Operations management focuses on the analysis, design, and management of the operations that produce and deliver goods and services. It applies structured, quantitative techniques to analyze and design business operations and to support effective business decision making. Operations management helps evaluate and select actions based on information, process analysis, and quantitative modeling. There are tremendous opportunities for the effective application of these tools, techniques, and methods in a wide range of business operations including service operations, manufacturing, distribution, transportation, logistics, supply chain management, revenue management, quality management, finance, human resources, information systems, marketing, and strategic planning. Operations management can be effectively applied to virtually every component of an organization.
Admissions Requirements
The program generally admits two to four applicants each year, depending on the availability of financial support and the overall current enrollment. This policy ensures that each doctoral student will have adequate support from the faculty.
In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must include:
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Resume
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3 Letters of Recommendation
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GRE score of at least 312 (verbal + quantitative), a GMAT (old version) score of at least 600, or GMAT (new version) of at least 555.
Students who do not meet these requirements, but who excel in other areas, may be considered for Admission with Permission to Continue.
See the Admission Criteria section of this catalog for more information.
Curricular Requirements
Students admitted to the program must complete 36 coursework hours and 24 dissertation hours to fulfill graduation requirements. In addition to curriculum hours, students must pass a two-stage qualifying exam.
| OM, PhD Program Hours | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| OM 540 | Systems Simulation | 3 |
| OM 600 | Linear Program: Theory & Appli | 3 |
| OM 601 | Stochastic Decision Models | 3 |
| OM 602 | Nonlinear Modeling & Optimiztn | 3 |
| OM 603 | Integer Model and Optimization | 3 |
| OM 620 | Production Management Models | 3 |
| ST 560 | Statistical Methods | 3 |
| ST 554 | Math Statistics I | 3 |
| Required Core Hours | 24 | |
| Approved Electives | 12 | |
| OM 517 | Supply Chain Modeling & Analys | 3 |
| OM 522 | Operations Scheduling Problems | 3 |
| OM 523 | Inventory Management | 3 |
| OM 524 | Mfg Sched & Control Systems | 3 |
| OM 527 | Purchasing and Sourcing | 3 |
| OM 697 | Special Topics | 1-6 |
| MIS 541 | Business Analytic Support Sys | 3 |
| ST 552 | Applied Regression Analy | 3 |
| ST 555 | Math Statistics II | 3 |
| ST 561 | Applied Design Expermnts | 3 |
| CS 503 | Programming Languages | 3 |
| CS 565 | Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| CS 570 | Computer Algorithms | 3 |
| EC 573 | Games and Decisions | 3 |
| EC 660 | Game Theory | 3 |
| CE 554 | Urban Transportation Planning | 3 |
| CE 655 | Sustainable Transportation | 3 |
| Or other electives with advisor approval. | ||
| Dissertation Research Hours (OM 699 - with advisor approval, distributed appropriately throughout the program) | 24 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
| Footnotes | |
|---|---|
| 1. | OM 695 Operations Management Seminar (1 hr.); required every semester of Ph.D. program. |
Transfer Credit
Graduate School information on Transfer Credit.
Doctoral Plan of Study Requirement
Graduate School Information on the Doctoral Plan of Study can be found here.
Comprehensive Exams
Students must pass a two-stage qualifying exam. The first stage exam, known as the First-Year Individual Review of Scholarship and Teaching (FIRST Review), occurs at the end of the first year in the program. The FIRST Review measures the student's competency based on the FYRE written and oral presentation, classroom performance, and TA performance.
The Second stage exam, known as the Research Qualification Exam (RQE), typically occurs during the second year in the program. The RQE measures the student's ability to review, analyze and conduct doctoral-level research. The exam consists of a research paper and presentation by the student. Failure to pass the WQE or RQE will result in the student's dismissal from the program.
Admission to Candidacy Requirements
Students may apply for candidacy after passing the two-stage qualifying exam.
Continuous Enrollment Policy
See Graduate School Policy for more information.
Dissertation Requirements
Dissertation Committee:
Together with the advisor, the candidate must select a dissertation committee (on, or before, the end of the student’s third year) consisting of the dissertation chairperson (usually the advisor) and at least four other graduate faculty, at least one of whom must be outside the Operations Management program and the ISM Department. The dissertation committee is responsible for admission of the student to candidacy, supervision of the dissertation, and administration of the final oral examination. Failure to form a dissertation committee by the beginning of the fourth year in the doctoral program may result in the student’s dismissal from the program.
Proposal Defense:
Students should defend their dissertation proposal by the end of the third year/beginning of the fourth year. The proposal usually focuses on the already obtained findings and plans regarding research yet to be accomplished. The proposal defense is a public presentation and the student is expected to be able to address the questions and concerns of the dissertation committee and other attendees. If a student fails to defend their proposal defense, they may be given a second chance. Failure to successfully defend in the second attempt may result in dismissal.
Continuous Enrollment Policy
Graduate School information on Continuous Enrollment.
Time Limits for Degree Completion Requirements
Graduate School information on Time Limits.
Academic Misconduct Information
Graduate School information on Academic Misconduct.
Withdrawals and Leave of Absence Information
Graduate School information on Withdrawals and Leave of Absence.
