Operations Management

Analysts working on charts

Operations Management - Bachelor of Applied Science

Bellingham Technical College now offers its first Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Operations Management. BTC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Operations Management is a two-year online degree that can be added on top of an existing associate degree or even a previous bachelor’s degree to get you on track for higher level, higher pay positions — from production and facility supervisors to managers and VPs of operations.

Operations management is the management of processes, people, technology, and organizations that produce goods or services. Graduates can find careers in businesses and industries ranging from fisheries to the automotive industry, but BTC’s initial focus is on manufacturing and information technology.

Classes for the Operations Management bachelor’s are online but will include group work on some Saturdays as an opportunity for students to network and learn from one another.

Bachelor of Applied Science Entry Options

BTC’s BAS in Operations Management is ideal for current employees with a variety of educational backgrounds who would like to further their education and their career options.

Build off of a previous bachelor’s degree: For workers in the field with previous experience and an existing bachelor’s degree who are hoping to enhance their career.

Build off of a previous associate degree: For Bellingham Technical College graduates, those transferring from other community and technical colleges, or for current employees who already have an associate degree.

Start from scratch at Bellingham Technical College: Get your associate degree here in one of our 37 degree programs and continue on into our Bachelor of Applied Science program in Operations Management.

Employment Information

$89,502 starting annual wage2
$121,921 average annual wage2
$158,597 potential annual wage2
  • Employment and Wage Data Sources

    1Employment data come from the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and reflect WA/OR employment for students enrolled at BTC between 2017-18 and 2019-20. Students are included in the employment rate if they left with a credential. Rates are not shown for programs with fewer than 10 students meeting the above criteria.

    2Whatcom County and WA State wage data come from Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) 2021 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates and reflect 2018-21 employment. Wage data represent occupations that BTC faculty have identified as the most relevant career paths for program graduates. Note that these wages reflect employees with varying educational levels/credentials. For cases in which multiple occupations have been identified by faculty, a weighted percentile is calculated using each occupation’s percentile wage and employment size estimate. Wages are not shown for programs for which occupations do not meet the ESD’s minimum thresholds for publishing. If the program has wage data from the Washington SBCTC that involves shift work, these ESD wages reflect the same number of hours used in the annual wage calculation. Starting wage = 25th percentile, median wage = 50th percentile, wage potential = 75th percentile.

  • Estimated Program Costs

Tuition Fees and Rates overview page

Entry Information

When Can I Start?

To be admitted to the BASOPS program, students must have a completed AAS degree (or equivalent) and a minimum of 15 credits of generally-transferable General Education including ENGL& 101 (or equivalent); Intermediate Algebra (or equivalent); and 5 credits of Social Science or Humanities.

The “Academic Bridge” is designed to facilitate entry of students from diverse academic backgrounds into the program by addressing some of the preparatory General Education requirements that might not have been covered during students’ associate degrees.

At the end of the Academic Bridge, before students enter the junior year of the BASOPS degree, they will have completed a total of at least 35 credits of General Education. This will therefore involve them taking up to 25 credits of coursework during the Bridge, depending on the General Education component of the student’s associate degree.

What are the Minimum Entry Requirements?

Minimum required for admission to the BASOPS program: 

  • Completion of Associate of Applied Science Degree (or equivalent)
  • General Education English: 5 credits of ENGL& 101 (or equivalent)
  • General Education Math: Intermediate Algebra or higher (minimum grade 2.5/C+) or equivalent ACCUPLACER scores (within the past 2 years)
  • General Education Humanities or Social Science: 5 credits

Courses to be taken during the Bridge if not already completed by the applicant:

  • General Education: Any additional general education course in communications, math (college level), natural sciences, humanities, or social science 5 credits (minimum grade 2.5/C+)
  • Math: MATH& 146: Introduction to Statistics 5 credits (minimum grade 2.5/C+)
  • Humanities and Social Science: 10 credits (minimum grade 2.5/C+)
  • Natural Sciences: 5 credits (minimum grade 2.5/C+)

Minimum required at entry to the Junior Year, whether from prior experience or Bridge:

