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Operations Management

Degree: BS

Campus: Columbus

College: Business

Operations management is the systematic direction and control of the processes that transform inputs into finished goods and services. The operations function comprises a significant percentage of the employees and physical assets in most organizations. Operations managers are concerned with each step in providing a service or product. They determine what equipment, labor, tools, facilities, materials, energy and information should go into an operating system and how these inputs can best be obtained and used to satisfy the requirements of the market place. Managers are also responsible for critical activities such as quality management and control, capacity planning, materials management, purchasing and scheduling.

Students admitted to the Columbus campus are also admitted directly to the Fisher major program and the operations management specialization.

In addition to the required operations management course work, students will complete courses in either the operations or purchasing track to create depth to their curricular experience.

Principles courses

Accounting Principles
Economics Principles
Statistics

Core courses

Business Skills and Environment
Business Law
International Business
Finance
Management Sciences
Management and Human Resources
Marketing
Logistics
Strategic Management

Required major courses

Six Sigma Principles
Operations Planning and Control
Managing Process Improvement
Selected courses in Operations Management

The Office of Global Business provides Fisher students with a variety of options where they can put classroom theories into action in compelling international locations and learn through experience. Employers value the diverse background that global experiences provide and list "strategic international understanding" and "cross-cultural experience" as two of the most desirable employee traits.

Though internship and co-ops are not required for business students, 95 percent of students registered with the Office of Career Management have some kind of internship experience before they graduate. Many students receive an offer of full-time employment from their internship employer. 

Honors students majoring in business, have the option of applying for and participating in one of four Honors programs (Accounting Honors, Finance Honors, Honors Cohort, Honors Immersion) or an Honors research project. Each option provides the opportunity to graduate with a diploma designation.

Entering freshman admitted to University Honors will be invited to apply to the Integrated Business and Engineering Honors Program and the Business Honors Learning Community.

The Business Scholars Program is a community of talented students that participate in programs and activities designed to offer insight into business practice and environment. Business Scholars learn to understand the vital role of collaboration through teambuilding, leadership training and workshops. Additionally, Business Scholars can develop partnerships with Fisher College of Business faculty and alumni.

The Buckeye Operations Management Society allows students to gather to discuss relevant business issues, attend guest speaker events, take plant tours, network with local businesses, and serve as a student chapter of APICS: The Association for Operations Management.

The Purchasing and Supply Management Association provides students majors with professional, social, educational and employment opportunities. Membership is open to any dedicated student interested in building their resume and learning about job and internship opportunities in the field of purchasing/supply management.

Operations managers pursue careers in service organizations involved in banking, transportation, insurance and government, as well as manufacturing firms involved in producing industrial and consumer products. 

Typical careers of recent graduates with an undergraduate degree in operations management involve activities such as forecasting, supervision, purchasing, traffic management, inventory planning and control, operations scheduling and control, process methods and planning, quality management, warehouse management, and production planning in diverse industries such as banking, manufacturing and retailing. There are also operations management career opportunities in management consulting firms or the development of computer systems for planning and scheduling. 

Beginning salaries for operations management professionals in 2018-19 averaged $56,851 depending on applicants' training, education and experience.

At graduation, Fisher College of Business graduates:

  • Will posses strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and critically assess problems facing contemporary businesses
  • Will demonstrate in-depth knowledge of human resources
  • Will possess a global perspective and can critically evaluate the international context a contemporary business operates in
  • Can identify and assess ethical issues surrounding business decisions
  • Are able to work effectively in a team-based environment
  • Can demonstrate professional deportment and effective oral and written communication skills

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The Fisher College of Business undergraduate operations management program was recently ranked 4th in the nation (U.S. News & World Report, 2020).

Interested in a business career?

Check out the Business Pathway to discover the many majors Ohio State offers that can lead to a career in business.