Undergraduate Program
operations management
Table of Contents
Contacts
- Department Secretary: Joyce O'Connor, 617-552-0460, joyce.oconnor@bc.edu
- www.bc.edu/osm
Undergraduate Program Description
The Department offers undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of operations management and business analytics. An undergraduate concentration is offered in Operations Management.
Concentration in Operations Management
Operations Management is a broad and multi-dimensional business area. Highly integrative, Operations Management determines how an organization executes on its mission and goals. Operations Management is both an art and a science, tying together quantitative analytical skills with cognitive problem solving.
The Operations Management concentration provides students with knowledge of current issues in the Operations Management discipline. Intense competition in fast-paced global environments makes competencies in this field critical in both service and good-producing organizations. This concentration is applicable in many industries and organizations, combining knowledge in business analytics, process design and analysis methods, project management, and operations management issues. The curriculum recognizes environmental, ethical, and social issues. The pedagogy entails lectures and discussions, case studies, field studies, and analytical modeling.
The Operations Management concentration builds upon the Carroll School of Management core, particularly complementing courses in statistics, organizational management, and economics. Our courses emphasize analysis and decision making and are explicitly designed to deliver the skills and knowledge required to successfully manage people, processes, and systems in today's competitive environment.
The concentration is designed to intersect with other functional disciplines making Operations Management an excellent complement to other concentrations including Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Information Systems, or Human Resource Management.
Objectives of the Undergraduate Concentration in Operations Management
The objectives of the undergraduate concentration are to develop managers who:
- possess a broad and deep understanding of theories and concepts in Operations Management
- are capable of applying skills and knowledge to address management problems
- understand and utilize quantitative and qualitative analysis in decision making
- appreciate the role of operations in an organization and the interrelationships among functional areas
Careers in Operations Management
Operations managers manage both processes and people, with a highly integrative career path tying together analytical decision making with strategic perspectives and the needs of employees and other stakeholders. Our graduates have successfully attained positions in process management and analysis in major companies such as Accenture, Boston Beer, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Fidelity, General Electric, Goldman Sachs, IBM, JPMorgan Chase, and UBS. Students with this concentration may pursue careers in consulting, financial services, healthcare services, retail, transportation, technology, government, manufacturing, and not-for-profit organizations. Students with an operations management concentration are typically hired into positions such as Operations Analyst, Project Team Member, Supply Chain Analyst, Consultant, Process Designer, and Management Trainee, as well as positions on the corporate planning staff.
The demand for managers with these skills is strong and will increase as firms continue to recognize that they compete not only with new products, good marketing, and skillful finance, but also with a high degree of competence in managing their operations. Salaries for majors in Operations are and will likely remain competitive with all other concentrations in management.
Operations Management Concentration Requirements
The following two courses are required for the concentration:
- MD 375 Operations Strategy and Consulting (fall)
- MD 255 Managing Projects (spring)
also take two of the following:
- MD 254 Service Operations Management (spring)
- MD 304 Quality (spring)
- MD 332 Supply Chain Management (fall)
- MD 384 Applied Statistics (spring)
- MD 604 Management Science (fall)
- MD 605 Risk Analysis & Simulation (fall)
- MD 606 Forecasting Techniques (fall)
- MD 610 Sports Analytics (fall)
Other Special and Advanced Topic courses as offered.
Study Abroad
Although there are no particular prerequisites needed in order to qualify for study abroad, the usual course prerequisites still apply. There is no limit to how many courses taken abroad will be allowed for major credit. If the courses are judged equivalent and if the proposed courses constitute a reasonable selection, major or elective credit will be given.
All students wishing to study abroad must first meet with Richard Keeley, Associate Dean. Students should then meet with Samuel Graves, Department Chairperson, for course approvals. Course approvals should be sought in person, with all supporting documentation (course description, detailed syllabus) in hand. All approvals must be obtained prior to going abroad.