Online Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University: Is It Worth Your Time and Money?
Have you recently completed your undergraduate degree in supply chain and are wondering what you should do next? You are probably wondering if a Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management is worth it. Supply chain management (SCM) refers to handling the production flow of goods and services, starting from raw materials to the point of delivering end-user products to consumers. To achieve this task, a company creates a reliable network of suppliers to move the product from the suppliers to the companies dealing with consumers. An online Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how various businesses operate. This online course covers the objectives of supply chain management in detail.
About Arizona State University
Established in 1885, Arizona State University is one of the nation’s top public universities. It is generally recognized as a prominent student-centric university designated as a Hispanic -serving learning institution by the US education department.
The land-grant university has ranked in the top 25 in 2018 research expenditures among other public universities that offer the best Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management and is proud to be affiliated with some of the world’s renowned supply chain managers around the globe.
Is this online Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management worth it?
According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for logisticians is projected to increase by 8% from 2020 to 2026. While no additional training is needed in the field, a Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management online equips you with a broad range of the skills necessary to join the workforce. And as world trade increases, demand for trained professionals with expertise in supply chain management will continue rising. Over and above, it also provides you with thorough training in different technical elements of data modeling, purchasing and supplies, and logistics to help you understand how to manage the flow of products from the company to the consumer’s retail store.
Arizona State University admissions requirements for online Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management
To be eligible for this Master’s degree online and reap its benefits, you should have completed a bachelor’s degree in the same course work or a similar field and maintained a 4.0 or higher GPA. You also need to have two years of work experience, even though most programs prefer three to five years.
Course Duration
This online program takes about two years to complete. However, since this is an exclusively online program, you have the liberty to set come up with a program that fits into your work and family schedules.
Expected Learning Outcomes
In learning the program, you will gain a sound foundation in the knowledge necessary in supply chain management. Besides, you will develop critical skills required to operate a business in the current competitive sphere as the coursework maintains a unique balance between the contemporary theory as well as practical business applications.
Specifically, the coursework is designed to equip students with the opportunity to understand the importance of supply chain management in the current business landscape and learn to use computer-based managerial skills such as working efficiently to attain a business’s objectives and the ability to make ethical decisions.
Specific skills you will learn while pursuing this online Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management.
A huge part of applying for a job is articulating your skills on your resume. While some skills look great for any job, like conflict resolution and management skills, supply chain management tend to require a more specific set of skills.
Most of the skills you will require for a role as a supply chain manager are heavily focused on within this online Master’s degree program. Here are some of them:
- Decision making
- Process analysis
- Process optimization
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Logistics
- Leadership
- Data analysis
Mode of Study
Every course in this degree program comprises of group projects designed to foster peer interaction while building a learning community among students online. The projects also simulate actual business environments, where people work in small groups to find solutions to problems affecting a business.
Online Master's Degree in Supply Chain Management Course Modules
Core Concepts of Supply Management
This is the first module of a Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, and it is compulsory for award paths. It provides you with a detailed overview of supply chain-related ideas as a strong foundation to comprehend specialist concepts coupled with frameworks provided in other modules.
The module will also impart in you the development of critical analysis coupled with the synthesis needed for MSC level of study as you explore the primary and practical sides of SCM by analyzing various global case studies that illustrate how an efficient supply chain management can impact a business’s ‘competitive nature.
Supply Chain Analytics
By studying supply chain analytics, you will gain a general overview of the different quantitative methods that suit a particular supply chain management. You will also gain insight to recognize issues of the supply chain to benefit from a quantifiable approach, together with the understanding of limitations and strengths of using the methods in business.
Operations and Process Management
Advance your SM skills by gaining an in-depth insight into the international supply chains while developing strategic and analytical tools to manage them. Operations and process management is a module offered to equip you with a piece of robust foundational knowledge in the field. It is also the only program accredited by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, making it an invaluable tool that provides you with the chance to receive an internationally-valued award.
Accounting for Decision Makers
Financial tools are generally used to construct budgets while making more informed decisions on pricing and volumes. Executives serving in supply chain management require an appreciation of the language to make informed decisions. This module will help you comprehend and use information from financial statements in decision making in complex situations.
Strategy for Delivering Value
Delivering customer value is as invaluable as identifying meaningful opportunities and selecting value positions. A strategic understanding is crucial to determining the challenges of managing a supply chain and developing responses that can create a competitive advantage. This module shows you how to use strategy tools coupled with frameworks to address strategic issues.
Purchasing and Supply Management
Global purchasing and supply management has tremendously evolved from a transactional purchasing activity to a strategic business operation. In this module, you will learn to plan and finally execute a procurement strategy that supports corporate goals coupled with broader business objectives. You will also learn how procurement enhances the bottom line by plummeting costs and increasing revenue.
Innovation and Supply Chain Technology
Businesses are adopting new technologies such as AI, big data analytics, and automation to gain a competitive advantage. In this module, you will gain an insight into how to design and manage then improve various innovation processes. You will also develop revolutionary skills to help you learn how to choose and assess innovation projects.
Global Logistics and Transport Management
The aim of this module is to equip you with an in-depth knowledge of the requirements for designing and managing various global logistics. You will also learn to evaluate various transport modes according to their pros and cons while analyzing IT and services’ input in the global logistics network. The course is ideal for employees working in companies facing international competition and the emerging ones entering the economic growth of competitive countries connecting people and firms to marketing opportunities.
What does an online Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University cost?
The tuition cost of a Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University costs $18,000.
Final Thoughts
Earning your Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management online may not be mandatory to get into the field. However, it does come with a lot of benefits. If you are hoping to earn your degree while working and gaining valuable job experience to advance your career, then this online Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University is definitely worth your time and money. The nationally top-ranked program spans an academic calendar, from fall, spring, and finally summer semesters.