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Supply Chain Management is concerned with the delivery of products and services, ensuring that all quality standards are met so they minimal quality issues and yield a better return of investment for businesses.
The professionals involved in this process in practically all sectors are expected to have a foundational knowledge of business and logistics, but a Supply Chain Management majors are deemed the experts. To bolster your credentials and successfully climb the career ladder, an online MS in Supply Chain Management is your way in!
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Overview
With an Online Master of Science in Supply Chain Management, students gain a deeper understanding of marketing, logistics, and production.
This highly relevant and applicable master’s degree program typically produces research-focused graduates that contribute to the improvement of organizations by ensuring the seamless movement of goods, quickly determining disruptions, and providing solutions to issues.
Methodology
An online Master of Science in Supply Chain Management program can help professionals turn their dreams of snagging better and higher-paying career options into reality! Doing a thorough school search and picking the right online graduate business programs matters, which is why we put together the best Supply Chain Management online master’s degree options for you!
These features make each online MS in Supply Chain Management program on our list stand out:
- Offered as a 100% online learning program or in blended format, ensuring that students—most of whom are professionals—can work around their schedules and earn the master’s degree conveniently,
- Provides Supply Chain Management concentration or sub-field options, such as in the areas of manufacturing, management, or security, and logistics,
- Features an extensive online coursework on the principles, procedures, and technologies involved in Supply Chain Management, including in the areas of shipping, logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, quality control, and fleet or cargo management, to name a few,
- Promotes the master’s degree-level skills for efficient application to work settings, including technical aptitude, effective communication, research, problem-solving and critical thinking skills,
- Facilitated through a top-rated Learning Management System that offers an engaging platform for virtual learning, featuring easy access to the graduate coursework and readily available technical assistance,
- Credit Transfers and accelerated options for degree completion, if any,
- Financial assistance for qualified online MS-SCM students,
- Career services and educational services are offered through student assistance programs, helping them network with industry professionals and explore their career possibilities upon graduation,
- Industry-expert professors who hold terminal degrees or work as professionals in the field of Supply Chain Management,
- Financial Aid for qualified online graduate students,
- Proper accreditation earned from the academic organizations that establish the official standards for online academic instruction at the master’s level,
- Active membership or affiliation with industry associations pushing for the advancement of Supply Chain Management as a degree and a profession.
Read our Methodology page to learn our standard school rankings process.
10 Best Online MS in Supply Chain Management Programs
Marquette University
Online MS in Supply Chain Management
With the help of Marquette University’s online Master of Science in Supply Chain Management (MS-SCM) program, you’ll have the knowledge of the shifts from physical to digital supply chains:
- Residential workshops are held in conjunction with 100% online courses.
- This master’s degree can be finished within 12 to 22 months.
- It is designed by an industry-driven innovative curriculum that is taught by world-renowned faculty in the supply chain management industry.
- There are instances where you need to attend on-campus workshops.
- This is a program that is AACSB-accredited.
Because of its high industry value, excellent program size, and wide coursework scope, Marquette’s graduate degrees–including the MS-SCM–made it to Gartner, Inc.’s top global graduate programs.
Boston University
Online MS in Supply Chain Management
Boston University’s online MS in Supply Chain Management (MSSCM) degree program helps students design, optimize, operate, and improve global supply chains.
The curriculum covers:
- Quantitative tools to support decision-making in complex, dynamic supply chain environments
- Lean methods, regression, control charting, and statistical and financial analysis
- Customer flow, forecast demand, assess risks, model queues, and process quality
Through a capstone project based in an industrial setting, students gain real-world experience. Several self-paced laboratories are available to all newly admitted students, which prepare them for the analytical curriculum.
Florida International University
Online MS in Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Providing a rigorous graduate education in logistics technology, data analytics, and distribution modeling, the 10-month, 100% online program offers a rigorous graduate education in three areas that business needs today.
The three primary emphases of the program are:
- Data Analytics
- Logistics Technology
- Distribution Models
Students gain access to operating different software such as Salesforce, SAP, and SPSS, as you learn this online master’s degree. Upon graduation, graduates develop their interpersonal, market, and technical skills.
FIU graduates of this program become qualified for top-level positions in the field, including logistics manager, supply chain manager, procurement manager, warehouse operations manager, supply chain analyst, and fleet manager.
