An online operations management degree helps you develop the skills required to run a business.
Operations managers play a key role throughout the production process, ensuring the successful delivery of goods. These professionals can be found across industries due to their essential skillset.
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By enrolling in a bachelors degree program in operations management, you can help put yourself on track to gaining versatile skills and qualifications for this growing field.
Online Operations Management Degrees
Effective operational management is essential to most organizations because they require consistent maintenance to ensure processes are running smoothly.
Operations managers are often the knowledgeable professionals responsible for this upkeep. Operations managers plan, oversee, and improve the production and transportation processes. As such, they can often be found working toward reducing costs, increasing profit, and improving customer satisfaction.
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Operational management programs examine both the management and technical aspects of the field. When pursuing an online degree in operations management, you can learn these valuable skills as well as the leadership skills that are essential for these types of positions.
Many graduates with an operations degree pursue leadership roles in business. The breadth of knowledge that students accumulate throughout their studies may allow them to fulfill various positions. For instance, here are some roles that graduates may consider:
- Business analyst
- Production planner
- Materials manager
- IT manager
As mentioned above, the standard curriculum for an operations management degree provides a combination of both technical and management-based skills. So, you can expect to take courses in:
- Economics
- Leadership
- Operations management
- Quality control
- Global supply chain management
If you have a desire to lead business operations and ensure a high standard of quality throughout the process, then you might consider earning an operations management degree.
Common Operations Management Bachelor’s Concentrations
BA in Operations Management programs often gives you the opportunity to specialize your knowledge by undertaking a concentration in your studies. Some of these concentration options may include:
- Business Economics. This concentration covers how the economy functions and subsequently affects everyone, from individuals to businesses.
- Cognitive Studies. You’ll study how the brain works, including how people learn and make decisions.
- Entrepreneurship. This concentration is designed to help you build a business, from conception to execution.
- Logistics and Transportation. You’ll study each step that’s involved in the delivery of goods.
- Project Management. This specialization provides you with the opportunity to learn how to manage products across different kinds of industries.
While they’re not always required, concentrations can be a valuable asset in your studies. You might consider taking a concentration if you’re especially interested in a particular aspect of the field. With a concentration, you can specify your knowledge for preferred career prospects.
Operations Management Careers & Salaries
Operations management bachelor’s programs can grow your knowledge of business and leadership as a whole.
This degree can help you develop versatile skill sets that are applicable in a range of industries. Graduates can be found working in leadership positions across the workforce, whether it be in technology, education, healthcare, marketing, and more.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the median salaries of potential career paths related to business and operations management.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Purchasing Managers | $131,350 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $107,560 |
| Administrative Services Managers | $103,330 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $98,560 |
| General and Operations Managers | $98,100 |
| Project Management Specialists | $95,370 |
| Management Analysts | $95,290 |
| Operations Research Analysts | $85,720 |
| Logisticians | $77,520 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $63,510 |
A bachelors in operations management can help you qualify for a variety of career paths, but a degree does not guarantee a specific position or salary.
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Many factors influence the hiring process, including your location, work experience, chosen industry, and potential employer.
Bachelor of Operations Management Curriculum & Courses
There are many courses that you can expect to encounter in your studies. Here are some examples of courses you may come across:
- Operations Management: In this course, you can gain an understanding of management principles, practices, and issues.
- Global Supply Chain Management: This course provides an introduction to managing distribution, coordination, and international sourcing.
- Purchasing and Vendor Management: In this course, you’ll examine the practices for purchasing raw materials, capital assets, spare parts, and more.
- Quality Management and Control: In this course, you’ll become familiar with quality management problems within both the public and private sectors.
- Inventory and Warehouse Management: This course examines material flow, delivery, and inventory-related cost estimation.
- Continuous Improvement Tools and Techniques: In this course, you’ll study the tools used in problem-solving for sustainable operations.
- Sustainable Operations: This course teaches you how to make operations decisions that please customers and support sustainability.
