Operations & Supply
Chain Management

Career potential

If you’re thorough, organized and enjoy decision making and long-term planning, a bachelor’s degree in operations and supply chain management from the University of North Texas will prepare you for a successful career in a growing field.

This exciting industry has greatly increased in popularity during the past decade and is expected to continue expanding because of technological innovation, global competition, and the ongoing need for organizations to increase productivity and reduce costs.

Professionals in operations and supply chain management focus on the activities directly related to the creation of goods and services — the output of an organization. Operations and supply chain management is required in manufacturing and service industries, in government, and in nonprofit organizations to plan and schedule the effective use of organizational resources.

Because operations and supply chain professionals possess a variety of aptitudes and skills, you will have a wide variety of career options with this major, including:

• purchasing manager — supervising the effective and efficient supply of resources needed for your company to function
• quality control manager — ensuring that the product or service your company provides is acceptable before it becomes available to the general public
• director of manufacturing or a materials manager — working for a manufacturing company
• director of inventory control or a special projects manager for a manufacturing and service business
• plant or facility manager — overseeing an entire operation

UNT's Career Center can help prepare you to pursue your career. The center has information about jobs and employers, and the staff can help you with resume and letter writing, job search strategies, and interview preparation.

Majoring in operations and supply chain management

The operations and supply chain management discipline consists of various areas dealing with the design, operation, and control of production systems and subsystems.

As an operations and supply chain management major, you may study:

• purchasing and materials management
• production forecasting and scheduling
• methods of managing a project from start to finish
• production objectives
• planning and control
• quality control
• the science behind effective management

In addition, you may study international business operations and management of working capital for the manufacture and distribution of a product.

Faculty members in the Department of Management have a strong commitment to high-quality teaching. Two faculty members have been named Regents Professors for outstanding teaching and research. Professors at that rank, which is the university’s highest distinction for faculty members, devote at least half of their teaching load to introductory-level classes. Two faculty members received the President’s Council University Teaching Award and another was awarded the Shelton Excellence in Teaching Award.

Our new Business Leadership Building will heighten your learning experience. Scheduled for completion in 2011, the 180,000 square-foot facility will contain 24 classrooms, team study rooms and a state-of-the-art general access computer lab. This building will help distinguish UNT as a leader in business education for students and executives.

Getting hands-on experience

Upon completion of 12 semester hours at UNT with at least a 2.5 GPA, you may work in a job related to your major through UNT’s Cooperative Education and Internships office. You may earn academic credit and money while gaining valuable work experience. More than 1,800 employers work with the office to provide these learning opportunities.

Co-op employers pay extremely well, and the jobs usually last several semesters, often until graduation. Internships can last for one full semester or summer. Some of these opportunities may become permanent fulltime positions upon graduation.

Preparing for UNT: High school students

We encourage you to fulfill the graduation requirements for the Recommended Program or the Distinguished Achievement Program in high school.

In your junior year, take the SAT or the ACT and have your scores sent to UNT.

In your senior year, submit your application for admission by March 1 (apply online at www.applytexas.org) and request that your high school transcript be sent to the UNT admissions office.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses can count toward college credit at UNT. For details, visit www.unt.edu/credit.

Preparing for UNT: Transfer students

As a benefit for transfer students, UNT participates in the Texas Common Course Numbering System. This system makes it easier to transfer credits for general academic courses from one Texas institution to another.

If you’re attending a Texas community college, you should consult the UNT Transfer Articulation web page, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor/advisor to discuss your degree plan. Proper planning will help you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

UNT’s Transfer Center will help you make a successful transition to college life at UNT by connecting you to a peer mentor and other valuable campus resources. Each year, we welcome more transfer students than any other institution in the state. The center is in the University Union, Room 320. More information is at transfercenter.unt.edu.

Charting your path with academic advising

Once you declare operations and supply chain management as your field of study, you will receive one-on-one academic counseling and advising from the professional field/major director in the Department of Management. This will allow you to stay on track for graduation and to know how to structure your curriculum to achieve your career goals. The department office is in the Business Building, Room 315. The program director is Richard E. White. Contact him at 940-565-3036 or by e-mail at white@unt.edu.

You can also utilize UNT’s new online degree audit system. This interactive tool will help you stay on track for graduation and prepare for advising appointments. The system is easily accessible through my.unt.edu using the “my academics” link on the student center page.

Curious about courses and other features of this major?
See the current catalog.