Major in Operations Management

Contents

Description of Field

Operations Management is concerned with management of the production and distribution of the goods and services of a firm or government organization. Issues in the management of operations include:

  1. Forecasting of the demand for the organization's products and/or services;
  2. Developing efficient manufacturing processes;
  3. Inventory planning and control;
  4. Workforce scheduling; and
  5. Designing and managing distribution and transportation networks.

The study of Operations Management embraces the disciplines of Operations Research, Statistics, and Computing and Information Systems. The program is a blend of field studies and the use of computerized models to analyze and simulate real systems. Operations Management is valuable for students interested in general management in large or small businesses. It also opens opportunities which require specialized knowledge.

Career Opportunities

Operations are at the heart of most organizations. Opportunities are found in the areas of forecasting, inventory management, the design of production facilities, workforce scheduling, and the location and layout of distribution networks. Specialization in Operations Management is particularly useful when combined with the study of another functional area of business such as marketing, finance, or management information systems.

Sequence of Courses

Year Two -- Fall Year Two -- Winter
  • ACTTG 311
  • BUS 201
  • MARK 301
  • MGTSC 312
  • *3 in electives outside Business (See Note 1)
  • ACCTG 322 or MIS 311 (See Note 2)
  • FIN 301
  • MGTSC 352
  • ORG A 201
  • *3 in electives outside Business (See Note 1)
Year Three Year Four
  • BLAW 301 (See Note 2)
  • BUEC 311 or ECON 281 (See Notes 4 and 6)
  • MGTSC 405 (See Note 4)
  • MGTSC 422 (See Note 4)
  • MGTSC 426 (See Note 4)
  • MIS 311 or ACCTG 322 (See Note 2)
  • *9 in free electives (See Note 1)
  • *3 in electives outside Business (See Note 1)
  • MGTSC 461 (See Note 4)
  • MGTSC 465 (See Note 4)
  • *12 in Operations Management electives (See Note 5)
  • *12 in free electives (See Note 1)

Notes

  1. See U of A Calendar section 64.1.4
  2. Either ACCTG 322 or MIS 311 may be taken in Year Two with the other taken in Year Three.
  3. May be taken in any year except Year Two, Fall Term.
  4. May be taken in either of Year Three or Year Four.
  5. Operations Management electives may be chosen from any 400-level MGTSC courses and from a list of additional approved courses available from the Department of Accounting and Management Information Systems.
  6. Students planning to take advanced course work in Economics may wish to substitute ECON 281. See U of A Calendar section 64.1.4(4). ECON courses used to satisfy the requirements of this major may not be used to satisfy the requirements for coursework outside the School of Business.

Minors

Operations Management Electives

  1. Students with a declared major in Operations Management may choose to do a minor in any subject area of Business. See U of A Calendar section 64.1.5. Minors are not required. Students are urged to select areas that complement the major. Students may also wish to consider the Cooperative Education program (see U of A Calendar section 64.5).
  2. Students with a declared major in another area may complete a minor in Operations Management by fulfilling the requirements of U of A Calendar section 64.1.5. *3 must be in MGTSC 352.
  3. Students wishing to construct informal programs of study outside the School of Business should consider the following suggestions:
    1. Economics: Any senior ECON course, with Departmental approval.
    2. Statistics/Mathematics: Additional work is recommended for students who are interested in research and/or graduate work.