Online Doctorate in Operations Management

In today’s world, institutions continually develop and evolve progressive methods of achieving organizational success. Businesses, particularly those in the service and manufacturing sectors, realize the impact of modern operations strategies. A doctoral degree in operations management can help enable professionals to become experts in organizational design and operations by focusing on the development and management of products, processes, services and supply chains on both tactical and operational levels.

The path to an operations management doctoral degree

There are two main types of doctoral degrees in operations management: a Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D., and a Doctor of Business Administration, or DBA. The Ph.D. in operations management is more academically oriented and focuses on the underlying theories of risk assessment, pricing theory and microeconomics in relation to respective businesses. The DBA is an applied degree and teaches students to develop empirical solutions to complex business problems.

The kind of program you choose can depend on many factors, including the time you're willing to commit, your previous education, and your professional goals and experience. For the most part, program prerequisites include a bachelor's degree in a related subject. Some schools require candidates to submit GRE or GMAT scores as well.

No matter what kind of program you choose, doctoral-level courses in operations management should grant graduates an in-depth understanding of various topics:

• Supply chain management
• Material scheduling
• Group technology
• Inventory control
• New product development
• Logistics system configuration
• Labor scheduling
• Project management

Some online doctorate programs in operations management can be individually designed so students have opportunities to directly apply their coursework and research to their careers or specific interests. A doctoral dissertation is usually required, and many universities encourage their students to seek publication in industry, professional and academic journals.

Additionally, students might find that their online doctoral program requires at least one on-campus residency. Residency requirements vary depending on your school, but these brief on-campus stints can be planned throughout your degree program.

What to expect from an operations management doctorate program

Most universities anticipate doctoral students to complete a degree within four to seven years. Generally, the first couple of years of the program are spent on core curriculum and electives. At the end of that period, students may take a set of qualifying examinations in the field. After satisfying exam requirements, students then move on to researching, writing and defending their dissertations, which requires an additional two years or more. Operations management Ph.D. candidates are able to customize their dissertation research to meet their specific interests and goals within the field. DBA students may write a dissertation or complete a doctoral project based on case studies or applied research in the workplace, or they may complete a traditional academic dissertation.

Operations management is a diverse field that can encompass everything from global supply chain management to behavioral science. To find a school that specializes in your areas of interest, you'll need to research course offerings, faculty bios and areas of focus. You can start gathering information from the programs below and requesting additional support from prospective schools.