Master of Supply Chain Management (MSCM) immersion experiences: what to expect

One of the more common questions about The Ohio State University’s online Master of Supply Chain Management requirements is what the in-person component actually looks like, and whether it’s worth the trip. For students in the online supply chain management degree program, the answer is straightforward: two carefully designed on-campus experiences that bring the online supply chain curriculum to life in ways a virtual classroom simply cannot replicate. 

Here’s what you can expect.

Why in-person experiences matter in an online program

What is supply chain management if not a field defined by real operations, real facilities, and real decisions made in real time? You can learn the theory online, and Ohio State’s supply chain curriculum does that exceptionally well. But there’s a layer of understanding that only comes from an on-site industry Gemba tour, hearing an executive walk through the challenges their company is actively solving, and connecting face-to-face with classmates who are living those same challenges in their own organizations.  

That’s the purpose of the two required on-campus experiences built into the MSCM program. Each session is two days, held on weekends (typically Friday and Saturday), and structured so that students are away no more than two weekdays during the entire program. For working professionals, that’s a meaningful commitment and a manageable one. 

First on-campus experience

The first session takes place in late May or early June, typically at the start of the program. 

What’s included:

Mini-course: Finance and accounting

Before the program gets fully underway, this condensed course gives students a shared foundation in the financial concepts that underpin supply chain decision-making, like cost structures, financial reporting, and how supply chain performance connects to organizational financial health. 

Company visit: Facility tour with executive speaker

This is where the program’s Columbus location pays off. Students visit a real facility and hear directly from an executive about how their organization manages its supply chain; the strategies, the challenges, and the tradeoffs they navigate every day. Students then reflect on what they observed, identify key supply chain challenges facing the company, and develop a strategy for addressing them

Capstone introduction

The first session also kicks off the capstone project, the signature deliverable of the MSCM program in which students address a real challenge and deliver tangible results to their employer or an assigned organization. This introduction sets the stage for work that will continue throughout the program. 

Second on-campus experience

The second session takes place in late March or early April, typically during semester three. 

What’s included: 

Mini-course: Negotiations

Supply chain management runs on relationships with suppliers, partners, vendors, and internal stakeholders. This mini-course builds the negotiation skills that allow supply chain professionals to create and preserve value across those relationships, a competency that pays dividends immediately in the workplace.

Company visit: Facility tour with executive speaker

A second company visit gives students another opportunity to see supply chain operations in action, this time with several months of graduate coursework behind them. The depth of observation and analysis students bring to this visit is noticeably different from the first; and that’s by design. Students again reflect on what they observed and develop a strategic response to the supply chain challenges they identify. 

Capstone discussion

By this point in the program, students are deep into their capstone work. This session provides structured time to discuss progress, surface challenges, and benefit from the perspectives of peers and faculty. 

Columbus: more than a backdrop

The on-campus experiences are valuable because of what happens in the room and where they happen. 

Columbus, Ohio is a genuine logistics hub. As the nation’s 14th-largest city, it sits within a 10-hour drive of 45% of the U.S. population and employment base, making it a critical link in American industrial and consumer supply chains. The Columbus region is home to 16 Fortune 1000 companies and five Fortune 500 headquarters, and ranks in the top 10 nationally for warehousing and distribution. Companies like Amazon, Cardinal Health, DHL, FedEx, Honda, JPMorgan Chase, Nationwide, Target, UPS, and Walmart all have significant operations in the region. 

For an online supply chain management degree that requires students to engage with real operations, there may not be a better place in the country to do it. The Gemba tours take students to the actual supply chains that move goods across the country. 

Logistics for attending

The Fisher College of Business provides a travel and lodging stipend of up to $700 for MSCM students who live at least 50 miles from the Columbus campus. Students reserve their own accommodations and submit receipts for reimbursement. 

The recommended on-campus hotel is The Blackwell, located at 2110 Tuttle Park Place, steps from Fisher’s Gerlach Hall. If The Blackwell is full, nearby alternatives include the Hyatt Place Columbus/OSU (3.4 miles), Marriott Columbus/OSU (1.8 miles), and Homewood Suites by Hilton Columbus/OSU (2.1 miles). Several of these offer shuttle service to campus. 

Incoming students also participate in a two-hour virtual orientation before the program begins, which helps set expectations and ensures students are ready to make the most of their time on campus. 

What makes these experiences worth it

The MSCM program is built for working professionals who are already managing real supply chain challenges in their day jobs. The on-campus experiences honor that by putting students in rooms with executives who are doing the same, with classmates who bring diverse industry perspectives to every conversation. 

The workshops, tours, and networking moments that happen across these two weekends tend to be among the most memorable parts of the program. They’re the moments where the connections become real: to the material, the industry, and the people you’ll continue learning alongside for the rest of your career. Interested in learning more about the online Master of Supply Chain Management? Contact an Enrollment Advisor for more information.