<p>Title has two meanings. DS was admitted to Tulane with a very big scholarship. He visited a while ago and it became his first choice. Over time, he zeroed in on his desired major. He wants to do something combining engineering and business, which has led him to industrial engineering or operations management. Tulane does not offer either major. At this point, he regretfully thinks he'll have to pass on Tulane, and choose one of his other excellent schools that do offer his major. Is anyone aware of a suitable major for him at Tulane? </p>
<p>Two possible answers that would still keep him at Tulane.</p>
<p>1) Talk to the Dean of the School of Science and Engineering, Nick Altiero. Tulane has been stressing various interdisciplinary majors and there might be one for business and engineering, where he can major in something specific like chemical engineering and minor in business.</p>
<p>2) Pursue the degree in engineering and then get an MBA either immediately after finishing that degree or after working for 2-3 years in an engineering job. In essence that is exactly what I did except in chemistry and I have spent most of my career on the business side of scientific companies. To me, it is much better to have a firm understanding of what a company actually does and have experienced it before getting involved on the business side. With some companies, they might even help pay for the MBA, but even if not it can result in an excellent career move. Companies like people that know the technical side and then get the business education. And frankly, it is much easier to take business classes later and learn marketing, finance, and management theory than virtually any engineering/science class.</p>
<p>So IMO he doesn’t have to combine engineering and business as an undergrad, although even if he does #2 there is no reason he cannot take several business classes at Tulane. There are several approved business courses listed in the Tulane academic catalog under the engineering major, I imagine precisely because of people like your son. But in my experience a technical degree and an MBA are a powerful combination, and getting the MBA really doesn’t require having taken any undergrad business courses, although I can see where that would help.</p>
<p>Problem is he has no real interest in the few engineering majors at Tulane. </p>
<p>That is a bit of a dilemma then. It seems to me that operations management is more of a business major where he would benefit from taking some engineering courses that cover some basic concepts. I don’t really know anything about an industrial engineering major and what that involves.</p>
<p>I would still suggest that he talk with Dean Altiero in order to exhaust all sources for guidance in this. They may have programs in place of which I am unaware that could fit him, or it may just be that Tulane is not the right fit. I see a number of professors at Tulane Business School that have Operations Management in their title, but there are probably stronger generalized programs out there if he is sure that is what he wants. How many have direct overlap into engineering I have no idea.</p>
<p>If he does pursue the discussion further, please let us know what is said. It would be useful knowledge for many, I am sure.</p>