University of South Alabama

What you'll study

The Management and Operations MBA combines core business foundations with specialised coursework in operations, supply chain and process improvement. Typical components include core modules in managerial accounting, corporate finance, organisational behaviour, marketing strategy and managerial economics, followed by operations-focused subjects such as operations management, supply chain management, quality management and lean systems.

• Core business foundations – courses covering finance, accounting, strategy, marketing and quantitative methods to develop a broad managerial skill set.
• Operations and management core – subjects on operations strategy, production and service operations, process analysis, project management and business analytics.
• Supply chain and quality – topics including procurement, logistics, inventory control, distribution, Six Sigma and continuous improvement.
• Information systems and analytics – applied data analysis, decision support systems and the use of operations technology for performance improvement.
• Capstone / experiential learning – a strategic capstone, consulting practicum or applied project with a local organisation to integrate learning and address real operational challenges.

Electives and seminars allow you to tailor the degree to interests such as healthcare operations, global supply chains, sustainable operations, or entrepreneurship. Courses emphasise applied skills: case studies, team projects, simulation and industry projects are commonly used assessment methods.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a recognised bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Admissions typically consider undergraduate academic performance, professional experience, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose and a current résumé. The programme may request GMAT or GRE scores, although waivers are often available for candidates with substantial professional experience or prior graduate study. International applicants will need to demonstrate English proficiency through recognised tests unless exempted by prior English-medium study.

Some applicants without undergraduate coursework in business may be asked to complete prerequisite modules in areas such as accounting, statistics or economics before or at the start of the programme. The admissions team reviews each application holistically and may interview shortlisted candidates.

Career prospects

Graduates of the Management and Operations MBA pursue roles that blend leadership with technical operations expertise. Common career paths include:

• Operations Manager or Director – overseeing production, service delivery and process performance.
• Supply Chain Manager / Logistics Manager – managing procurement, distribution and inventory across networks.
• Process Improvement / Lean Six Sigma Specialist – leading efficiency and quality improvement initiatives.
• Project Manager – directing cross-functional projects to deliver operational change.
• Operations Analyst or Business Analyst – using data to improve operational decision-making.
• Consultant or Entrepreneur – advising organisations on operational strategy or launching operations-driven ventures.

Graduates find opportunities across manufacturing, transportation and logistics, retail, healthcare systems, government agencies and professional services. The degree is designed to prepare students for both functional management roles and broader leadership positions that require operational expertise.

Why study at University of South Alabama

The University of South Alabama offers a regional business school environment with strong ties to industry and public-sector organisations in the Gulf Coast and Southeastern US. The College of Business focuses on applied learning and has programmes structured to accommodate full-time students, working professionals and part-time learners. Students benefit from faculty with practical and research experience in operations and supply-chain topics, opportunities for internships and practicum projects with local employers, and access to centres and resources that support analytics and management development.

Because the programme emphasises experiential projects and local industry engagement, it is particularly attractive for students who want to apply classroom learning directly to operational problems in sectors such as healthcare, maritime logistics, manufacturing and regional supply chains.