In my opinion, basic business literacy would be a great class to take and essential if one plans on going into industry. I agree wholeheartedly that the engineering management course was very surface level and I worry about going into a full-time job in industry with such little knowledge will be difficult. I think that a business elective should be required if a student is not a pre-med student and does not plan on going into research (on the other hand, a intro to research class should be required for those planning on applying to a PhD program). Even if it seems unnecessary, I think that basic business literacy is beneficial for everyone, including in one's personal life. It would help people better understand news, politics, and generally a better understanding of how to establish a business. In the case of industry though, it would also give people a leg up in climbing the corporate ladder. If all recent graduates know how to do is the technical portions of their job, they may never understand what skills are necessary for rising in positions. There are so many factors to management that are completely different from technical skills that an entire course should be taught on it. I understand that the technical skills are very important, but classes taught should cater to all the goals of students, including the ones that are more business-oriented.

I believe additional business courses should be available as electives rather than required courses. Engineering students can follow many different career paths that may not include the need to incorporate business courses. For example, students who are pre-med or are interested in research and would like to pursue a PhD, would not need to take on any additional business courses as it would not serve their interests. However, students who plan to go into industry may want to take on some additional business courses to help them navigate through industry life. In addition to classes, however, I believe that practical experience would be more beneficial to students who are looking into the industry. Practical experiences could include co-op experiences, internships, and entrepreneurship programs. 

Business courses would offer the interdisciplinary skills that could bridge the gap between the technical and business teams that are seen often in the industry; however, learning hands-on would be a better approach to fully understanding the scope of business in the industry field. 

Engineering students should take an additional business course to be better prepared for entering industry since business classes would provide valuable information that could help in the transition from school to career. When engineers enter into the work field, sometimes they have a strong technical background but may be lacking management skills, such as leadership and communication. These business courses could help in developing different soft skills. Additionally, engineers would be exposed to project management and cost analysis, which would help them in planning and assisting in different projects. Business courses also emphasize the importance of looking at the bigger picture which would help engineers in understanding how their projects in industry tie into the bigger picture of the company and the department. Across most majors, business courses should be taken as having a foundation in business principles will help as an individual progresses in their career.

If any FDA/Regulatory class is considered "business," then I believe it should be added to the curriculum. Although the FDA medical device classification is more relevant to people who are preparing to design a product for human use, I think any exposure to Regulatory basics and ISO certification are crucial to success in industry. The importance of understanding what ISO 9001 vs. ISO 13485 (to name a few examples) and how companies are able to register themselves for this, as well as how employees are able to become compliant, is something I personally was not exposed to until I was in a company. I think familiarizing ourselves with FDA rules and regulations as well as getting involved with a business's connections to these certifications by having this in the BME curriculum (or at least as a seminar class) would be fantastic to familiarize ourselves with a business connection to regulatory. 

I believe basic business classes should be required electives for all students, not just biomedical engineering students. For almost all careers, a basic understanding of financials and business development is needed. As an engineer, it is important to understand the financial implications of projects and the use of business analytics to guide decision-making. While it is possible to work in industry without this knowledge, I think having some prior experience in business courses will make you more valuable to a company. Also, if a student ever wants to start their own company, engineering firm, or consulting company, they need to understand many business concepts.

As an NJIT grad, I agree that engineering students should be required to take additional engineering courses. The problem with the way the current BME curriculum is laid out is that their is not much room for engineering courses. Besides this course, the only other course that exists is the course BME 472, which only talks about one pathway towards FDA approval, only 510(k) and PMA, the contents of which are covered in less than a week of this course (BME 684). As a result, any course that operates in that regard is functionally equivalent to a workshop, which is not that useful. The reason these courses are not sufficient is because they are taught by faculty who have very narrow experience within industry that cannot be applied to other fields. This is not the fault of the faculty or the BME department, but it is because as BME is a relatively new field, there are not a lot of faculty members who have a broad range of experience both as a BME professional and as a BME professional in management. Therefore, in order to educate the next generation of BME majors and ensure the continued success of the BME field, it is crucial for BME students to engage in business education to a certain extent in their coursework beyond a few required courses.

I believe that, the question of whether engineering students should be required to take an additional business course or participate in workshops to enhance their business knowledge is a matter of academic program design and the specific needs and goals of the students and the industries they will enter. Here are some considerations:

Additional Business Course: Pros:

1. In-Depth Knowledge: Taking an additional business course would provide engineering students with more in-depth knowledge of business principles, economics, and management, which can be valuable in various industry roles.
2. Broad Understanding: It would give students a broader understanding of the business world and the factors that impact decision-making, which could be beneficial in their careers.

Cons:

1. Additional Time and Cost: Adding another course to an engineering program might extend the time required to complete a degree and increase the cost of education.
2. Relevance: The relevance of additional business coursework may vary depending on the career path and industry of the individual student.