Academic Grievances Information
Graduate School information on Academic Grievances.
Grades and Academic Standing
Graduate School information on Grades and Academic Standing.
Graduate School Deadlines Information
Information on Graduate School Deadlines.
Application for Graduation Information
Information on the Application for Graduation.
Acquisition of Financial Support:
All students in good standing in the Operations Management PhD program are normally supported by a graduate teaching assistantship (GTA) funded by the Department or a graduate research assistantship (GRA) funded through their advisor. Both these types of assistantships provide an equivalent stipend and benefits along with paid tuition and fees. Financial support is guaranteed through the first four years in the program for all PhD students who meet performance expectations and who do not meet any Conditions for Termination of Financial Support (see below). Students will be informed of impending financial support termination at least one semester prior to the support termination date, except in the special cases noted under Conditions for Termination of Financial Support. Students in good standing may petition the Director of Graduate Studies for continuing GTA support beyond the fourth year on a semester-by-semester basis. Petitions for continuing support must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies at least three months prior to the start of the final semester of guaranteed support. Students in good standing with GRA support beyond the fourth year may continue at their advisor’s discretion until GRA support is either exhausted or terminated by their advisor.
Fellowship Nominations:
Eligible students who excel in the program may be nominated by the Department for UA fellowships. Nominees are selected by departmental faculty vote based upon prospective nominee research productivity, academic performance, and contributions to the Department. Fellowship recipients are guaranteed paid tuition and fees, a stipend, and benefits at least commensurate with those provided through GRA or GTA support.
Performance Expectations for Continuing Financial Support:
The student must be in good academic standing in the Operations Management PhD program. One faculty member from the Operations Management group must agree to supervise the students' PhD studies and research.
The students must remain clear of all infractions outlined under Conditions for Termination of Financial Support
The student must complete all mandatory annual training and abide by all rules and policies held by The University of Alabama, the UA Graduate School, The UA Culverhouse College of Business, and the Department of Information Systems, Statistics and Management Science.
Graduate teaching assistants must adequately perform all duties assigned to them in a timely manner as defined by the instructor of record or their designee for all courses to which the student is assigned teaching and grading responsibilities.
Students must pass a two-stage qualifying exam. The first stage exam, known as the First-Year Individual Review of Scholarship and Teaching (FIRST Review), occurs at the end of the first year in the program. The FIRST Review measures the student's competency based on the First-Year Research Experience (FYRE) written and oral presentation, classroom performance, and TA performance. The second stage exam, known as the research qualification exam (RQE), typically occurs during the second year in the program. The RQE measures the student's ability to review, analyze, and conduct doctoral-level research. Failure to pass the FIRST Review or RQE will result in the student’s dismissal from the program.
Conditions for Termination of Financial Support:
Students who meet one or more of the following criteria will be subject to termination of financial support pending Department of Information Systems, Statistics and Management Science administrative review. Depending upon the severity of the infraction or the extent of non-compliance, the Department Head and PhD Program Director—with input from the PhD Committee—will recommend immediate termination of financial support, termination of financial support at the end of the current semester, or termination of financial support (partial or full) at the end of the following semester.
Dereliction of duty. Dereliction of duty includes but is not limited to: failure to comply with all UA safety and interpersonal conduct policies; absence from scheduled obligations without prior notification to the instructor of record or designee (for teaching assistants) or the research advisor (for research assistants); or failure to satisfactorily complete all activities associated with the funded position as defined by the instructor of record or designee (for teaching assistants) or by the research advisor (for research assistants) and the student’s departmental memorandum of appointment.
Resolved findings of Academic Misconduct. Penalties, including potential loss of financial support, will be determined with guidance from the UA Graduate School and/or the UA Culverhouse College of Business.
Failure to have a department-approved research advisor. Students without an approved research advisor may not enroll in OM 699 courses and, therefore, cannot proceed toward degree completion. Students without an advisor may be relegated to the master’s Program at the discretion of the PhD Program Director and Department Head.
Loss of good academic standing. Students not in good academic standing have one probationary academic semester after notification of their change in academic status to return to good academic standing, with the non-passing grade exception noted below. Financial support will be terminated if good academic standing is not restored by the end of the probationary academic semester. Students who earn more than two grades of ‘C’ or at least one grade of ‘D’ or ‘F’ in graduate courses will have a compulsory academic performance review by the PhD Committee. This review will determine whether the student should continue to receive financial support and/or be dismissed from the program at the end of the semester in which the non-passing grade is earned or at the end of the following semester. A decision will be rendered prior to the end of the semester in which a second ‘C’ and/or a ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade is reported.
Delinquent Annual Review. Students who neglect to complete the required departmental FIRST Review within their first 12 months, or the RQE within the first two years are no longer in good academic standing.
Insufficient continuous research progress. The dissertation committee determines by majority vote if a student is making adequate research progress commensurate with their time in the program during required annual reviews. If the committee determines the student is not making adequate research progress, the student will be granted one probationary semester (i.e., academic semester or full summer term) with financial support to remedy productivity deficiencies, as assessed by the dissertation committee. Failure to meet minimum research expectations by the end of the probationary semester will result in immediate termination of financial support and may prompt relegation to the master’s Program, at the discretion of the PhD Program Director and Department Head.