EARN YOUR BUSINESS QUALITY MANAGEMENT DEGREE AT SC!

Total Credit Hours: 124

Transfer Credits: Up to 94

The bachelor of science in business quality management program provides learners the opportunity to develop competencies in quality management practices related to change management, team engagement, international standards, quality management systems and systems, negotiation and conflict resolution, and data analysis and reporting. Throughout the program, learners are offered opportunities to explore the application of quality management in different service and manufacturing industries.

• Curriculum enhanced by subject matter experts
• Experience applied learning through business scenarios and case studies while also gaining foundational knowledge applicable to project management, Six-Sigma, and LEAN-related certification preparation courses
• Stack with Organizational Communication or Quality Management certificates to build additional credentials
• Discover more reasons to choose SC!

Recently ranked by U.S. News and World Report for its online business degree programs, Southwestern College offers quality online degrees to adult learners. With courses taught by expert faculty and access to a variety of student resources, SC learners are provided with the tools and flexibility needed to succeed in their education while preparing for professional advancement.

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CAREER OUTLOOK

Projected Job Growth (BLS): 5%

Average Salary (PayScale): $76k

Graduates of the online business quality management program at Southwestern College will be prepared for a variety of careers, including:

• Quality control inspector
• Hospital manager
• Production manager
• Quality assurance manager

STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES

“The way the Internet and technology is nowadays I can be in the middle of anywhere…and I can continue my education instead of just holding it off.”
Fabian

FACULTY

Visit our faculty page to view current business quality management instructors.

View Courses & Program Details

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Students enrolled in the online business quality management program at Southwestern College can expect to:

• Explain contemporary business quality and risk management theories, concepts, and practices and their respective applications in service and manufacturing environments.
• Use business quality management methods and practices in service and manufacturing environments that bring value to and align with the organizations’s strategic goals and objectives.
• Evaluate solutions to potential or presenting risk or quality problems based on analysis of qualitative and quantitative data appropriate to the problem.
• Apply best practices for knowledge-based business quality management decision making.
• Appraise successful methods for engagement and collaboration with executives, managers, employees, customers, and other stakeholders in diverse and multidisciplinary environments that enable the organization to meet or exceed customers’ and other stakeholders’ expectations for quality.
• Employ sustainable, ethical, legal, and socially responsible business quality management practices in domestic and global environments.
• Communicate effectively with diverse audiences about complex business quality management concerns using various types of media.

RESOURCES

Article: Business Degrees – Knowing the Difference and How to Choose
Webinar: Lean vs. Six Sigma

RELATED PROGRAMS

Quality Management Certificate
Operational Leadership Certificate
Organizational Communication Certificate
Business Administration
Operations Management

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BUSINESS QUALITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM DETAILS

The quality of a service or product that meets or exceeds customers’ expectations is a critical success factor for an organization in an increasingly competitive domestic or global environment. Effective quality management and leadership increase the potential for organizations to achieve this goal. In the online business quality management program, emphasis is placed on quality management as an organizational strategy and the ethical, legal, and socially responsible behaviors expected from individuals and organizations. Learners select one type of organization and/or industry as a focus for their Capstone project. Graduates have practical, marketable quality management knowledge and skills grounded in industry-accepted theories and practices to help them enter and/or progress in a competitive job market, while building a solid theoretical foundation for potential graduate studies.

Admission Requirements

1. Applicants must be graduates of an accredited high school or have completed a GED®
2. Minimum GPA of 2.0

Core Major Requirements

BQM 305: Principles of Quality Management

The quality of a service or a product is a high expectation of the customer, and a core value of the organization and its stakeholders. Quality is an integral component the organization’s competitive strategy. Managing for a quality outcome is essential. Learners explore the principles and practices of managing quality within service and manufacturing organizations including ISO standards, quality management systems, and practices such as benchmarking, statistical process control, continuous improvement, and quality audits. Learners also examine such practices within the context of sustainable, ethical, legal, and socially responsible quality management in domestic and global environments. In addition, learners assess the complementary relationship of quality management and risk management.

BQM 323: Quality, Organizational Behavior, and Change Leadership

The characteristics of an organization’s culture, its behaviors, and its introduction and management of change affect an organization’s ability to deliver quality services and products to their customers. Learners evaluate the impact that organizational behavior and change leadership have on the success of quality initiatives in the short and long term through examination of the organization as a system and the complex factors that influence quality outcomes. Learners assess best practices and identify what quality managers might recommend to executives and other managers as well as practice themselves to promote positive change, develop new ideas and methods for measurement, and help facilitate the success of quality initiatives.

