Our story
Technology Management was born out of UC Santa Barbara's world-renowned College of Engineering and remains under the auspices of the College today. But what started as a mentorship program to support innovative and entrepreneurial students, is now a multidisciplinary field of research and education informed by the engineering, information, and social sciences.
Late 1990's
In the late 1990s, the UC Santa Barbara College of Engineering introduced a campus-wide business plan and mentoring program, providing participating students with limited instruction and guidance from faculty and industry professionals.
2004
In 2004, the College of Engineering launched a Technology Management Program as a formal education program, and established a Technology Management Certificate for undergraduates.
2005
In 2005, Technology Management reintroduced the Graduate Program in Management Practice (GPMP), a UC-approved certificate program for graduate students emphasizing innovation management.
2006
In 2006, Technology Management and the Donald Bren School for Environmental Science and Management launched the Eco-Entrepreneur Program for Bren School graduate students.
2013
In 2013, Technology Management announced the approval of UC Santa Barbara’s first professional master’s degree program— the Master of Technology Management (MTM).
2015
The Master of Technology Management welcomes its first cohort, offering motivated early-to-mid-career professionals the essential business knowledge and entrepreneurial mindset to navigate their careers and expand leadership opportunities within technology-driven firms.
2016
Technology Management announced the approval of UC Santa Barbara's new doctorate degree program, the Ph.D. in Technology Management, and expanded Technology Management Faculty to deepen interdisciplinary research and professional teaching. Technology Management admitted its first cohort of Ph.D. students in 2017.
2020s
In 2020, Technology Management celebrated annual enrollment of over 2,200 Technology Management courses, more than 900 undergraduate and graduate certificate recipients, its fifth Master of Technology Management cohort, growing Ph.D. program, and 21st Annual New Venture Competition.
In the present day, the department continues to grow all of its programs.