Industrial economy
At a glance
Faculty
Academic degree
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Form of study
Full-time
Standard period of study
7 semesters (incl. practical semester), 210 ECTS
Place of study
Language of instruction
Predominantly German
Start of studies
Winter and summer semester (October 01 and March 15 respectively)
Admission requirements
University entrance qualification, entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences, vocational qualification or foreign educational certificate
Orientation semester
Individual modules can be taken as part of an orientation semester
Semester abroad
Possible as a theoretical or practical semester
Studying with a practice partner
Possible as a combined study program (PraxisPlus)
Accreditation
accredited by the Accreditation Council
Registration
02.05. – 30.09. (winter semester)
15.11 – 14.03 (summer semester)
Profile of the degree program
As an industrial location, Germany offers numerous career opportunities for both business economists and people in the technology sector. However, there are often misunderstandings at the interface between the two professional groups. This is where the “Industrial Management” course comes in:
With a proportion of approx. 70% economics and approx. 30% technology, the course is much more business-oriented than industrial engineering, where the proportions are roughly reversed.
Later in their careers, graduates can be important links between business and technical departments, e.g. between sales and production or logistics. Typical areas of work for an industrial management specialist are the organization, planning, adaptation and improvement of company structures and work processes at the interface between business and technology. The activities are varied, often project-oriented in interdisciplinary teams and require a sound economic education coupled with a basic technical understanding of the product and its manufacturing process.
Tackling the economy
The course is characterized by a high level of practical relevance and the opportunity to “get to grips” with the subject. This includes a practical semester as well as application-oriented projects and final theses. We have laboratories for virtual teamwork, eye-tracking and production and simulation techniques. You can get to know these labs in seminars and try out your own ideas. Business simulations and participation in interdisciplinary student projects are also part of the program. The program is rounded off by lecturers from the field who will discuss current challenges in companies with you.
Small study groups
A major advantage of the Bachelor’s degree course in Industrial Management at Coburg University of applied sciences and arts, particularly in the higher semesters, is the small group size. This ensures that students are specifically supported and challenged according to their knowledge and skills (e.g. in business and technical projects).
In the second stage of their studies (6th/7th semester), students choose a technical and a business management specialization.
For the technical specialization, students can choose from a range of subjects offered by the departments of Engineering, Applied Natural Sciences and Computer Science. The courses are attended together with students from these departments. These interdisciplinary learning formats are a unique selling point and an essential part of the course concept. They prepare students for their future work in interdisciplinary teams in companies.
Study internationally
Coburg University of applied sciences and arts maintains relationships with numerous foreign partner universities. Students have the opportunity to spend a study or internship semester abroad. Further information can be found at: Study abroad
Course content and schedule
The “Industrial Management” course combines traditional business management training with theoretical and practical elements from technology, natural sciences and information processing. In the first four semesters, students gain a comprehensive insight into business administration and expand their previous knowledge of mathematics and the basic scientific and technical subjects.
In the final part of their Bachelor’s degree (6th and 7th semesters), students can then concentrate on a business and a technical focus. The Bachelor’s thesis also deals with questions from industry with economic and technical aspects.
First study phase
The first part of the course comprises four theoretical semesters. This is where basic business management, economics and technical/scientific knowledge is taught.
These are
- Basic economics subjects (e.g. general business administration)
- Propaedeutics in economics and technology (e.g. Business English, business law, technical basics)
- Functional and method-oriented specialization subjects (e.g. marketing, sales, human resources and organization)
- Course-specific specialization subjects (e.g. production logistics)
In addition, various soft-skill modules, such as study and career planning, are offered as early as the first stage of the course.
This is intended to enable students to focus their studies on the professional fields that are particularly suitable for them at an early stage. Further electives allow them to round off their studies according to their own interests.
Second study phase
In the second stage of studies (6th/7th semester), students choose two specializations (technology and business administration) to deepen their economic, technical and methodological know-how, e.g. through modules such as strategy and leadership as well as numerous specialization modules from the following areas of specialization:
Business management focus:
- Marketing and sales
- Personnel and organization,
- Accounting, controlling, taxes and finance or
- Business informatics
Technical focus:
- Mechanical engineering
- Automotive engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Computer science or
- Applied natural sciences
In addition, the curriculum includes a wide range of electives to cater for special interests such as languages, work techniques, culture and communication.
Practice during studies
We attach great importance to improving the social, communication and networking skills of our students. To this end, we make targeted use of application-oriented projects. Lectures by speakers from the business world, joint projects with companies from the region and the practice-oriented final thesis enable students to make contact with regional and national companies at an early stage. As a result, many of our students have already started their future careers during their studies.
Practical semester
The practical semester usually takes place in the fifth semester. It comprises a continuous period of 20 weeks. Students also attend practical courses.
Study program with in-depth practical experience (PraxisPLUS)
A degree course with in-depth practical experience (PraxisPLUS) offers the opportunity to gain up to 50 percent more practical experience during the course of your studies – without extending the duration of your studies. The prerequisite is a work contract with a company/institution. Students can apply their knowledge from the lecture directly at work. The work in the company is remunerated. This in turn makes it easier to finance their studies.
Job & Career
Industry makes a significant contribution to value creation in Germany and Europe. It is innovative and offers a wide range of career opportunities – both regionally and internationally. People who are familiar with the interfaces between business and technology and enjoy working in interdisciplinary teams on project-oriented tasks are in demand. Graduates of the “Industrial Management” course can, for example, take on specialist and initial management tasks in purchasing, production planning, sales, but also in controlling and in the areas of organization and process improvement. In addition to the traditional large and medium-sized industrial companies, industry-related service companies are also possible places of work.
Do another master's degree!
After successfully completing their studies, students at Coburg University of applied sciences and arts have the opportunity to continue their studies with a suitable Master’s degree course. The university offers two Master’s degree courses that directly follow on from the Bachelor’s degree: The Master’s degree course in Business Administration and the Master’s degree course in Change Management and Transformation. However, it is also possible to complete the Master’s degree in Business Administration while working. You can also find an overview of which Master’s degree programs you can combine with your Bachelor’s degree here.
Curriculum and examination regulations
The module plan provides an overview of the structure of the degree program. The module manual provides information on the content of the individual modules. The study and examination regulations form the legal basis of the degree program. Questions about the content of the degree course will be answered by the course director Prof. Dr. Claus-Burkard Böhnlein.
Study Ambassador
I’m Bastian Schmidt and I’m a student ambassador for the Industrial Management course. As I study at Coburg University of applied sciences and arts, I can answer your questions personally. So if you want to know what the course is all about or what it’s like to live in Coburg, just send me an e-mail: bastian.schmidt2@stud.hs-coburg.de.