- Supply Chain Management: In this course, you’ll study the supply chain strategies that are used globally.
- Trends in Operations Management: In this course, you’ll study the latest topics in operation management.
- Capstone in Operations Management: This course functions as a test to assess the knowledge you would have acquired in your studies.
These represent only a few of the many courses you can encounter throughout your studies. You can check the curriculum of a prospective program to see if it aligns with your interests.
Admissions Requirements
Before you can obtain an online degree in operations management, it’s necessary to apply to a school that offers the program. Some common admissions requirements for bachelors programs include:
- High school transcripts
- SAT or ACT scores (only required by some schools)
- Letters of recommendation
- Online application
Each school has its own unique criteria, so it’s beneficial to research the individual requirements of each of your prospective programs.
Accreditation
Accreditation is beneficial for students and schools alike. Essentially, the status of regional accreditation certifies that a postsecondary institution consistently provides students with a high-quality education. By attending an accredited institution, you can ensure you’ll receive a rigorous education.
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Additionally, employers are likely to favor job applicants who earned degrees from accredited schools, as they can trust the quality of their education. It’s also necessary to attend an accredited school if you plan to pursue government financial aid.
Operations Management Licensure and Certifications
Many people who pursue an operations management degree go on to pursue licensure or professional certification following graduation. Some common certifications include:
- Certified Manager (CM): This certification is useful for demonstrating an individual’s general management skills.
- Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP): This credential program examines the supply chain at a broad level.
- Certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM): This certification testifies to an individual’s ability to systematically and strategically streamline inventory management operations.
Obtaining industry certification is not always necessary, but it might help you qualify for certain positions and grow your marketability in the field of your choosing.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
It’s common for college students to seek financial assistance to help cover the costs of their education. It could be helpful to know which options are at your disposal before you begin applying.
Federal aid—which is administered in the form of student loans, grants, and work-study programs—tends to be a student’s first recourse when seeking financial aid. To access this aid, you can complete the formal application, known as the FAFSA. From there, the government will determine your eligibility for aid.
Many students also pursue scholarships or grants. These are essentially free money given to students if they’re deemed eligible. You can explore these opportunities through your school as well as outside organizations.
What Is an Operations Management Online Degree?
An online operations management degree is designed to create skilled operations managers who can monitor the production and delivery of goods in the supply chain.
With this education, you might help improve both organizational and team efficiency. With this goal in mind, you can expect the curriculum to be largely focused on problem-solving, leadership, and workplace efficiency, which can help develop your management skills.
You can also study all areas of business, including finance, ethics, and marketing.
Is Operations Management a Good Degree?
Yes, operations management is a good degree for many undergraduate students. This type of program can familiarize you with all aspects of supply chains, which is useful for various industries.
Many graduates enter business organizations and go on to become operations managers. It’s also common for graduates to enter fields like product development, healthcare, technology management, and hospitality. The salaries for these positions will vary depending on several factors.
That said, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage across all management occupations is $107,360.
What Can You Do with an Operations Management Degree?
An operational management bachelor’s degree may open the door for many different positions across the workforce. Your curriculum will be largely focused on business principles, and many graduates enter business settings. You’re not excluded from other fields, though. Some graduates thrive by working in tech, healthcare, or even hospitality.
With an operational management degree, professionals may pursue positions as production supervisors, quality control specialists, project managers, and production planners. This degree can also help prepare students for further education. Some graduates choose to pursue their masters directly after earning their bachelors.
What Does an Operations Manager Do?
An operations manager is responsible for several processes within an organization, including accounting, purchasing, inventory, IT, and human resources. They may also go by other titles, like chief operating officer.
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The day-to-day tasks of operations managers can vary by organization. Generally speaking, operations managers implement the processes used by organizations on a daily basis, oversee the HR department, draft reports of the organization’s overall functionality, and more. The degree to which you would perform these tasks would ultimately depend on your specific role.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Operation Management Degree Online?
An online degree in operations management will typically require you to complete around 120 total credit hours. The specific amount of credit hours may vary by program.