BQM 325: Quality through Effective Teams

Achieving quality outcomes is a cooperative effort and effective teamwork is an essential element for success. Learners explore the organization as a network of interactive teams with emphasis on their respectives roles related to quality initiatives. Best practices and methods for organizing and developing empowered teams, measuring team progress, plotting and recognizing team accomplishments, resolving team performance concerns, and other team management practices are examined.
Prerequisite: BQM 305: Principles of Quality Management.

BQM 363: ISO Standards and Applications

The International Standards Organization (ISO) is a global force in setting quality standards. Learners examine ISO standards, quality management systems, such as the ISO 9000 series and AS9100, and the conduct of quality audits, and their respective applications to all types of service and manufacturing organizations. Learners have the opportunity to explore ISO’s application to a type of organization of particular interest in this course. While not a certification preparation course, this course provides foundational knowledge that will be useful if a learner chooses to take ISO certification preparation courses.

BQM 365: Six Sigma Principles and Applications

Six Sigma is one of several widely used quality management methods used in service and manufacturing industries. Learners thoroughly examine Six Sigma principles and concepts, such as DMAIC (Design, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) process, CTQ (Critical to Quality) characteristics, and continuous improvement, and their respective applications. Learners have the opportunity to explore Six Sigma’s application to a type of organization of particular interest in this course. While not a certification preparation course, this course provides foundational knowledge that will be useful if a learner chooses to take Six-Sigma certification preparation courses.
Prerequisite: MASC110 – Statistics and Probability.

BQM 367: LEAN Principles and Applications

LEAN is one of several widely used quality management methods used in service and manufacturing industries, with a specific focus on minimizing waste. Learners thoroughly examine LEAN principles, methodologies, and concepts, such as removal of the seven wastes, Just in Time, value stream mapping, and lean supplier relationships, and their respective applications. In addition, Lean Six Sigma will be explored. Learners have the opportunity to explore LEAN’s application to a type of organization of particular interest in this course. While not a certification preparation course, this course provides foundational knowledge that will be useful if a learner chooses to take LEAN-related certification preparation courses.
Prerequisite: MASC110 – Statistics and Probability.

BQM 480: Quality as an Essential Competitive Strategy

Whether a private or public company, profit or non-profit, many successful companies base their organizational strategy on providing superior quality. Learners explore quality in the context of an organization’s competitive strategy and how it is executed throughout its operational initiatives. Learners examine competitive strategies and competitive forces, organizational and market evaluation methods, and the roles that the promotion of positive change, development of new ideas, and quality management plays in the crafting and execution of a successful competitive strategy. Learners also examine competitive strategies within the context of sustainable, ethical, legal, and socially responsible practices in domestic and global environments.
Prerequisite: BQM 305 Principles of Quality Management.

BSAD 415: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Effective interpersonal skills are essential for professionals as they communicate, collaborate, and negotiate with other individuals and groups within and outside an organization. Successful learners develop the professional interpersonal, facilitation, negotiation, conflict management, and dispute resolution skills necessary for success in today’s complex business environments. This complexity includes elements such as the social, cultural, and economic diversity of the workforce in domestic and global environments. Learners apply these skills in a series of scenarios including those related to personnel, team, contractual, procedural, change, and other stakeholder concerns. Prior study of professional communication recommended.

HRD 323: Finance for Non-Financial Managers

Learners will develop an understanding of the role of finance in the business organization. Topics include ratio analysis, creation of financial statements, sources of funds for financial operations, managing the cash flow process, the cost of capital, and capital budgeting. In addition, the financial impacts of international operations will be explored.

ISM 465: Data Acquisition and Analytics

Whether an inventory, nursing, quality, or human resources manager, or a professional in another field, knowing what information is needed to make a decision and how to analyze that information is critical. Learners explore methods to determine what information is needed and the types and sources of information required for different types of decisions encountered in their major field of study. Utilizing pre-selected or researched qualitative and quantitative sources of data relevant to their fields, learners select appropriate data, apply qualitative and quantitative analytics, and interpret the initial results. Microsoft Excel and Word are required for this course. Proficiency in the routine functions of Microsoft Excel and Word are highly recommended.
Prerequisite: MASC110 – Statistics and Probability.

ISM 475: Data Visualization and Reporting

The data has been acquired and analyzed. The manager or professional must visualize the results for his or her own benefit, anticipate the questions that will be asked by others about the results, and visualize, present, and report on the results to others in ways that the results will be well received. Learners use visualization tools to present data in a manner that end‐users readily understand, and presentation and document tools to present the results in a variety of formats that meet expectations ranging from one-page targeted summaries to professional presentations and analytical reports. Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word are required for this course. Proficiency in the routine functions of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word are highly recommended. Other industry-recognized visualization software may be provided as part of the course.
Prerequisite: ISM 465: Data Acquisition and Analytics.

