Industrial Management Degree Program Overviews

Degree programs in management with a particular emphasis on industry, technology and production are well-suited for individuals who are interested in working in manufacturing industries such as chemicals, textiles or automobiles. Two types of degrees available in the field include a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management and a Master of Science in Industrial Management.

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Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management

Bachelor's degree programs in industrial management primarily focus on management theories, principles and skill sets, and prepare students for practical positions in industrial settings. Students enrolled in such a program learn about basic production processes, personnel management strategies and operational logistics, which can be applied to several different industries. Many degree programs in the subject also provide students with an understanding of mathematics, statistics and computer science.

Education Prerequisites

A high school diploma or its equivalent GED are among the most common prerequisites for gaining admittance into a 4-year school offering a bachelor's degree program in industrial management. Other prerequisites include a strong grade point average and basic computer skills.

Program Coursework

The curriculum included in an industrial management degree program is similar to that of many business-related degree programs, but with a particular emphasis on production and operations. Some examples include:

Statistics
Managerial accounting
Management principles
Production systems
Personnel management
Operations management
Supply chain management

Popular Career Options

Industrial managers, production managers, supply chain managers and similar leaders can gain positions across several technical and industrial industries, including:

Electronics manufacturing
Pharmaceuticals
Automobile manufacturing
Printing
Plastics manufacturing
Textiles manufacturing

Master of Science in Industrial Management

Master's degree programs in industrial management are primarily designed for those students who have earned a baccalaureate degree in a related field, such as business management, and who are interested in pursuing a career in industry. Many schools also open up 2-year master's degree programs in industrial management to aspiring managers who have already had some professional experience in engineering and technology. Some degree programs require that graduate students choose a specialization in the field, such as strategic industrial management, manufacturing systems, engineering technology or industrial safety.

Education Prerequisites

The prerequisites for a master's degree program in industrial management vary greatly, depending upon the proposed outcome of the program. Industry professionals looking to gain management positions should have some years of work experience before they apply, while regular incoming graduate students need only have a baccalaureate degree, strong grade transcripts and GRE scores.

Program Coursework

Industrial management courses offered at the graduate level cover advanced principles of management and system analysis. Some of these include:

Operations systems
Industrial management
Economic principles
Manufacturing systems
Statistics
Quality management
Human factors in management

Employment Outlook and Salary Info

More than 147,000 industrial production managers worked in the technological and manufacturing industries in the United States in 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov). In that year, Michigan employed the highest percentage of industrial managers, while Texas employed the highest paid industrial managers. The average median wage for the profession in 2009 was about $85,080.

Certification Options

Certification is not typically required for the position of industrial manager, but it can help professionals looking to move up in their careers or switch over to another profession. The Association for Operations Management (www.apics.org) offers certification for professionals who complete a brief training program. It designates individuals as Certified in Production and Inventory Management or as Certified Supply Chain Professionals.

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