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.

The Industrial Distribution program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org/. 

For more information about the IDIS program, please see the program requirements.

IDIS Program Mission

The mission 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.

IDIS Program Vision

The mission of the Industrial Distribution Program at Texas A&M University is:

• To be a nationally recognized leader in Industrial Distribution education and applied research, including technical sales and distribution operations and supply chain management.

IDIS Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the industrial distribution program are:

1. Successful in designing, integrating, and implementing technical sales, operations, and customer services management systems in industrial distribution and supply chain management-related industries.
2. Exemplifying ethical standards in their professional careers.
3. Providing leadership in their respective organizations during their careers.
4. Actively engaged in lifelong 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. 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.

¹

A grade of C or better is required.

²

Entering students will be given a math placement exam. Test results will be used in selecting the appropriate starting course which may be at a higher or lower level.

³

Of the 21 hours shown as University Core Curriculum electives, 3 must be from creative arts (see AREN curriculum for more information), 3 from social and behavioral sciences (see DAEN and IDIS curriculum for more information), 3 from language, philosophy and culture (see CVEN, EVEN and PETE curriculum for more information), 6 from American history and 6 from government/political science. The required 3 hours of international and cultural diversity and 3 hours of cultural discourse may be met by courses satisfying the creative arts, social and behavioral sciences, language, philosophy and culture, and American history requirements if they are also on the approved list of international and cultural diversity courses and cultural discourse courses.

⁴

BMEN, CHEN and MSEN require 8 hours of fundamentals of chemistry which are satisfied with CHEM 119 or CHEM 107/CHEM 117 and CHEM 120; Students with an interest in BMEN, CHEN and MSEN can take CHEM 120 second semester freshman year. CHEM 120 will substitute for CHEM 107/CHEM 117.

⁵

For BS-PETE, allocate 3 hours to core communications course (ENGL 210, COMM 203, COMM 205, or COMM 243) and/or 3 hours to UCC elective. For BS-MEEN, allocate 3 hours to core communications course (ENGL 203, ENGL 210, COMM 203 or COMM 205) and/or 3 hours to UCC elective.

⁶

Students in Industrial Distribution satisfy the 3 hour core curriculum social and behavioral sciences (KSOC) by taking ECON 202 as a required course.

⁷

All students are required to complete a high-impact experience in order to graduate.  The list of possible high-impact experiences is available in the ETID advising office.

⁸

See a departmental advisor for a list of acceptable directed electives and technical electives.

The curriculum lists the minimum number of classes required for graduation. Additional courses may be taken.

Total Program Hours 126