case report forms with data from ongoing trials
  • Modeling trial results for data on positive and negative impacts
  • Writing the methods section for an application to a regulatory body like the FDA

Because health statisticians are involved with many aspects of healthcare, their careers are highly collaborative. Medical statisticians might team up with physician-scientists, medical writers, clinical managers, and regulatory affairs specialists. They may also work with statisticians at other organizations as part of large-scale research projects.

Preparing For a Medical Statistician Career

An undergraduate degree with a mathematics focus is a good starting point for a career in medical statistics. Professionals pursuing nursing or other care-focused degrees may also leave statistics career options open by taking a few college courses. Truly, successful coursework in calculus, linear algebra, and statistics is helpful no matter your college degree.

However, the most common entry point into a medical statistician career is a master’s degree in applied statistics. Students in this graduate program learn how to use statistical methods to analyze and to solve real-world challenges. Medical statisticians typically build advanced skills in the following areas during their graduate education:

  • Designing and evaluating experiments
  • Communicating research results to stakeholders
  • Employing programming languages, such as R and Python to solve problems
  • Using SAS software for data mining and analysis

Success as a medical statistician, however, extends beyond fluency in statistics and data analytics. That is, medical statisticians also need project management skills to oversee junior staff members and balance research responsibilities. They also require a rich understanding of medical ethics and professional standards.

Looking Ahead: Career Prospects and Salary for Medical Statisticians

A graphic of a bar chart and a trend line.

Increasing complexity in clinical research and health services means there is a high demand for medical statisticians. Overall, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 30% growth in jobs for all statisticians from 2022 to 2032.

This projection far exceeds the estimated 3% growth in jobs for all occupations during the same period. What this growth comes down to is a need for about 10,600 statisticians.

And this long-term demand for statistics professionals in health fields translates into above-average salaries. The BLS found a median salary of $104,860 for mathematicians and statisticians in 2023. Experience and specialized knowledge may lead to higher salaries, with the top 10% of earners reporting salaries of at least $161,300.

Aspiring medical statisticians can boost their career prospects by studying at a leading university. A graduate education focused on the latest methods and tools prepares statisticians for future opportunities. Michigan Tech University offers a Master of Science in Applied Statistics that achieves these goals.

Acquiring Medical Statistician Skills at Michigan Tech

Michigan Tech’s innovative Online MS in Applied Statistics Degree provides entryways into in-demand fields such as medical statistics and others. This program is also flexible. It offers seven-week courses for accelerated learning opportunities as well as three possible start dates. And Michigan Tech does not require GRE or GMAT scores in its free graduate application process.

Applied statistics students work with experienced faculty members on several subjects including the following:

  • Computational Statistics
  • Design and Analysis of Experiments
  • Regression Analysis
  • Time Series Analysis and Forecasting

Prospective students with undergraduate calculus, linear algebra, and statistics coursework are well-positioned for admission into the program. Also, a ten-week bridge course is available for incoming students who need to brush up on their linear algebra skills.

Learn More About Applied Statistics.

But a medical statistician is just one example of a possible data-driven career made possible by advanced education in Applied Statistics. Want to learn more about the courses and the program structure in Michigan Tech’s online MSAS program? Explore other career trajectories?

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