Integrated Degrees at CSU: Engineering + Technical Sales

Cleveland State University became the first institution of higher education in Northeast Ohio to offer new interdisciplinary degrees designed to empower undergraduate students with the skills, versatility and adaptability they need to work at the intersection of multiple disciplines or fields. They are each a purposefully designed blend of curriculum for students whose paths require expertise in several disciplines. 

The university’s combined majors developed not only from faculty members’ proposals, but also from collaboration with local employers, who weighed in on which of the proposed programs might meet the area’s workforce needs. 

“As a regional public, as an institution that seeks to serve this community, we said, what do our employers need?” said CSU Provost Nigamanth Sridhar, who is spearheading the initiative. 

Today, we are highlighting the Engineering + Technical Sales Bachelor of Science degree.

Led by Paul Mills, associate professor of marketing and academic director of CSU’s Sales Center, and Micheal Adams, associate professor and department chair of electronics engineering technology, the degree combines technical expertise with business and sales training. The goal is to graduate professionals who understand complex products and can confidently bring them to the market. 

“Northeast Ohio is such a great technology hub,” said Mills, pointing to companies like Eaton, Parker Hannifin, Swagelok, Sherwin-Williams, RPM International and Lincoln Electric. “We’re ideally and uniquely located for this major.” 

These companies produce highly technical products, from industrial coatings to precision fluid technologies, requiring professionals who can both understand the engineering and communicate solutions to customers. 

“There are really good engineers out there,” said Mills, “but they don’t always have experience working in customer-facing roles — being persuasive, solution-selling and communicating value.” 

At the same time, companies prefer not to train salespeople to become engineers. 

“We had the vice president of sales at Lincoln Electric tell us, ‘We struggle to hire salespeople and train them to be engineers. We’d rather take someone with a strong engineering background and give them sales skills,’” said Mills. 

That gap between technical expertise and customer engagement is exactly what the Technical Sales program aims to fill. The degree prepares engineers to participate in customer meetings, communicate solutions clearly and apply their technical knowledge in ways that build trust and drive sales. 

“Students will complete a rigorous engineering curriculum alongside business and sales courses, including business communication, marketing fundamentals, advanced sales, sales management and sales analytics,” said Mills. “They will also have marketing and sales courses. They’ll be able to look at and solve problems for companies using quantitative skills.” 

CAREER OUTLOOK

Graduates will be equipped to interpret technical drawings, diagnose engineering challenges, analyze sales data and present persuasive, data-backed solutions to clients. 

“The stereotype is that engineers don’t have strong people skills and should be kept away from customers,” said Mills. “But that’s not the case. Often, it’s just that business students and engineering students have been siloed and have not had the opportunity to learn and hone these skills.”  

The program also builds on CSU’s strong partnerships with regional manufacturers. Industry leaders from companies such as Swagelok, Lubrizol, Sherwin-Williams and Eaton already collaborate with the university, creating opportunities for internships, mentorship and employment. 

Technical sales positions are financially rewarding career paths for engineers. Mills noted that entry-level sales engineers are sought after, often earning $60,000 or more in base salary, with additional incentives tied to performance.

“These are excellent, high-paying and rewarding jobs,” he said. “Companies want to fill them with local talent who have roots in our community. 

In a region defined by engineering innovation, CSU’s Engineering + Technical Sales degree represents a natural evolution — preparing graduates not only to design complex products, but also to position, sell and bring them to market. 

The program strongly supports CSU’s goal of retaining talent in Northeast Ohio. 

“This is a good match between what students want to do and what industry needs,” said Mills.

Learn more about CSU’s integrated degree programs

Learn more about the Engineering + Technical Sales integrated degree