U of A's Master of Science in Operations Management Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Global Campus

During a presentation June 22, Doug Stringfellow of El Dorado received his framed diploma for Master of Science in Operations Management from Gregory Parnell, a professor of practice and director of the College of Engineering's programs in engineering management and operations management, on the Razorbug Diploma Tour.

The College of Engineering will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Master of Science in Operations Management program this year. The graduate degree program welcomed its first students in 1974 and has grown to become the largest graduate degree program offered by the university. The program has more than 600 current students and about 180 graduates per year.

The M.S.O.M. program is structured for the convenience of the working professional, a tradition that has been long-standing, even when online learning wasn't a popular trend in higher education. Over 6,000 students have graduated from the program, coming from diverse educational and professional backgrounds in Arkansas, the military and beyond. The curriculum emphasizes strategy, project management, leadership and the 10 operations management decisions such as quality management, process design, location and layout strategy, human resources and supply chain, to name a few.  

The current program director, Greg Parnell, said it has been an honor to lead the faculty and staff team for the past 10 years. 

"Graduates tell us that the program has changed their lives by offering them better job opportunities," he said. "We have received great support from the Global Campus and the Graduate School and International Education."

The program motto is "Learn it Today, Use It Tomorrow," because it is designed for students to be able to immediately apply what they have learned in their workplace. Courses are eight weeks long and offered online five times per year, in addition to a few on-campus options. The program has four full-time online faculty and over 50 adjunct faculty with relevant industry, business or government experience.

"I offer my warmest congratulations to our exceptional M.S.O.M. program as it pauses to recognize a remarkable 50-year journey," said Kim Needy, dean of the College of Engineering. "This milestone is a testament to the dedication of our visionary faculty, the resilience of our students and the transformative impact we've had on the careers of thousands of working professionals around the globe."

Beginning in fall 2017, additional programs were created to allow students to earn credentials while working toward their graduate degree. Today there are six graduate certificates and six microcertificates from which students can choose.

"It is incredible to be celebrating 50 years of the M.S.O.M. program impacting careers of thousands of students," said Chase Rainwater, department head of industrial engineering. "The program itself is an example of excellence in every way. The Department of Industrial Engineering is proud to have M.S.O.M. as a key part of our unit. We are grateful to all the faculty, staff and leadership that have worked hard for decades to ensure the sustained success of this program."

The graduate degree program welcomed its first students 50 years ago. Recognizing the need in graduate education for military, civilian and industrial personnel, it was designed for students from diverse undergraduate backgrounds and geared toward working students. Courses are offered in Fayetteville for international students, university employees, local workers and graduate transfer athletes. Today, there are two office locations in Fayetteville and Hurlburt Field, Florida, as well as an instruction site at The Collaborative in Bentonville.