Bachelor of Science in Industrial Distribution prepares graduates for technical sales, sales management, business development, procurement, supply chain management, operations management, and other managerial positions. Students are prepared for employment in industry segments that include: aerospace; automation solutions; building materials; chemical and petrochemical; electrical; electronics; information systems and technology; healthcare; fluid power; general line; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; management consulting; mechanical power; metals; oil and gas; plastics; pipe, valve, and fitting; plumbing; safety equipment; semiconductor; specialty tools; and welding. The day-to-day challenges faced by the industrial distributor or the manufacturer’s representative require the person to be a professional with many capabilities. To fulfill this demand, the curriculum provides studies in distribution, business, communications, finance/profitability, information technology, applied technology, analytics management, engineering, ethics, and project management. Graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Distribution.
Mission and Vision Statement
The mission and vision of the Industrial Distribution Program at Texas A&M University is to:
- Prepare graduates for sales engineering, sales management, supply chain operations and logistics management mid-management positions with wholesale distributors, who purchase, warehouse, sell, distribute and service a wide variety of products, and with manufacturers who sell through distributors.
- Conduct applied research and develop new best practices in industrial distribution, logistics, and supply chain management that mutually benefits the university and its industrial, governmental, and academic collaborators.
- Provide service and leadership in the promotion and advancement of the department, the university and the industrial distribution profession.
- Maintain a nationally recognized program through excellence in hands-on education, applied research, and service.
Program Educational Objectives
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Distribution program has as its program educational objectives to produce graduates who:
- Demonstrate the technical and managerial skills to have successful careers in designing, integrating and implementation of technical sales, operations and customer services management systems in industrial distribution and supply chain management related industries.
- Exhibit a commitment to professional ethics in their professional career.
- Demonstrate increasing levels of leadership and responsibility during their careers.
- Display a desire for life-long learning and sustainable productivity in a dynamic work environment.
The freshman year is identical for degrees in aerospace engineering, architectural engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, data engineering, electrical engineering, electronic systems engineering technology, environmental engineering, industrial distribution, industrial engineering, interdisciplinary engineering, manufacturing and mechanical engineering technology, mechanical engineering, multidisciplinary engineering technology, nuclear engineering, ocean engineering, and petroleum engineering (Note: not all programs listed are offered in Qatar). The freshman year is slightly different for chemical engineering, biomedical engineering and materials science and engineering degrees in that students take CHEM 119 or CHEM 107/CHEM 117 and CHEM 120. Students pursuing degrees in biological and agricultural engineering should refer to the specific curriculum for this major. It is recognized that many students will change the sequence and number of courses taken in any semester. Deviations from the prescribed course sequence, however, should be made with care to ensure that prerequisites for all courses are met.
Plan of Study Grid First Year |
Fall |
CHEM 107 | General Chemistry for Engineering Students 1,4 | 3 |
CHEM 117 | General Chemistry for Engineering Students Laboratory 1,4 | 1 |
ENGL 103
| Introduction to Rhetoric and Composition 1
or Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
ENGR 102 | Engineering Lab I - Computation 1 | 2 |
MATH 151 | Engineering Mathematics I 1,2 | 4 |
3 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Spring |
ENGR 216/PHYS 216 | Experimental Physics and Engineering Lab II - Mechanics 1 | 2 |
MATH 152 | Engineering Mathematics II 1 | 4 |
PHYS 206 | Newtonian Mechanics for Engineering and Science 1 | 3 |
3 | 3 |
| 3-4 |
| Fundamentals of Chemistry II 1,4 | |
3,5 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15-16 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 31-32 |
Plan of Study Grid Second Year |
Fall |
ENGR 217/PHYS 217 | Experimental Physics and Engineering Lab III - Electricity and Magnetism 1 | 2 |
IDIS 240 | Introduction to Industrial Distribution 1 | 3 |
ISTM 209 | Business Information Systems Concepts 1 | 3 |
PHYS 207 | Electricity and Magnetism for Engineering and Science 1 | 3 |
1 | 3 |
| Elementary Statistical Inference | |
| Principles of Statistics I | |
| Statistical Methods | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 |
Spring |
ACCT 209
| Survey of Accounting Principles 1
or Introductory Accounting | 3 |
ECON 202 | Principles of Economics 1, 6 | 3 |
MGMT 209 | Principles of Business Regulations and Law 1 | 3 |
MMET 201 | Manufacturing and Materials 1 | 4 |
3,6 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Third Year |
Fall |
ENGL 210 | Technical and Professional Writing 1 | 3 |
IDIS 330 | Sales Engineering 1 | 4 |
IDIS 340 | Manufacturer Distributor Relations 1 | 3 |
IDIS 343 | Distribution Logistics 1 | 3 |
3, 6 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Spring |
ENTC 399 | High Impact Experience 7 | 0 |
ESET 300 | Industrial Electricity 1 | 4 |
IDIS 344 | Distributor Information and Control Systems 1 | 4 |
IDIS 364 | Distributor Financial Management 1 | 3 |
MMET 301 | Mechanical Power Transmission 1 | 3 |
1, 8 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 17 |
Fourth Year |
Fall |
ESET 400 | Industrial Automation 1 | 4 |
IDIS 424 | Purchasing Applications in Distribution 1 | 3 |
IDIS 433 | Industrial Sales Force Development 1 | 3 |
IDIS 443 | Distribution Project and Process Management 1 | 3 |
MMET 401 | Fluid Power Transmission 1 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Spring |
IDIS 434 | The Quality Process in Distribution 1 | 3 |
IDIS 444 | Distribution Project and Process Management II 1 | 3 |
IDIS 450 | Analytics for Distribution Operation 1 | 4 |
3, 6 | 3 |
8 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 95 |
The curriculum lists the minimum number of classes required for graduation. Additional courses may be taken.
Total Program Hours 126