On average, full-time students complete bachelors programs in 4 years. Your specific timeline may depend on your specific circumstances as well as the program of your choosing. If taken part-time, a bachelors program can often take longer to complete. On the other hand, some online programs offer accelerated tracks that enable students to earn their degree sooner.
What Jobs with an Operations Management Degree Can I Get?
A BA in Operations Management can help open the door to careers in various industries, whether it be in transportation, e-commerce, or retail. Professionals with these skills tend to be valuable members of the workforce.
They might take positions as:
- Inventory control analysts
- Supply managers
- Project managers
- Purchasing managers
It’s beneficial to remember that none of the above careers can be guaranteed. Some positions may require work experience or continued education.
What’s the Difference Between a BS in Business Management vs. Operations Management?
Here are some of the differences that separate a business management degree from an operations management degree.
| Business Management Degree | Operations Management Degree |
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Understanding these differences can help you choose the major that best suits your goals.
What’s the Difference Between a Project Management vs. Operations Management Major?
Project management and operations management majors have similarities, but it’s helpful to know how they differ.
| Project Management Majors | Operations Management Majors |
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Your personal interests and career goals may help you decide which type of program is best for you.
What’s the Difference Between a Bachelor’s Degree in Operations Management vs. Supply Chain Management?
Here are some of the differences between a bachelors in supply chain management and operations management.
| Bachelor’s in Supply Chain Management | Bachelor’s in Operations Management |
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While there is overlap between these degree paths, they each have varying focuses.
Is a Bachelors in Operations Management Degree Worth It?
Yes, a bachelors in operations management degree is worth it for many students. Workers with this background often help provide the foundation for successful organizations.
Operations management professionals may manage entire teams and ensure an organization operates at maximum efficiency throughout the supply chain process. Professionals with this expertise are needed across industries.
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment for management occupations is expected to grow 8% over the next ten years. This is considered faster than the average for all occupations.
Universities Offering Online Bachelors in Operations Management Degree Programs
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
American InterContinental University offers a BBA in Operations Management. This 180 credit program is available online and at the Atlanta and Houston campuses. Online students have around-the-clock access to coursework and may work at their own pace. Potential courses in the curriculum include Legal and Ethical Environment of Business, Survey of Human Resource Management, Financial Management, and more.
American InterContinental University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Arizona State University offers a BAS in Operations Management. Courses are 7.5 weeks long. Potential courses in the curriculum include Understanding the Enterprise, Innovation Management, and Enterprise Strategy and Innovation. The curriculum is designed to teach technical and management skills, and the same instructors that teach on campus teach the online courses.
Arizona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Bellevue University offers a Bachelor of Science in Project Management that can be completed 100% online. Those that already have an associate degree may enroll in the accelerated cohort option. In this option, students take one course at a time and progress through the program with the same group of peers. The program requires the completion of a capstone project that solves an actual business need to graduate.
Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
At Briar Cliff University, a Bachelor of Arts in Operations Management may be earned online.
The program is designed to be highly flexible, and the online platform allows students to customize the way they learn content to better fit their learning styles. The program provides opportunities to get real-world experience through the teachings of veteran faculty and internships.
Briar Cliff University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Franklin University offers a Bachelor of Science in Operations and Supply Chain Management that can be completed 100% online to better meet the needs of working adults. The program offers 6 and 12 week courses. The curriculum is taught by experienced business professionals and is designed to teach contemporary knowledge about global issues and sustainability.
Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
At Lipscomb University, a BA, a BS, or a BPS in Supply Chain and Operations Management can be earned online. Courses are 8 weeks long. Though the courses are online, opportunities are provided to network and participate in experiential learning. Online students at Lipscomb have access to library services and on-campus resources.
Lipscomb University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Marian University offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration in Operations and Supply Chain Management. Courses use an accelerated, 7 week format. The curriculum includes case studies, research projects, and small-group discussions. It teaches how to streamline workflow and keep a business running efficiently.