  • General Education English: ENGL& 101 5 credits (minimum grade 2.5/C+)
  • General Education Math: College-level math class with Intermediate Algebra as a prerequisite 5 credits (minimum grade 2.5/C+)
  • Mathematics: MATH& 146, Introduction to Statistics, 5 credits (minimum grade 2.5/ C+)
  • Humanities and Social Science: 15 credits – at least 5 credits each of Social Science and Humanities (minimum grade 2.5/C+)
  • Natural Sciences with lab: 5 credits (minimum grade 2.5/C+)

Students who graduate with a bachelor of applied science in Operations Management will be ready for top jobs as business managers, facility and facilities managers, general managers, operations managers, vice presidents of operations and more for industries that include manufacturing, transportation, information technology and retail. The employment outlook for operations managers and general managers in Washington state is strong and is expected to grow over the next several years. The average annual wage for an operations manager in Washington state is $120,155.

What are My Next Steps?

1. Apply to BTC and Financial Aid
2. Assess Your Starting Point
3. Advising & Registration
4. Prepare to Attend

 

Classes

Total Program Credits: 90

  • Current Students: Learn how to use this page to register for classes

  • Academic Core

  • ENGL 310Business Communications5 CR
  • PSYC 310Industrial Organizational Psychology5 CR
  • PHIL 310Professional Ethics5 CR
  • ECON 310Managerial Economics5 CR
  • BUS 310Project Management5 CR

  • TOTAL Academic Core Course Credits
    		25 CR

  • Technology Course Work

  • OPM 311Mathematical Techniques for Operations Management5 CR
  • OPM 312Forcasting and System Design5 CR
  • OPM 313Quality Management5 CR
  • OPM 314Logistical Planning and Supply Chain Management CR
  • OPM 315Lean Concepts and Applications5 CR
  • OPM 491Focused Study I5 CR
  • OPM 492Focused Study II5 CR
  • OPM 493Focused Study III5 CR
  • OPM 498Individual Capstone Project5 CR
  • OPM 499Group Capstone Project5 CR

  • TOTAL Technical Core Course Credits
    		50 CR

  • Manufacturing Specialization Electives

  • OPM 411Facility Layout and Materials Handling5 CR
  • OPM 412Workplace Health and Safety5 CR
  • OPM 413Measurement and Statistical Process Control5 CR

  • TOTAL Elective Course Credits
    		15 CR

  • View past class requirements for this program.

Program Outcomes

  • Demonstrate a mastery of the mathematical tools required for operations management.
  • Apply qualitative and quantitative forecasting techniques to the selection of processes and facility layouts that will optimize production and/or service delivery.
  • Plan a comprehensive quality management program for use within an organization.
  • Apply mathematical approaches to solve typical make/buy and outsourcing problems.
  • Assess the value of Lean concepts, including Value Stream Mapping, Workplace Organization and Standardization, 5-S and Cellular Flow, Kan Ban and Total Production Maintenance to operations management.
  • Demonstrate the application of project management techniques to develop realistic and comprehensive project plans; identify risk areas; monitor the plans; and deal with problems.
  • Develop clear and coherent technical reports, proposals, memoranda, and e-mails; and deliver presentations to groups.
  • Analyze projects, compare alternatives, and make business decisions based on economic principles such as time value of money, internal rate of return, and cost-benefit ratios.
  • Demonstrate the ability to identify and then develop acceptable resolution of ethical dilemmas that might occur in the workplace.
  • Analyze how leadership skills, recruitment and retention practices, motivation and team building, the management of change, and conflict resolution affect the behavior and interaction of people at work.
  • Demonstrate a level of critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and technical and information literacy commensurate with an operations management position.

Employment Outlook

Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Operations Management will be ready for top jobs as business managers, facility and facilities managers, general managers, operations managers, vice presidents of operations and more for industries that include manufacturing, transportation, information technology and retail. The employment outlook for operations managers and general managers in Washington state is strong and is expected to grow over the next several years. The average annual wage for an operations manager in Washington state is $120,155.

Faculty & Support

Photo of Erwin Swetnam
Erwin Swetnam

  • Degrees and Credentials

    JD, Juris Doctor, Western State College of Law

    Certificate, Professional Technical Education, Washington State

    BS, Political Science, Idaho State University

Contacts

If you have questions about this program or want help with the admissions steps to Bellingham Technical College, please email outreach@btc.edu.

Current students wanting academic planning and support, can connect with the program Instructor(s) or email BusinessITNav@btc.edu