For students in North Texas looking to work in the tech industry, the University of North Texas has a brand-new opportunity. UNT New College, located in Frisco, houses all of the multidisciplinary programs within UNT, and the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Distribution degree program is the most recent addition.

The program is a blend of business and engineering which teaches students how to find creative solutions to intricate industry problems while applying STEM principles. The new degree program features hands-on learning experiences with industry partners, giving students an edge in the job market.

Thomas Brindle is the program director of the Industrial Distribution program as well as a Senior Lecturer who teaches a variety of classes within the degree program. He said there is more than meets the eye to the Industrial Distribution program.

“If you think about a tech product like an iPhone, there are different stages in the development and the life cycle of a product,” he said. “Everything starts as an idea on paper and goes through a new product development and design phase, then moves into manufacturing and distribution and replenishment until, eventually, the product is replaced by newer technology.”

Brindle said that taking a holistic approach to managing these phases, and an understanding of manufacturing processes has helped him to better collaborate with vendors from a place of knowledge and figure out how to manufacture products in a way that reduces cost and lead times.

The program is coming to UNT at a time when Dallas’ tech workforce is rapidly growing. Brindle said the Dallas-Fort Worth area is the No. 3 metropolitan area for the number of tech job openings in the country after New York City and Los Angeles. Dallas has also seen an increase in business investments and funding growth in the tech sector.

“Dallas is quietly becoming a very serious tech hub,” Brindle said, “Part of our responsibility here at UNT, as a tier one research institution with more than 44,000 students, is to support the local economy and the local workforce. The whole reason we're offering this industrial distribution degree program here in Frisco is to better engage with the growing tech corridor and employers in the region.”

The four-year degree program is a Bachelor of Science with a focus on the underlying hard sciences. In addition, students will learn about the mechanical and electrical engineering foundations of manufacturing tech products as well as core business concepts of operations management and supply chain management.

Graduates from the degree program will develop a deep understanding of the manufacturing and distribution processes of technology products. This knowledge will prepare program graduates to build and manage business relationships in the tech field, both from a sales perspective or a purchasing perspective.

After completing the program, students have the additional opportunity to earn their MBA at the Frisco campus in as little as one year.

“Not only can students get their MBA without ever having to go to Denton, but the additional degree prepares them for managerial roles in the tech field,” Brindle said.

UNT will also open a new campus in Frisco in January 2023, which will feature a maker space for hands-on project based learning. Brindle said the space will feature 3D printers and CNC milling for prototyping, and his students will work with local industry partners to create engaging products that teach all the aspects of the product life cycle.

The program is currently up and running, and students applying for the spring 2023 semester will also have the opportunity to apply for scholarships. To apply, reach out directly to Brindle at [email protected]. For more details about the Industrial Distribution program, request more information here.

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