Business Analytics and Operations

Return to: Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business

The Business Analytics and Operations discipline offers flexible options for a doctoral student in a variety of related research topics including Supply Chain Management, Data Mining and Business Analytics, Decision Sciences, Project Management, Revenue Management, Simulation Methodology, Stochastic Modeling and Applied Statistical Methods, and Business Analytics. These programs require coursework for two years, followed by a period of dissertation-related research. The doctoral program prepares students for a career in teaching and research at institutions of higher learning.

Business Analytics and Operations students must complete a total of 15 seminars/courses (17 courses if they do not exempt the MBA course requirement).  This includes eight courses in their major area of study within Business Analytics and Operations, at least four courses in research methodology, and at least three courses in a minor area of study.  Students may instead choose to complete eight courses in their major area and seven total courses in research methodology for a research methodology minor. Students should choose individually approved seminars and courses from the enclosed list of Katz seminars and courses (BQOM 3000 and above), as well as from approved University of Pittsburgh seminars and courses.  Finally, on a limited basis students may also cross-register into approved seminars and courses at other institutions to support their overall program of study.  Each program of study must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor and the Director of the Katz Doctoral Program.  Any subsequent seminar/course changes must also be approved.

To achieve the fifteen course total, Business Analytics and Operations doctoral students will complete Katz doctoral seminars (BQOM 3000 and up) that may include Linear and Nonlinear Programming, Simulation, Statistics, Stochastic Processes, Decision Theory, Current Topics in Operations, Value Chain, Data Mining, Business Analytics, Project Management, and Readings in Operations. Students may also take additional coursework from Katz seminars in other disciplines such as Marketing or Finance.  They may request courses from the Industrial Engineering Department and from other University of Pittsburgh approved graduate courses in addition to approved courses from other cross-registration eligible institutions.

The following business analytics and operations doctoral seminars may be offered by the Katz Doctoral Program (subject to student enrollment).  Students may supplement their programs of study with additional courses as noted.  The following list suggests seminars and courses that students may use, with the permission of their advisors and the Katz Doctoral Program Director, to satisfy the course work phase of their programs of study.