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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
The Operations Management concentration is designed to provide students with knowledge of the current issues in the fields of operations management. Intense competition in the fast-paced global markets has made competencies in this field the focus of attention in both service and manufacturing organizations. The concentration satisfies the need for students with in-depth knowledge of issues in both types of organizations.
This widely-applicable concentration combines teaching of business analytics, process design and analysis methods, and operations management issues. The curriculum recognizes the importance of environmental, ethical, and social issues. The pedagogy entails lecture and discussion, case studies, field studies, and analytical modeling.
The Operations Concentration purposefully builds upon the Carroll School of Management core, particularly complementing the courses in statistics, economics, and operations management, to produce an exceptionally fine package strongly grounded in analysis while being managerial in focus. Our courses emphasize analysis and policy formulation and are explicitly designed to deliver the skills and knowledge required by successful managers in today's competitive environment.
The courses both intersect with and transcend the functional disciplines making Operations Management a good choice as a second major for those who may have already decided upon a primary concentration in 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:
- have a comprehensive understanding of theories and concepts in Operations Management
- are capable of applying these theories and concepts to address management problems
- understand and can use quantitative analysis techniques
- 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 been successful in attaining positions dealing with 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 are typically hired into positions such as Operations Analyst, Supply Chain Analyst, Process Designer/Owner, Consultant, and Management Trainee.
The demand for managers with these skills is high 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. Kennedy Information, an industry monitor, forecasts that consulting in operations management will grow by 5.1% per year between 2010 and 2014, faster than strategy, IT, or personnel. In addition, in its "2011 Job Outlook,” the National Association of Colleges and Employers forecasts 22% growth in operations research analyst jobs through 2018. Salaries for concentrators in Operations Management are and will likely remain competitive with all other concentrations in management.
Operations Management Concentration Requirements
The following course is required for the concentration:
- MD 375 Operations Strategy and Consulting (fall)
also take one of the following:
- MD 254 Service Operations Management (spring)
- MD 255 Managing Projects (spring)
also take one of the following:
- MD 384 Applied Statistics (spring)
- MD 604 Management Science (fall)
- MD 605 Risk Analysis & Simulation (fall)
- MD 606 Forecasting Techniques (fall)
also take one of the following:
- MI 205 TechTrek (spring)
- MI/CS 258 Systems Analysis and Design (fall)
- MI 253/MK 252 Electronic Commerce (fall and spring)
- MD/MI 330 New Business Creation (fall)
- MD 609 Advanced Topics: Business of Sports (fall)
- MD 610 Sports Analytics (fall)
or if not taken above:
- MD 254 Service Operations Management (spring)
- MD 255 Managing Projects (spring)
- MD 384 Applied Statistics (spring)
- MD 604 Management Science (fall)
- MD 605 Risk Analysis & Simulation (fall)
- MD 606 Forecasting Techniques (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. All approvals must be obtained prior to going abroad.