2003-2005 - Graduate School - The University of Alabama

229The concentration in production/operations management (POM) is designed to preparestudents for the practice of production/operations management. The program isstructured to provide instruction in materials management, scheduling and control, andquality management. A fl exible elective structure allows additional exposure to logisticsand distribution management, manufacturing simulation, statistical analysis, andop er a tion research methods. Quantitative models and tools are emphasized throughoutthe curriculum. The POM M.A. degree permits greater depth and breadth in theproduction/operations management area than an M.B.A. degree with a concentrationin POM would allow.Admission RequirementsAdmission requirements are outlined on p. 219.Manderson Graduate School of BusinessDegree RequirementsFor either concentration: Entering students are expected to possess strong quan ti -ta tive skills; good com mu ni ca tion skills (written and oral) are also important. Prior studyof business is not required. Students with engineering, mathematics, computer science,or natural science un der grad u ate backgrounds are particularly en cour aged to apply.Program prerequisites are multivariate calculus (MATH 227) and ability to program(GES 126).The program consists of 30 hours of coursework which well-prepared students cancomplete in 12 months with entry in the fall term. All students are expected to completethe program in 15 months. No thesis or research paper is required.Required coursesSemester hoursConcentration I — Management ScienceMGS 500 Management Science I .................................................................. 3MGS 540 Systems Simulation ....................................................................... 3MGS 560 Knowledge-Based Systems Methods orAEM 585 Genetic Algorithms in Optimization and Machine Learning ........ 3MGS 598 Research in Management Science ................................................ 3Electives in management science,approved by adviser of the student’s program............................................ 9____Total hours ............................................................... 21Concentration II — Production/Operations ManagementMGS 500 Management Science I .................................................................. 3MGS 522 Production Scheduling Problems................................................... 3MGS 523 Inventory Management .................................................................. 3MGS 524 Manufacturing Scheduling and Control Systems ........................... 3ST 550 Statistical Methods for Applied Research I ........................................ 3ST 575 Statistical Quality Control................................................................... 3Elective in management science,approved by adviser of the student’s program............................................ 3____Total hours ............................................................... 21For the M.S.C. degree, the following are also required:MGS 599 Thesis Research in Management Science..................................... 3Thesis acceptable to the student’s thesis committee____Total hours for the M.S.C. program .......................... 24