Course Plan

Our program stresses a balanced approach to the subject. Students are expected to understand the real context within which operational decisions are made, and to develop skills in modeling these problems. The emphasis is on the study of complex, large-scale systems needing integrated solutions.

The First Year: Foundation

The first year is designed to provide students solid training in mathematical programming and probabilistic modeling, and to develop analytic and research skills while introducing them to the basic issues faced by operations managers. The first year culminates with the Quantitative Methods Core Exam given in June.

Fall Quarter	AEC 511 Advanced Price Theory I
Winter Quarter	AEC 512 Advanced Price Theory II MSM522 Optimization MSM 504 Theory of Prob. and Stochastic Processes I
Spring Quarter	AEC 513 Advanced Price Theory III MSM 535 Integer Programming MSM 505 Theory of Prob. and Stochastic Processes II
Fall Semester	ECO 483/484 (2 hrs. each) Intro Math Stats/Econometrics MTH 265H (4 hrs.) Real Analysis BST 401 (4 hrs.) Probability Theory
Spring Semester	ECO 485 (4 hrs.) Econometrics

The Second Year: Depth

The second year is novel for doctoral programs in operations management. Students work on an individual research topic in conjunction with the faculty. This project provides the bridge from class work to research. Passing the Qualifying Exam and successful completion of this paper constitutes passing the Qualifying Exam in Operations Management. In addition, students will gain depth in the Operations Management courses and seminars.

This requirement is in addition to the Second-Year Paper due November 15.

Summer Quarter	STR 403 The Economic Theory of Organizations
Fall Quarter	OMG 521 Ph.D. Seminar in OMG MSM 542 Queuing Theory and Applications OMG 412 Service Management
Winter Quarter	OMG 522 Ph.D. Seminar in OMG ACC 410 Accounting for Management and Control OMG 413 Manufacturing and Service Strategy
Spring Quarter	OMG 523 Ph.D. Seminar in OMG OMG 411 Supply Chain Management OMG 415 Process Improvement

Admission to Candidacy

Upon completing the above requirements, students become Ph.D. Candidates by receiving a recommendation from the Operations Management Area Coordinator.

In the third year, students should complete all Minor and Distribution requirements. Third and fourth year students continue to take the Ph.D. seminars in OMG. The students must work with their advisors to determine additional courses that might be beneficial to their training. In addition, they must take any periodically offered reading courses on topics such as modeling issues, performance evaluation, and large scale mathematical programming.

Candidates also begin work on a dissertation. The titles of some recent Ph.D. thesis are listed below.

• Competition in Remanufacturing.
• Managing Product Variety in Inventory and Service Operations
• Structuring Service Delivery Processes; An Examination of Problems in Retail Banking and Telephone Center Designs
• Supply Chain Design under Short Order Lead time Requirements
• Essays in Just-in-Time Manufacturing: Firm Value, Product Variety, and Supplier Coordination
• Modular Product Systems Design and Planning: Assessing the Impact of Configuration Flexibility

The Operations Management Minor

To qualify for a minor in Operations Management, active participation in two OMG Ph.D. Seminars is required (the joint CIS/OMG Seminars are acceptable). A passing grade on the Operations Management Qualifying Exam is necessary, plus a grade of B or better in the following courses:

• Supply Chain Management (OMG 411)
• Service Management (OMG 412)
• International Manufacturing and Service Strategy (OMG 413)
• or substitutes approved in advance by the Operations Management Area Coordinator.