Industrial management degrees usually require bachelor's-level coursework in manufacturing and management that can prepare you for a career in the field. Read on to learn about the typical core courses of an undergraduate industrial management degree.
Industrial Management Defined
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that industrial management (also called industrial production management) combines the worlds of business, management and manufacturing. Since industrial managers supervise employees, make important decisions regarding production schedules and determine labor allocation, they split their time between the production floor and the office. To pursue a career in this area, you need a specific skill set that combines technical expertise with knowledge of business management. The BLS reports that these managers need a bachelor's in industrial management or a related field, in addition to work experience.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutIndustrialManagementDegrees">Important Facts About Industrial Management Degrees</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td>Entry-Level Education</td><td> High School Degree or GED Equivalent</td></tr>
<tr><td>Degrees </td><td>Certificate, Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate</td></tr>
<tr><td>Possible Careers</td><td> Industrial Productions Manager, Compliance Officer, Operations Manager</td></tr>
<tr><td>Median Salary (2018) </td><td>$103,380 (<i>for industrial production managers</i>)</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---UndergraduateProgramsInIndustrialManagement">Undergraduate Programs in Industrial Management</h3><p>Industrial management degree programs vary in their course content. Schools that offer Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in this field emphasize the business side of industrial management. Bachelor of Science degrees are also available that emphasize the manufacturing side of the field. Most schools with industrial management degree programs will require you to take courses in both business and manufacturing. These programs usually culminate in a senior project that provides tangible evidence of your skills.
</p><h3 id="section---Courses">Courses</h3><p>Since there is such variance in industrial management programs, not every degree program will offer the same curriculum. However, bachelor's degree programs in this field generally include core courses in the following areas:
</p><ul><li>Operations and project management
</li><li>Production management, planning and control
</li><li>Organizational behavior
</li><li>Statistics
</li><li>Management information systems</li></ul>