Rutgers University
Online MS in Supply Chain Management
Rutger’s online MS in Supply Chain Management program at Rutgers Business School has 100% online coursework, but there’s a residency option. It requires 30 credits or 10 courses for completion. Enrollment schedules are within the fall, spring, and summer seasons.
The innovative online MS in Supply Chain Management degree is designed to address current industry trends.
MS in Supply Chain Management students can also earn the Supply Chain Excellence MasterTrack Certificate.
University of Wisconsin
Online Ms in Global Supply Chain Management
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville offers a full-time online MS in Integrated Supply Chain Management programs.
Six distinct areas of emphasis will be available to students:
- Customer Relationship Management
- Operations
- Logistics
- Purchasing
- Analysis
- Management
Subjects include Supply Chain Logistics, Production Planning and Control, Quality Engineering and Management, and International Supply Chain Management. It usually takes students two years to complete the program, and no GRE or GMAT is required.
The university has earned regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
Penn State World Campus
Online MS in Supply Chain Management
This 30-credit hour AACBS-accredited online master’s in Supply Chain Management can be earned in just two years of part-time study at Penn State-World Campus.
The courses include:
- Business Ethics
- Supply and Demand Fulfillment
- Supply Management
- Manufacturing
- Service Operations Planning
Students complete all coursework for this program online, but they must attend a one-time, four-day residency. Upon graduation, students become qualified for a director of supply chain operations, commodity manager, or supply chain technical analyst position.
Special events are held at the University Park campus, where MS-SCM students can network with faculty and peers.
Arizona State University
Online MS in Supply Chain Management
ASU’s online Supply Chain Management master’s degree, offered thru the W.P. Carey School of Business, features in-depth education and training on transactions with vendors, service providers, and customers, as well as product safety, and profit margins while globalization affects the business landscape.
- This online graduate program equips professionals to bring data-driven changes for increased efficiency, adaptability, and sustainability in an organization.
- More than 80% of ASU students, including online MS-SCM students, obtain financial aid.
- Providing exceptional value and quality, this program is run by an AACSB accredited business school.
Georgetown University
Online Master of Professional Studies – Supply Chain Management
Georgetown’s online Master of Professional Studies in Supply Chain Management prepares students for leadership positions in operations and management, including in the areas of planning procurement, logistics, and fulfillment.
Courses and subjects include:
- Management
- Data Interpretation
- AI and process automation
- Predictive Analysis
- Resource Monitoring
- Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing
- Safety and Quality Assurance
Thirty-three credits are required in the Master of Professional Studies in Supply Chain Management, in 2 to 5 years. The faculty represents different companies and sectors of society.
University of Southern California
Online MS in Global Supply Chain Management
The University of Southern California’s online MS in Global Supply Chain Management program is ideal for professionals to thrive in an increasingly global, complex, and ever-changing business transactions. It provides top-tier training and education in SCM, along with real-world applications of the discipline.
Courses and subjects include:
- Strategic procurement
- Outsourcing
- Logistics and distribution
- Information Technology in Global Supply Chain Management
USC’s Residential Program allows new professionals and recent college graduates to complete their degrees at the nation’s largest international trade hub, USC Los Angeles. On the other hand, there is an executive online program available for working professionals.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Online Master’s in Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Various programs and certificates are available through Embry Riddle Aeronautical University’s worldwide and online campus, including an online Master’s in Logistics & Supply Chain Management.
This graduate features these courses and subjects:
- Manufacturing
- Warehousing
- Shipping and Distribution
- Sourcing and Procurement
- Conversion
The Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs accredits this online graduate program, which requires 30 credits for completion.
ERAU’s online MS in Logistics and Supply Chain Management takes two years to complete.
Students may also pursue various certifications, including those offered by the International Society of Logistics, the Association for Operations Management, and the Institute for Supply Management.
Skills Needed for a Supply Chain Leadership Positions
Before embarking on a fulfilling journey with a well-paying career in supply chain management, it’s crucial to arm yourself with the skills required to excel and thrive in this challenging yet rewarding field.
To become a supply chain leader of tomorrow, you need to have the right skills! Are you cut out for the demands of the job, following your academic qualifications as a Master of Supply Chain Management graduate?
Here are some of the best attributes of a Supply Chain Management professional:
Knowledge of Economics and Market Trends
The world of supply chains is evolving quickly (and taking unexpected turns, too!), with the changing consumer purchasing patterns, among other factors. These changes impact the way businesses operate, and cause the emergence of new trends in the market and the economy.
