Today's business world differs significantly from the 1960s era when Industrial Technology was launched at Cal Poly. Now, a large and growing fraction of manufacturing and design is outsourced with parts, components, electronic files and finished products moving through complex networks of commerce that span the globe. At the same time, value is increasingly derived from technological innovation, time to market and compelling product design and packaging.

Individuals who have the requisite substantive knowledge, technical skills and managerial talents appropriate for this new context will become business leaders in the decades to come. The MS—IT program is precisely targeted on those competencies.

Primary Objectives

The MS—IT program courses collectively provide students with background information and training to:

• Understand global and national issues affecting Industrial Technology, in terms of the state of knowledge in the subfields of: value chain management; packaging science and technology; technology entrepreneurship and innovation; and industrial processes and systems.
• Be able to generate timely and creative solutions that jointly improve business, technological and human outcomes, in the key subfields of Industrial Technology.
• Understand and apply decision tools and methods to a range of business and technological problems pertaining to the IT-related subfields of: value chain management; packaging science and technology; technology entrepreneurship and innovation; and industrial processes and systems.
• Understand and apply knowledge of important societal issues that pervade the business and technological environment, particularly: environmental sustainability; business ethics, and workforce growth and development.
• Demonstrate organizational leadership skills via: written technical communication; oral communication and presentation; and effective team behavior.

These knowledge objectives are imparted via traditional class work, coupled to a significant industry-focused research project that emphasizes problem-solving, experimentation and the use of business-based decision tools. Overall, the program is designed to enable graduates to lead and innovate in industrial environments characterized by economic, technological and organizational change.

Program Structure and Accreditation:

The MS—IT degree at Cal Poly is a 45-unit program that is housed in the Orfalea College of Business (OCOB). The Cal Poly OCOB is accredited by the AACSB and the Industrial Technology program is accredited by the national Association of Industrial Technolgy (NAIT).

Details about specific courses and the curriculum are provided

• Forecasted Schedule
• Course Descriptions
• Required & Elective Courses
• Demographics

The MS—IT degree at Cal Poly is a current, challenging, and worthwhile program. It is taught by an industry-experienced group of faculty members, who emphasize both the "learn by doing" philosophy of Cal Poly as well as the lifelong benefits of close mentoring during the graduate education experience. We invite you to apply.