MASC110 Statistics & Probability

This course acquaints learners with the tools and major components of statistics. Learners will apply technology to analyze data. The course also includes the foundational terminology and practices used in contemporary statistics, such as data collection, metrics, score interpretation, and experimental design. Additionally, this course will promote the skills that learners need to be able to take information from the world around them and use it to make sound decisions based on solid evidence.

OMGT 444: Project Management

Project management is applicable to all types of service and manufacturing settings where a specialized task, job, or venture has been presented.  Learners study project management as a general practice and method, as well as its application within the context of the specific task, job, or venture and the environment in which the project is realized.  Learners apply project management practices and methods within the context of various projects.  Emphasis is given to the role of human resources and communication in a project’s success.  While not a certification preparation course, this course provides foundational knowledge that will be useful if a learner chooses to take project management certification preparation courses.

CAPS495: Senior Capstone

Learners engage in two projects that assess their achievements and preparation for pursuit of professional aspirations in their major field. Through application and assessment, learners examine the knowledge and skills gained throughout the program, achievement of the program outcomes, and their preparation as followers and leaders in their chosen professional field. 
Prerequisites: The capstone should take place within the last 9 hours of a learner’s program.

General Education Requirements*

Basic Skills

CORE110: Information Literacy

This course is designed to provide learners with the skills that are fundamental to becoming an information‐literate professional who can locate, evaluate, organize and communicate information. The abundance and rapid flow of data requires skill development in the understanding of information resources, accessing information sources, determining the credibility of Internet information, logically organizing sources and finally presenting the information professionally.

ENGL101: Composition 1

This course helps learners develop writing skills that are transferable to any academic or workplace writing task. The course guides learners through the process of planning, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading academic and workplace writing. Learners will develop skills necessary to craft coherent sentences and paragraphs, to edit editing their writing for proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. They will learn about narrative structure and techniques as well as the elements of successful argumentation and persuasive discourse. This course also guides learners through every stage of the research process. Learners will develop a research plan, conduct research, organize and draft a research paper, and then revise, edit, and proofread that research paper.

ENGL102: Composition 2

This course builds on the thinking and writing skills introduced in Composition 1. Learners will write critical, argumentative essays based on their interpretations of nonfictional texts, including literary, film, and cultural texts, and in doing so, will recognize the role of rhetoric in the writing situation as they craft persuasive discourse. In doing so, they will learn methods of questioning, analyzing, and evaluating their own beliefs as well as the perceptions and perspectives of others. These methods of critical thinking are intended to improve the quality and organization of learners’ writing for any purpose, including academic and workplace purposes. In addition to writing essays, learners will develop more advanced research strategies, as well greater proficiency in APA style.
Prerequisite: ENGL101

COM125: Speech

This course helps learners majoring in any discipline strengthen communication skills essential for success in academics and the workplace. Learners will focus on listening, evaluating, and delivering spoken discourse based on audience and purpose. Learners will evaluate why some people are more effective than others as public speakers, analyze speeches and audiences, study ethical considerations for speakers, research and organize findings on a topic, and present findings before an audience, and learn techniques for identifying and reducing speech anxiety.

MASC110 Statistics & Probability or MASC115 College Algebra

MASC110 Statistics & Probability, or MASC115 College Algebra, or more advanced college credit-bearing mathematics course requiring college algebra or higher as a prerequisite.

Ethical Reasoning

HUM201: Ethics

Ethics introduces learners to moral philosophy, the branch of philosophy that questions what is good and bad. The course surveys a number of important ethical theories—ethical relativism, objectivism, egoism, altruism, utilitarianism, duty‐based moral theory, natural law, natural rights, and virtue ethics—as they examine reasons why certain actions are morally right or wrong. Learners will apply ethical theories in the evaluation and analysis of current controversial issues, question ethical matters from a variety of angles, and acquire new tools to assist them in making ethically sound, well‐informed decisions throughout their lives.

Disciplinary Perspectives

Natural Science (3 or more credit hours)
Social Science (3 or more credit hours)
Humanities (3 or more credit hours)
The Arts (3 or more credit hours)
Other Cultures (3 or more credit hours)

Capstone

CAPS495 Senior Capstone

Senior capstone or major capstone course.

*Most general education requirements are waived for students with an AA, AS, or AAS degree. Speak to your admissions counselor for details.

Graduation Requirements

1. Complete all foundation and major courses with an overall GPA of 2.0
2. Complete a minimum of 124 credit hours, with at least 60 hours at a bachelor’s degree-granting institution
3. Complete at least 30 credit hours with a C average or above from Southwestern College

All degree requirements are subject to change. Please see the Southwestern College Professional Studies Catalog for the most current degree requirements.