Workshops: Pros:

1. Practical Application: Workshops can focus on practical skills and immediate application, allowing students to gain hands-on experience.
2. Flexibility: Workshops can be more flexible and tailored to specific needs, ensuring that students acquire the most relevant knowledge and skills.

Cons:

1. Depth of Knowledge: Workshops may provide practical skills but may not delve as deeply into theory and concepts as a formal course.
2. Limited Scope: Workshops may not cover the breadth of business topics that a full course would.

I think as an engineering student, you are already familiar with business principles. I think a class in Project Management might be helpful though. I think, in the end, you are ready to learn and tackle business problems because of your coursework. You learned a lot of math and statistics. You already have very well developed critical thinking skills. However, you could consider doing an MBA though. I think this is an excellent way to further develop yourself. 

As a graduate student pursuing their Master's in Biomedical Engineering at NJIT, I feel as though I am someone who knows very little about the business side of the industry. Therefore, I certainly believe that requiring engineering students to take an additional business course could provide a significant benefit, especially when transitioning into industry. To start, a course that delves deeper into basic business fundamentals including finance, marketing, and leadership could give engineers a more holistic view of how their technical work impacts business outcomes. The work that engineers undertake is deeply integrated into the broader goals of a company (customer needs), therefore, I think it would be beneficial to see how everything comes together between the two sides. Furthermore, when working in the industry, engineers are often working with non-engineering teams such as sales, marketing, finance, and operations. So a solid grasp of business principles can make communication and collaboration with these departments more effective.

As for the question asking about workshops and business oriented courses, and which would be more beneficial to a student in engineering, in my opinion it truly depends on the type of role that student looks to pursue in the future. If they’re going into a technical position, workshops could provide the business essentials they need without taking too much focus away from their core engineering work. On the other hand, for graduates aiming for roles in project management or product development, a deeper, more structured business course would certainly be more beneficial because it would give them a strong foundation that could help them navigate complex business environments. 

I never really thought of taking a business course at NJIT until this week's lecture. This past lecture has enlightened me that knowing the ins and outs of the business world could be helpful before starting a job in industry. Throughout my job search, I've encountered companies that are INC's and LLC's, but I never knew the difference. Now that I do, I can see the benefits that would have come from a business course during my undergrad. For that reason I do think it would be advantageous to add a business course as an elective for those BMEs looking to work in industry. For pre-med BMEs or those looking to continue in academia, a business class may not be as applicable. 

Business knowledge can be a very beneficial edge to have as an engineer, but I do not think that it is possible to require much more than what is currently required in the curriculum. With all of the required engineering courses, adding business courses to the curriculum would take away from more relevant courses to engineers. For people who are interested in taking business classes, they can choose to take on a minor in business or even an MBA. Having this business knowledge can give engineers an edge in industry positions. This may not be applicable to all engineers, though. Many biomedical engineers will go on to do research or work in academia, as we learned earlier in the semester. These people may not benefit as much from a business class as a science or engineering course. For someone going on to work in industry, having business knowledge can put them into a better position to make not only technical but also business decisions to contribute to product development and innovation. It is also extremely important for an engineer who may want to start their own company or invent their own product to have extensive business knowledge in order to succeed. Having business knowledge can also prepare engineers for leadership roles and allow them to advance their career in different ways than an engineer with no business knowledge. Overall, I do not believe that engineers should be required to take more business courses because they are not applicable to all engineers. It is the responsibility of each person to take the initiative to learn about business and gain the competitive edge if they believe that it will benefit them in the career they are pursing.

It is a very important question. I believe that the choice of additional courses and workshops depends on student career goals.

It is true that additional business course for engineering students can be highly beneficial for preparing them for industry. While the engineering management course provides a foundation in project management and the basics of economics, a more in-depth course focused on business principles like finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship could provide a broader perspective on how engineering projects align with company goals and market demands.

However, workshops can also be a valuable alternative, particularly for those who prefer more flexible, practical learning. Workshops could offer hands-on experience without the need for a full semester course. Therefore students can learn them quickly. They would give recent graduates the necessary knowledge while being time-efficient.

Ultimately, whether to take an additional course or attend workshops depends on the student’s career goals. If you're looking for leadership roles or entrepreneurial endeavors, a full course may offer the depth you need. If someone just wants some insight, and practical knowledge quickly then workshops may be sufficient for them. 

Requiring engineering students to take an additional business course could offer significant benefits, such as a holistic understanding of industry, improved communication and leadership skills, and enhanced entrepreneurial abilities. While this is a promising approach, it's important to consider other effective options for preparing engineering students for industry roles.

On the other hand, the workshops can serve as a practical alternative to a full business course as well. They offer targeted training, hands-on learning, and a condensed format, making them suitable for students who need specific business knowledge without a significant time commitment.

Both business courses and workshops have their advantages. While a course offers a comprehensive foundation, workshops provide flexibility and practical knowledge. A combination of the two—a core business course and targeted workshops—could be the best approach to prepare recent graduates with the necessary business skills.