Supply chains serve markets on local, regional, national, and global fronts. Professionals must be able to anticipate future developments, focus on what lies ahead, and be prepared and equipped to address the issues that may arise as a result of those movements.
Understanding your industry’s and your company’s market dynamics is critical to keeping the processes intact so that the supply and demand cycle is never disrupted.
Flexibility
When you are flexible, you can let others participate in driving innovation with supply chain systems. When you have an open mind, you choose to listen actively to your colleagues and team members. Ultimately, as the leader, you, along with your team, will embrace change instead of resisting it. And in the field of Supply Chain Management, changes do not come unexpectedly!
Budget and Financial Management
Budget management is a critical facet of supply chain systems, particularly in the procurement of raw materials. Experts in Supply Chain budgeting are able to optimize the resources by analyzing data.
Therefore, budget managers in Supply Chain Management should also be knowledgeable in budget management software, such as spreadsheets and digital tools for computing, organizing, and expense monitoring.
Data Analysis
Analytics is now a critical component in nearly all sectors. In the field of Supply Chain Management, Data Analytics departments help identify inefficiencies in production, analyze shipping routes, optimize budgets, maintain high quality, and everything in between!
Alongside Data Analytics, Business Analytics, Machine Learning, Quantitative Methods, Quantitative Analysis, and Predictive Modeling are typically offered in master’s degree programs to help reduce human error in decision-making.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the employment options and outlook for an online MS in Supply Chain Management graduate?
The employment projections for logisticians is a 18% growth between 2022 and 2032, much faster than all other occupations combined!
This means that, over the next decade, about 24,500 job vacancies for logisticians are expected. Businesses seeking to cut costs and increase the efficiency of shipping, buying, and selling will drive much of this career growth.
The median salary for logisticians in May 2022 was $77,520.
Supply chain managers, meanwhile are needed in almost every industry! Professional or technical services, as well as the manufacturing and management sectors all, present a sea of career possibilities.
Working in the government or public sector can also be a rewarding choice for professionals with an online Master of Science in Supply Chain Management under their belt.
How much money does a Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management graduates make?
A Supply Chain manager with a master’s degree in the field or an MBA makes anywhere between $113,300 and $121,700, according to 100% employer-reported salaries data.
Logisticians earned an annual salary of more than $122,580 in the top 10th percentile. An employee’s salary is affected by several factors, including experience and education, location, and industry.
Why are Supply Chain Management careers important?
Global supply chains need to be monitored around the clock by supply chain professionals. Most basic processes and tasks for overseeing them are now fully automated, but nothing beats the human element in any technical or non-technical process in this job! The value of human expertise, such as centuries-old negotiation and networking skills, remains crucial to supply chain management.
As skilled Supply Chain managers and professionals, they are expected to utilize the tools not only for logistics management but also for determining and keeping up with industry developments and trends affecting the overall process.
Is an online MS in Supply Chain Management worth it?
A top-ranked MS in Supply Chain Management program produces graduates with such impressive skills they can quickly recoup their four-year undergraduate degree and graduate investments! Those who successfully complete the graduate program are expected to have an in-depth knowledge of production processes, qualifying them for fulfilling and dynamic careers.
Who is an Online MS in Supply Chain Management best for?
MS in Supply Chain Management programs are typically aimed at professionals who want to take their careers in Supply Chain Management to the next level. Prospective students and professionals who have completed a bachelor’s degree program in the exact discipline, as well as those who are in Business Administration and similar majors, may decide on the graduate admission application.
Approximately 62% of applicants to the Master of Supply Chain Management program consider the program before entering the workforce full-time, according to data from GMAC or the Graduate Management Admission Council.
Key Takeaways
- Creating sustainable supply chains in organizations continues to be challenging as supply chains evolve. The need for expertise continues to grow in this field, but maintaining professional and personal commitments can be challenging!
- By earning an MS in Supply Chain Management, professionals become ready for business settings of all types. This graduate program’s core courses provide the knowledge that is critical in this field, with emphasis on the latest automation technologies that provide insights into the industry, as well as market projections.
- Employers are expected to invest in the most competent Supply Chain Management professionals with the most impressive leadership qualities to ensure accuracy in every step of the supply chain operations, and drive innovation to advance the business.
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