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Operations Management Concentration

Overview

Operations Management emphasizes the development of models, methods, applications and algorithms as they apply to problems in manufacturing and services. Students are exposed to deterministic and stochastic modeling and may apply and develop these and new methods to solve problems in their selected topics. Students may combine a major in finance, information systems or marketing with one in operations management.

The goal of the doctoral program in operations management is to educate future practitioners and researchers in the concepts and analytical techniques needed to understand and advance scientific solutions to the problems currently faced by operations managers.

Admissions Procedures

Applicants should have a bachelor's degree; students with advanced degrees are especially encouraged to apply. Admission is based on grades, graduate examination test scores, letters of reference and a written statement of objectives. Applications for admission should be addressed to the UT Dallas Admissions Office.

Degree Requirements

Prerequisites

Prerequisites include: calculus, matrix algebra, computer programming and statistics. Deficiencies may be remedied by taking appropriate courses.

Master's-Level Courses

Students entering the program without an MBA or equivalent are required to complete a minimum of four courses in at least three areas typically required of MBA students to provide them with the knowledge required to be professional managers. In certain instances, a higher-level course may be substituted for an MBA-level course.

Research Methods Core

The Management Science Ph.D. core curriculum consists of 10 courses:

1. Basic seven core courses:

  • OPRE 6330 Probability and Stochastic Processes or STAT 5351 Probability and Statistics

  • MECO 6345 Advanced Managerial Economics

  • STAT 5352 Probability and Statistics II

  • MAS 8V43 Marketing Doctoral Seminar in Data Analysis

  • MECO 6320 Introduction to Econometrics

  • OPRE 7320 Optimal Control Theory and Applications

  • Teaching Practicum, basic research method core

2. Secondary core courses, two courses required out of four courses:

  • OPRE 6311 Game Theory

  • MECO 7320 Advanced Econometrics

  • OPRE 7330 Deterministic O.R. Models

  • OPRE 6331 Stochastic O.R. Models

3. A menu of elective research methods, at least one course from: statistics courses and operational research/information systems courses

Minor

Nine hours in any approved field

Required courses in Operations Management

Students are required to take a sequence of specific Operations Management courses. Students should consult with faculty members in their respective areas to decide on the sequence of courses.

Seminars and Special Topics

Twelve hours of special topics and seminars in the operations management area

Dissertation

Minimum of 12 hours of approved work on a dissertation

Additional Information

The School of Management's Ph.D. program is characterized by a high ratio of research faculty to students, which fosters close working relationships. The close interaction with faculty members enables students to quickly learn to identify and develop research ideas and create their own research agenda. Students, who typically have undergraduate or graduate degrees in business, economics, engineering, computer science or mathematics, also develop their teaching competence under faculty mentorship by teaching organized classes.

Core and elective courses provide students a thorough understanding of operations management principles. Coursework incorporates a broad business outlook into the study of theory and practice. A sequence of Ph.D. seminars exposes students to traditional and emerging research issues. Students have the opportunity to be involved in ongoing research projects under the mentorship of experienced faculty.

Students admitted into the program typically devote the first two years to coursework and research projects. They take a comprehensive qualifying exam based on coursework at the end of their second year. During their second summer in the program, students also write an original research paper on an operations management topic of interest to them. At the end of their second year, students begins to develop their dissertation research areas, which is usually completed over the next two years.