Break into industrial distribution by joining one of the few joint engineering and business programs in the world. Our online BS in Industrial Distribution offers a different route into a burgeoning industry that keeps goods flowing and serves government, business, and health care. Our grads work for industry leaders like Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, and more.



UAB INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- 100% online degree program
- Instruction and mentoring from expert business and engineering faculty members
- Choose from 2 concentrations: Engineering or Medical Equipment and Supplies
- 24/7 technical support
- Network with colleagues from diverse backgrounds
- Scholarships available to qualified students
WHY CHOOSE A BACHELOR’S IN INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION?
Manufacturing
Purchasing
Medical Equipment Supply
Logistics
THE ECONOMY DEPENDS ON EFFICIENT DISTRIBUTION.
THAT’S WHY OUR GRADS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND.
We offer a distinct degree that distinguishes our graduates. Our approach merges business and technical skills with an aim to better qualify you for careers in sales, marketing, and purchasing. You can focus your degree in industrial distribution or medical equipment and supplies distribution. Pursue your exact ambitions from a blended perspective.
Many companies consider our program the best in the country, evidenced by our exceptional annual placement rate for graduates — the highest of any of our degrees. In fact, the typical graduate receives multiple job offers before graduation.
WHY CHOOSE UAB’S COLLAT SCHOOL OF BUSINESS?
WE’RE A CELEBRATED SUPPLIER OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
The UAB industrial distribution program is not just recognized by the world’s leading businesses. It’s also a notable component of the renowned Collat School of Business. We have garnered national and international respect for our rigorous academic standards and consistent record of growth and accomplishment. Our accolades include:

The Princeton Review named UAB among the “Top 10 Universities in the United States for Diversity” for four consecutive years.

UAB’s Collat School of Business is AACSB-accredited.

Named among the Top 100 “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.”
Our renowned business school is focused on leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Our metropolitan location allows our faculty to build strong relationships with professionals from the state’s leading companies — from Fortune 500 corporations to entrepreneurial startups — and to integrate their practical experiences into our programs. At UAB, you can gain valuable, real-world experience through a wide variety of opportunities. The same faculty members who teach on campus also teach the online industrial distribution courses and are dedicated to supporting your career goals. You’ll have many opportunities to interact and collaborate with your cohorts and professors online, as well as to become involved in various student organizations as a virtual participant.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Average Annual Salary $110,660*
Ranked #2 in Best Sales & Marketing Jobs and #17 in Best Paying Jobs by U.S. News & World Report, sales managers must be able to prepare budgets and discern the profitability of products.
*Salary data provided by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
5 MILLION DISTRIBUTION JOBS REMAINED UNFILLED IN 2015.
LEARN TO SUPPLY THE GROWING NEED.
At the end of 2015, the distribution/wholesale industry had more than 5 million job openings (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Projections show even more growth potential, especially for well-rounded professionals who can apply their specialized skills in evolving business, government, and health care settings.
In health care especially, the aging U.S. baby boomer population is driving increased demand for health care products and equipment. This means the health care industry needs qualified professionals to evaluate and distribute medical supplies. Focus your online BS in Industrial Distribution in medical equipment and supplies distribution to meet this need.
Our curriculum positions graduates to become more competitive in the job market with courses that translate directly to careers. The number of available jobs often is higher than that of graduates available for hire. Consider the career paths above at left.
Practical skills. Flexible schedule.
Few programs can connect technical know-how with business insight the way the online UAB industrial distribution degree does. Our 100% online curriculum delivers practical skills to help you develop solutions, connect people and organizations, and play a pivotal role in essential distribution efforts. Choose from two tracks to focus your degree. With either track, you will complete the same Foundation and Lower Level Core courses.
Want to learn more?
Explore our online bachelor’s in industrial distribution course descriptions.
Foundation Courses (6 credit hours) | |
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BUS 102 Business Foundations – 3 credit hours | |
BUS 110 Essentials of Financial Literacy – 3 credit hours |
Lower Level Core – 21 credit hours | |
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AC 200 Principles of Accounting I – 3 credit hours | |
AC 201 Principles of Accounting II – 3 credit hours | |
EC 210 Microeconomics – 3 credit hours | |
EC 211 Macroeconomics – 3 credit hours | |
QM 214 Quantitative Analysis I – 3 credit hours | |
QM 215 Quantitative Analysis II – 3 credit hours | |
LS 246 Legal Environment of Business – 3 credit hours |
Upper Level Core (19-22 credit hours) | |
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MG 302 Management Processes and Behavior – 3 credit hours | |
IS 303 Information Systems – 3 credit hours | |
MK 303 Basic Marketing – 3 credit hours | |
FN 310 Fundamentals of Financial Management – 3 credit hours | |
BUS 350 Business Communications – 3 credit hours | |
MK 416 International Marketing – 3 credit hours | |
BUS 305 Professional Development – 1 credit hour | |
*Experiential Requirement – 0-3 credit hours |
Capstone (3 credit hours) | |
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BUS 450 Strategic Management – 3 credit hours |
ID Concentration Options:
Industrial Distribution Engineering Core (27 credit hours) | |
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The ID Engineering program focuses on the total industrial distribution business. Engineering courses, along with a solid foundation in the arts and sciences, complement the broad business core. In this track, students complete four engineering courses specifically tailored for ID students and five ID management courses. | |
ME 103 Drawing, Design and Measurement for ID – 3 credit hours | |
ME 302 Overview of Mechanical Components – 3 credit hours | |
EE 305 Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering – 3 credit hours | |
MSE 350 Introduction to Materials – 3 credit hours | |
DB 320 Industrial Distribution Management – 3 credit hours | |
MK 330 Professional Selling – 3 credit hours | |
DB 430 Industrial Distribution Operations – 3 credit hours | |
DB 435 Industrial Distribution Policies and Quality Issues – 3 credit hours | |
DB 495 Industrial Distribution Directed Studies / Practicum – 3 credit hours |
Medical Equipment and Supplies Core (27 credit hours) | |
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The Medical Equipment and Supplies program integrates the business curriculum with distribution, human anatomy, and health professions classes to prepare graduates for careers in the medical equipment and supplies industry. A Medical Equipment and Supplies Distribution concentration is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to succeed in the health care industry as a direct service provider in the supply chain, purchasing, distribution, operations, and sales sectors of health care products and services. In this track, students will complete five courses specifically tailored for Medical Equipment & Supplies Distribution and 12 credits of electives. | |
DB 320 Distribution Management – 3 credit hours | |
DB 430 Distribution Operations – 3 credit hours | |
DB 435 Distribution Policies and Quality Issues – 3 credit hours | |
DB 495 Distribution Directed Studies / Practicum – 3 credit hours | |
MK 330 Professional Selling – 3 credit hours | |
Medical Equipment and Supplies Electives – 12 credit hours |
THE HELP YOU NEED TO GET THE CAREER YOU WANT
We provide many tools to help jump-start your successful career, starting with Career & Professional Development Services. This service provides resume, interviewing, and job search tips to aid you on your path to employment, as well as networking and professional experience opportunities.
Handshake is the official career service management tool for UAB Collat business students. Discover and save top jobs and internships from Fortune 500, top financial institutions, tech companies and more!
Ready for your next step?
FAQS
We recommend students pursuing online undergraduate or graduate degrees consider programs with extensive experience delivering online learning, professional accreditation (AACSB), a dedicated full-time faculty, a high level of student satisfaction, and a low student attrition rate. UAB’s online industrial distribution degree offers you all of these advantages, providing the benefits of a traditional university education with the convenience and flexibility afforded by the use of advanced technology.