Phd in Operations Management (OM)

Although this program is not accepting new doctoral students in 2008, Operations Management (OM) is a unique field of study covering a wide variety of areas including but are not limited to: Supply Chain Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, Demand Management, Production Planning/Scheduling and Control, Service Management including Health Care Management, Quality Management, Project Management, and Purchasing Management.

Demand for OM graduates has been growing significantly in the recent years, and is currently exceeding supply and offers highly competitive salaries. This demand comes from both reputable universities and from research/consulting firms as they face similar increases in demand for their services. Part of the increase is due to the awareness by US firms of the strategic importance of OM for remaining competitive in global markets. This awareness is reflected in the several associations recently founded by US and International firms, such as the Supply-Chain Council (www.supply-chain.org), Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (www.cpfr.com), etc. These organizations are founded to disseminate knowledge and share information among large, global firms in business areas that are mainly covered in the Operations Management program.

Content and Length of Program

For the typical student the program requires a 4-year full-time commitment. During this period the student establishes residency (Section 7.80 of C. T. Bauer College of Business Policies - BCB policies) and employment outside the university is prohibited. Ph.D. students may be qualified to receive support from the university in the form of Assistantships. Students receiving assistantships are expected to serve 20 hours each week during the academic year as research and/or teaching assistants to the OM faculty. Compensation for these services is provided in the form of tuition reimbursement and stipends varying from $21,600 to $28,200 per year depending on qualifications.

Research Focus and Placement

The Ph.D. program in Operations Management at University of Houston is designed to produce outstanding scholars/teachers who possess a breadth of understanding of the variety of the disciplines in OM, a depth of understanding of selected fields within OM, and how they relate to other business processes. The program is designed to provide the necessary skills to enable students to meet the demands of a successful future academic commitment: (1) contribute to the growing body of academic and practical OM knowledge through sound research, and (2) educate and instruct future scholars and business professionals in the OM field.

Past graduates of the OM Ph.D. program have been placed at institutions such as University of Southern California, The Ohio State University, George Mason University, Oakland University, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Lehigh University, University of Glasgow, Aspen Technology, Inc., Air Force Institute of Technology, etc. To get information on OM faculty refer to DISC department webpage at the Bauer College of Business.