2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Graduate programs in Engineering Management typically require students to complete a set of core courses to ensure they have the necessary academic background and foundational knowledge for success in the program. These courses, including probability, statistics, mathematics, and operations research, are increasingly vital in the era of AI and are tailored to the specific focus of each engineering management program. However, many first-year graduate students face challenges in keeping up with these core courses, which can significantly impact their consequent academic success and, ultimately, their professional careers. This study aims to investigate the relationship between graduate students' performance in their first engineering management course and their overall academic success through both qualitative and quantitative analysis. As this course serves as a prerequisite for future coursework, it plays a crucial role in shaping students' academic trajectories. By analyzing the connection between initial course performance and overall GPA, we aim to gain valuable insights to better support graduate students throughout their academic journey.