An extra business course could really help engineering students, especially those looking to get into project management, product development, or even starting their own businesses. While NJIT’s engineering management course covers the basics, having a deeper understanding of things like marketing, finance, or entrepreneurship could be super useful when they enter the industry. That said, adding another full course might not work for everyone, so workshops or shorter classes focusing on specific business skills could be a great alternative. In the end, it really depends on each student’s career goals, but more business training could definitely benefit those aiming for leadership or business development roles.

I think it can be an optional course counted toward the degree, not a mandatory course though because each person has his/her own path and not that everyone will need or willing to take that course enjoyably. With that being said, the degree you are pursing does not really determine the field or the type of work position you will take on later, therefore it is hard to incorporate such course into the program. Therefore, I think it is best to make the course available to everyone but not specifically in biomedical engineering, because I guess someone from chemical engineering or biochemistry who want to open a business would need to learn the same thing, right? 

It is very true and important that taking a business course would definitely benefit engineering students entering the industry.

However, rather than requiring a full semester-long course, offering certifications could be a more effective approach. Certifications allow students to learn at their own pace while still having deadlines, helping everyone focus on the basics. These certifications are earned little by little as students pass each course, which keeps them motivated and encourages them to pursue additional certifications. Additionally, obtaining certifications can enhance a graduate's resume and provide valuable skills that are directly applicable in the industry, making them more competitive in the job market.

I do believe that engineering students should be required to take at least one or two courses on businesses and how they are run. Similar to quality control, if an engineer only thinks about the science of a product and has no knowledge of how the business will run to make the product a reality, certain decisions made early on can ruin the entire business. For example, if as an engineer/CEO, you decide to use a more expensive material to produce your product than a cheaper alternative just because it makes your product 2% better, you may fail to take into account that this price increase may decrease revenue by 200%, and now your company is making no money. Having knowledge of issues how businesses are run, even if you are not directly involved in the running, can only really help make better decisions not matter what department you work in.