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The Charles and Patsy Collat Industrial Distribution Program at UAB is one of a small number of such programs in the world that prepares graduates to manage the flow of materials from manufacturers to distributors — which means they play a key role in propelling the economy forward by supplying the building blocks for products created and used all over the world.

The UAB ID major program includes a strong emphasis on applied engineering technical knowledge and channel management, preparing students for careers in sales, operations, purchasing and logistics. A concentration in Medical Equipment and Supplies Distribution provides a unique path for students pursuing similar careers in the medical industry. Our partnerships with industry leaders in distribution and manufacturing — as well as UAB's School of Engineering opens a new website and Heersink School of Medicine opens a new website ensure our students are prepared with the tools and hands-on learning that is relevant in today's business practices.

Concentration

Medical Equipment and Supplies Distribution

A first-of-its-kind concentration that prepares graduates for a career in the medical equipment and supplies industry with a curriculum that blends life sciences, pre-medicine and health administration with health-related distribution courses.

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Curriculum

Courses and Program Requirements

Our curriculum includes creative, innovative courses designed to teach business fundamentals and new technologies in ways that stick with students. We maintain strong ties with industry leaders who serve as advisors to ensure students have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the workforce. And we believe that students learn by doing, so much so that we made experiential learning a graduation requirement.

Video Transcript

[00:01] My name is Prahlaad Ram, and I'm a medical equipment distribution major and entrepreneurship minor at the Collat School of Business at UAB.

[00:08] So I decided to become an industrial distribution major because I had started off at UAB with biomedical engineering, and a couple of years into the program, I realized that I wanted to streamline my focus into more than just creation of a product, but how to scale that product and make sure that it reaches the hands of people who need it.

[00:29] I currently work for an orthopedic implant company as an intern. I've been able to get the insights that I need to work for this company because of all the courses that I took at UAB.

[00:39] I know exactly what they're doing because they're a startup. Since they're scaling up, I'm able to understand what they need and how they need to get their product out to the surgeons that need it.

[00:49] So how I came across entrepreneurship is really funny because I only took the minor last semester and I found how much I loved it. I've loved my project. I loved my team members when I was in the commercialization accelerator. I thought on the spot, I need to be an entrepreneurship minor. I want to know more about this.

[01:05] So I think what's amazing about the ID program is that, you don't understand how core these concepts and topics are in the industry until after the course, and then you realize how interconnected these are and how important it is that something like ID can improve your knowledge on the inner workings of an industry. Really, I urge anybody to take this course if they want to have an understanding of not just one single industry but any industry that had that deals with physical products and physical goods. It gives you that insight as to how these people get their products to the end consumer.

[01:38] My ultimate goal is to become an expert in the field of medical devices and medical technology. I hope that I'm able to reach that goal, and UAB has definitely provided me the tools in order for me to get there. 

Student Voices

Prahlaad Ram combined advantages of UAB's industrial distribution degree with exciting internship and entrepreneurship experiences to enroll in the prestigious dual Georgia Tech-Emory University Master of Biomedical Innovation and Development Program.

Why choose industrial distribution at the Collat School of Business?

Top Placements

Most ID graduates are employed or in graduate school within a month of graduation. Our outstanding relationships with leading national firms ensure direct access to recruiters from across the country.

Stellar Support

Generous donor investments fund numerous hands-on learning experiences, and students have access to substantial scholarships.

Year-Round Internship Opportunities

Collat’s proximity to Birmingham’s businesses allows students to intern anytime they want — not just in the summer — or to complete multiple internships. Gain valuable experience while exploring career options.

Career Opportunities

The Industrial Distribution major prepares graduates for careers with manufacturers or distributors in technical or medical equipment and supplies industries and includes sales engineering, logistics, marketing, inventory and purchasing, as well as distribution management. 

The job outlook for logisticians includes a high 30% growth rate from 2020 to 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

People

    • Thomas DeCarlo PhD
      Ben S. Weil Endowed Chair of Industrial Distribution
    • Colleen McClure PhD
      Internship Coordinator, Marketing & Economics; Assistant Professor
    • Rush Neil MBA, MIBS
      Internship Coordinator: Industrial Distribution; Instructor
    • Joshua Robinson PhD
      Interim Department Chair; Associate Professor

Undergraduate Degrees

Collat School of Business