Academic Programs Catalog

The Eli Broad College of Business and The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management

Department of Supply Chain Management

Graduate Study
Supply Chain Management - Master of Science

The Master of Science degree in Supply Chain Management is available through the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management. The program is completed over 20 months, five semesters with three 3-day on-campus sessions and eight week online sessions.  Students in the program must complete the required courses in the defined sequence.

The program is designed for individuals with an undergraduate degree plus a minimum of two years of related experience. All students are expected to maintain full-time employment throughout the program. The program is specifically designed to prepare students for advancement in supply chain management careers with supply chain management companies or within supply chain management divisions within a corporation. Careers may also be in management, consulting, supplier business development, and supply chain management software support. The program provides an understanding of the role the supply chain manager can play in an enterprise supply chain and overall strategy. The program exposes students to leading supply chain management operating practices, analysis methods, technology applications, and strategy development.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the program, an applicant must:

  1. submit an online application which includes a requirement to attach a resume and essays.
  2. have an undergraduate degree with at least a 3.0 grade-point average. Official transcripts must be provided.
  3. have a minimum of two years of professional supply chain work experience.
  4. provide three individual recommendations from supervisors, coworkers, etc. regarding supply chain management work experience.
  5. be prepared to provide Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores. Qualified applicants with three or more years of supply chain work experience and a cumulative undergraduate grade-point average 3.0 are not required to submit either a GMAT or GRE score for admission consideration. Applicants may compensate for deficiencies in their background by providing a strong score on the GMAT or GRE. Submitted GMAT or GRE scores must not be more than five years old.
  6. Be prepared for a review of undergraduate transcripts for quantitative content and the grades achieved in those quantitative courses.

Admission to the program is competitive. Meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee admission. Admission decisions are based on the applicant’s overall record, including previous academic work, work experience, job responsibilities, extra-curricular activities, references, and demonstrated potential for graduate and professional success. It is expected that all candidates will have an introductory awareness of statistics, accounting, finance, marketing, and human resource management, and a working knowledge of software for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and data-based management systems. Each student is expected to have a laptop computer with a minimum configuration approved by the program office.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Supply Chain Management

A total of 31 credits are required for the degree under Plan B (without thesis). The student must meet the requirements as specified below:

1. Both of the following courses (6 credits):
SCM 870 Introduction to Supply Chain Management 3
SCM 879 Supply Chain Management – Strategy and Applications 3
2. Complete 25 credits of electives as approved by the student’s guidance committee:
COM 874 Communication in Supply Chain Management 2
SCM 848 Analysis of Supply Markets and Suppliers 2
SCM 871 Applied Data Analysis 3
SCM 872 Distribution Fulfillment 2
SCM 874 Total Quality Management and Lean Enterprise 3
SCM 875 Manufacturing Planning and Control 2
SCM 876 Logistics Operations, Methods, and Systems 2
SCM 881 Global Supply Chain Management 2
SCM 882 Supply Chain Management Project Management Research Paper 3
SCM 883 Technology and Product Innovation Management 2
SCM 886 Strategic Sourcing 2
SCM 887 Packaging Design/Engineering Optimization in Supply Chain 2
SCM 888 Product Protection and Safety for Supply Chain Managers 2
SCM 890 Independent Study 1 to 3
3. Successful completion of a final evaluation.

Academic Standards

Students are expected to (1) maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 for each program residency module, (2) maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0, and (3) complete all courses listed on the Candidacy Form. A student’s academic progress will be monitored by the director of the master’s program in supply chain management or his/her delegate.

A student who does not maintain a cumulative 3.0 grade-point average for two consecutive residency modules will be placed on final probation. Students will be given the next two residency modules to achieve a cumulative 3.0 grade-point average; otherwise, dismissal from the program will normally occur.