University of Wisconsin - Stout

The Service Management program is another first for UW-Stout. It is the first degree program of its kind in the nation. This program educates majors for careers in service sector industries and organizations.

Interested?

Service Management is an evolving field of study that focuses upon a number of disciplines. Service managers must possess many qualities including business and financial management ability; human development and relationship skills; and communication and information technology knowledge focused upon fulfilling the needs and expectations of customers. Services include all internal and external activities of organizations aimed at customer acquisition, retention and care.

The Service Management program will prepare managers who can effectively and efficiently manage the design, development and delivery of services. Service management positions are usually devoted to operations and management; systems and technology; and human resources.

Graduates furnish the leadership talent needed for some of the following service industries:

Throughout its history, Stout has pioneered management programs to meet the needs of business and industry. The programs have focused upon the direct application of technical knowledge to the solution of practical problems.

Our faculty and students have developed a curriculum to prepare graduates to work with emerging profit and non-profit service sector companies, organizations and agencies.

Our resources include a successful cooperative education program and the Wisconsin Institute for Service Excellence - International, a center dedicated to assisting businesses and organizations address service related challenges. As you progress toward graduation, these options or a field experience provide opportunities for a hands-on, minds on education, providing pre-career experience before you graduate.

Preparing for UW-Stout

Students in the Service Management program must have an aptitude for communication skills, human relation skills and mathematics. Taking speech, writing, business and computer courses will be helpful in your preparation for college.

Starting Out

Quality service has become the difference between success and failure for organizations in the service sector. Service Management professionals must have a broad education to address customer needs.

As You Progress

Service managers are usually required to function in more than one area at career entry. To prepare for these functions, the professional concentration component of the curriculum consists of human development and relationships; business and financial management; and communication and information technology courses.

These courses are complemented by the service-oriented courses taken throughout the program. A work experience internship or field experience is strongly required for all majors.

Examples of recent cooperative education internships, field experiences and employment include:

Entry Positions

A Bachelor of Science degree in Service Management can lead to positions with local, state, regional, national or international firms. The employment rate for program graduates from the 2006-07 school year was 93 percent. Starting salaries of those graduates ranged from $20,000 to $65,000.

Enjoying Student Life

The campus-learning environment includes a variety of activities and service learning organizations. Intramural sports, social clubs, sororities and fraternities, honor societies and professional groups are all included in the 125 on-campus organizations. Students can gain service management experience in some organizations and activities, including:

There are 71 off-campus volunteer organizations and community service agencies related to the service management field.

Studying and Traveling Abroad

Study abroad programs have been developed with other countries. Many international programs allow students to gain valuable work experiences in addition to classroom instruction. You may have time to immerse yourself in the culture by living with a host family and traveling throughout the area. UW-Stout has agreements with universities in Australia, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Thailand.