Marian University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
Minnesota State University – Moorhead offers a Bachelor’s in Operations Management. The program has a 100% job placement rate. Courses are 8 weeks long and available online and on campus, with most students choosing the online option. Faculty actively engage with online students through virtual office hours.
Minnesota State University – Moorhead is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Oakland City University offers a 2+2 transfer program that allows students who already hold an associate degree to earn a BS in Operations Management. The program has three concentration options: Leadership, Logistics and Product Distribution, or Quality Systems. Courses provide faith-based instruction. Potential courses in the curriculum include Accounting, Business Mathematics, and Information Systems.
Oakland City University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The Oregon Institute of Technology offers a Bachelor of Science in Operations Management. The program is available online and at Klamath Falls and Portland-Metro campuses. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning and real-world skills. Graduates pursue work in many different fields.
Oregon Tech is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
South Texas College offers a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Operations Management. Potential courses in the curriculum include Organizational Theory and Practice, Decision Making, Management and Law, and Accounting for Managers. The program provides opportunities to engage in real-world projects that provide employment experience.
South Texas College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Southern New Hampshire University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Operations Management. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for the PMI Certified Associate in Project Management exam. The program’s online classroom is available around-the-clock, and there are no set class meeting times.
SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, Inc.
Thomas Edison State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Operations Management. Potential courses include Computer Concepts and Applications, Principles of Financial Accounting, Principles of Managerial Accounting, and Quantitative Skills for Business. All students must complete a capstone requirement to demonstrate their knowledge.
Thomas Edison State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The University of Arizona offers a Bachelor of Arts in Operations Management and Analysis. Typically, courses are 5 to 6 weeks long and taken one at a time. Potential courses include Project Procurement Management, Integrated Cost and Schedule Control, Business Systems Analysis, and Strategic Management and Business Policy.
The University of Arizona is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth offers an online BS in Operations Management – Business Analytics. Potential courses in the curriculum include Supply Chain Management, Quantitative Business Analysis, and Business Logistics. Most online courses at UMass are asynchronous.
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has been accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
The University of Massachusetts – Lowell offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Analytics and Operations Management. The degree can be earned online or on campus. Potential courses in the curriculum include Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Business, Statistics for Business and Economics, and Marketing Principles.
The University of Massachusetts – Lowell is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
The University of Phoenix offers a Bachelor of Science in Business with an Operations Management Certificate. Courses are 5 weeks long and designed to teach practical skills while accommodating busy schedules. Potential courses in the curriculum include Business Communications, Introduction to Computer Applications and Systems, and Organizational Behavior for Managers.
The University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
A Bachelor of Science in Management can be earned at the University of Wisconsin – Stout. All courses are available online. Credits may be able to be earned for past work experience. The program offers opportunities to participate in applied learning experiences, study abroad, and face-to-face classes, if desired.
The University of Wisconsin-Stout is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Utica University offers an online BBA in Cybersecurity Operations Management. The program provides small class sizes and personalized support from faculty with real-world industry experience. SAT and ACT scores are not needed to apply. There are six start dates every year. The program can typically be completed in 2 to 4 years.
Utica University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Western Governors University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain and Operations Management.
Courses are taken in 6 month terms. Potential courses in the curriculum include Analyzing and Visualizing Data, Fundamentals of Spreadsheet and Data Presentations, and Finance Skills for Managers. The program also requires the completion of a capstone project in which the knowledge learned in the curriculum is applied to real-world situations.
Western Governors University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Getting Your Bachelor’s in Operations Management Degree Online
Earning your bachelors in operations management online is a strategic way to grow your knowledge in the field and develop versatile skill sets.
In your studies, you’ll focus on a combination of both soft skills and hard skills that are meant to develop your understanding of business and what it takes to be a quality leader. You’ll take courses on leadership, ethics, economics, and more. You can learn how to help run a successful business, and you can enter the workforce with essential skills.
You can start researching online operations management programs from accredited schools today to find the one that’s right for you.
