What is a Master of Supply Chain Management (MSCM)? 

If you have strong organizational skills and a desire to advance your career in business, an online Master of Supply Chain Management could be a great fit. Jobs in supply chain management are on the rise, and it’s an exciting field. A career in supply chain management allows you to shape the future of the global marketplace. But what is supply chain management and why is it important? 

What is Supply Chain Management? 

Supply chain management refers to overseeing and improving the supply chain, or the system that connects a product from its origins with the supplier to its ultimate destination, with the consumer. Every product on the market today – and every business – relies on the supply chain. 

Supply chain management professionals, such as logistics specialists, supervise the entire life cycle of a product, including how a product is distributed and delivered. A supply chain management professional might work to make an organization’s supply chain more efficient and cost-effective. Or, an organization may rely on supply chain management professionals to ensure a quicker delivery of their product. Put another way: If your online order arrived at your doorstep on time, a supply chain management professional helped make it happen. 

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that supply chain management is a thriving field. Two popular occupations for supply chain management professionals, Logisticians and Purchasing Managers, are on track to grow between 2023 and 2033 – with logistician jobs, in particular, predicted to grow by 19 percent. In fact, the Max M. Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University created the online Master of Supply Chain Management to address this critical workforce need. 

What is the online Master of Supply Chain Management? 

The online Master of Supply Chain Management provides students with the technical expertise and cross-functional business skills needed to become supply chain leaders. The online MSCM degree from Ohio State offers courses in analytics, operations management, sourcing, and supply chain technology, all taught by expert faculty from the Fisher College of Business. 

Every course in the online Master of Supply Chain Management offers directly applicable material, as well as a wealth of knowledge from classmates who operate across industries in supply chain-related roles. In fact, your classmates in the online supply chain management degree will become an evergreen resource for you. Throughout the program, you will build a professional network that continues well beyond the classroom. Connecting with classmates from diverse industries will provide a broader perspective and an invaluable sounding board as you face today’s supply chain challenges. 

That’s just one of the benefits of the MSCM’s “single-cohort” format. The college is selective in the number of students it allows in each cohort to ensure Ohio State’s faculty can provide more personalized attention and deliver high-value, relevant learning experiences tailored to you and your career goals. 

What’s the benefit of a Master of Supply Chain Management? 

You may be thinking: That sounds great, but why do I need a Master of Supply Chain Management? Isn’t my business bachelor’s degree enough? Or, should I get an online MBA instead? 

First, a Master of Supply Chain Management will elevate your existing supply chain management skills or allow you to execute a career shift if you’re new to the supply chain world. You will be prepared for leadership roles, as the online MSCM program will teach you to assemble and lead high-performing teams. And, with the latest supply chain expertise direct from Fisher’s research-active faculty, you’ll be able to truly drive your organization’s supply chain strategy and transform your ideas into impact. 

Now, the age-old question: Should I just get an MBA? While some MBA programs offer a supply chain management concentration, Ohio State’s online Master of Supply Chain Management is specifically tailored to professionals who want to dive deeper and understand every link in the supply chain. Also, unlike many MBA programs, the online MSCM is test-optional (a.k.a. no GMAT or GRE required). 

What is it like to earn a Supply Chain Management degree online? 

If you’re ready to earn a supply chain management degree online, make sure you do your research. Online programs may vary greatly in quality, accreditation, and required time commitment, so pay close attention to these details. Ohio State’s Enrollment Team can walk you through the specifics of our online supply chain management degree, but here’s a few important facts: 

First, Ohio State’s online Master of Supply Chain Management was designed with working professionals in mind. That means it’s highly flexible, directly relevant and offered almost entirely online. It’s also AACSB-accredited, a designation held by only 6% of business schools. 

You’ll only need to come to campus twice throughout the MSCM program, in order to participate in two experiential learning sessions. For example, you and your classmates will tour a local facility and enjoy networking opportunities with area business leaders. Columbus, Ohio is a logistics landmark and home to many global brands, making it the ideal location to learn about the supply chain. 

As for the MSCM program’s time commitment, you set your pace: Students enrolled in our online supply chain management degree can choose to attend full-time and finish in as few as three semesters (12 months), or attend part-time and finish in two years.  

Speaking of time commitments: Each week, you can expect 1-2 hours of “live” class sessions, with the rest of the MSCM coursework to be completed on your own time. These live sessions utilize the latest technology and online teaching spaces to facilitate a seamless and immersive virtual classroom environment. 

As you near the end of your online supply chain management degree program, you’ll embark on a capstone project that addresses a real-life supply chain challenge and delivers tangible results, either to your current employer or an assigned organization. Past projects have focused on demand prediction, risk assessment and supplier sourcing. 

Ready to dive into the supply chain? This critical field needs driven professionals like you who are capable of moving organizations into the future. Contact our enrollment team to get started today.