Logistics & Supply Chain Management: Bachelor's & Online Courses

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What kind of job can you get with a bachelor's degree in logistics and supply chain management? Find out degree program requirements, online options and info on courses.
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Study Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Degrees at a Glance

Logistics and supply chain management is a growing field that plays an important role in the global economy and is a key part of many industries. As a student of this subject, you will learn how to organize and move goods and services efficiently through courses in logistics management, inventory control, warehousing, purchasing and production control.

Earning a degree in logistics and supply chain management will open up a variety of different career choices to you. As all companies that deal with goods and services require employees to manage these aspects of business, you may find yourself working in many different industries, or even in government or military positions. A few fields you may enter include logistics, warehouse management, operations and production management, scheduling, purchasing, project management or inventory control.

Bachelor's
Who is this degree for? Individuals interested in beginning a career in the field, or advancing to a master's program in logistics and supply chain management or a related subject
Common Career Paths (with approximate median annual salary) - Logistician ($72,000)*
- Transportation, storage and distribution manager ($81,000)*
- Industrial production manager ($88,000)*
- Purchasing agent ($58,000)*
- Project manager ($64,000)**
- Inventory control analyst ($37,000)**
Time to Completion Approximately 4 years of full-time study
Common Graduation Requirements - Core curriculum including general education and basic business classes
- Required and elective courses in logistics and supply chain management
- Seminars
- Capstone course
Prerequisites High school diploma or equivalent; preparatory work in English, mathematics, sciences, history and foreign language may be required
Online Availability Yes, but not common at this time

Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2011 figures), **Salary.com (June 2012 figures).

Bachelor's Degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

In a bachelor's degree program in logistics and supply chain management you'll learn cost analysis, e-business, logistics network modeling, information management and other subjects that will allow you to help organizations manage the production and distribution of goods and services. As it becomes increasingly important to companies to be efficient, especially in times of economic instability, the demand for logistics and supply chain management professionals should increase. Bachelor's degree holders work in a variety of fields as logisticians or distribution managers.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Many jobs in this field pay higher than the national median for those with bachelor's degrees, which is around $55,000 as of May 2011*
  • The BLS predicted that job growth for logisticians will increase at a rate faster than the average across all professions (26% from 2010-2020)*
  • A bachelor's degree program in logistics and supply chain management provides a strong foundation in business in addition to logistics-focused topics, giving students a well-rounded education
  • A variety of career choices are available in many industries

Cons

  • Online bachelor's programs in logistics and supply chain management are not common at this time
  • Working as a logistician can be a fast-paced, stressful occupation
  • Overtime work is common for purchasing managers
  • You may be able to enter this field with only an associate's degree

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Courses and Requirements

You can expect to begin your bachelor's degree program by taking a number of core curriculum courses in preparation for your major field courses. Some subjects you may cover include accounting, finance, business law, organizational behavior, statistics, computer systems, economics and marketing. You may also have general education requirements in social science, mathematics and English. After completing these courses, you will move on to required and elective courses in the major, like logistics management, strategic procurement and data mining. You may also be required to complete seminars and capstone courses.

Some examples of courses that you may take include:

  • Operations and supply chain management
  • Introduction to logistics
  • International transportation
  • Supplier relationship management
  • Marketing principles
  • Decision making in a business environment
  • Global logistics
  • Business statistics

Online Degree Options

Online bachelor's degree programs for logistics and supply chain management are available, but they are not very common at this time. Generally, the same type of courses in basic business topics and supply chain and logistics management are offered through these programs, and graduates go on to pursue the same types of jobs as graduates of traditional, on-campus programs. Some online programs are meant for students transferring from associate's degree programs.

Stand Out with This Degree

Start building your resume while in school by taking a leadership role in a logistics and supply chain management club or student-run organization. These clubs often provide networking and education opportunities over and above your regular class requirements. Also, after graduation, you can earn a certification from a related professional organization to demonstrate your knowledge in the subject area to future employers. Organizations such as the Institute of Supply Management and the American Society for Transportation and Logistics offer certifications. In order to earn a certification, you generally must have a bachelor's degree in the field and pass one or more examinations. Relevant work experience may also be required.

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • B.S. in Supply and Logistics Management
      • Bachelor: Entrepreneurial Studies
      • Bachelor: Applied Management
      • Bachelor of Science in Professional Sales and Marketing
      • Bachelor of Science in Applied Business Analytics
      • B.S. in Business Analytics
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • BS in IT - Supply Chain Management
      • BSPR - Supply Chain Logistics
      • BSOM - Supply Chain Management and Logistics
      • Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management
      • Bachelor of Business Admin
      • BSOM - Decision Management
  • Campus and Online Programs
    3. Full Sail University

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • B.S. - Music Business
      • B.S. - Sports Marketing and Media
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Bryant & Stratton College

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • General Management (GM) - BBA
      • BA - General Management
  • Online Programs Available
    5. Keiser University

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Accelerated Track to MBA)
      • Bachelor of Arts in Business Analytics
  • University of Maryland Global Campus

  • San Francisco, CA

    Golden Gate University - Aspire

  • East Lansing, MI

    Michigan State University

  • Western Governors University

Featured Schools

Grand Canyon University

  • B.S. in Supply and Logistics Management
  • Bachelor: Entrepreneurial Studies
  • Bachelor: Applied Management

What is your highest level of education?

Purdue Global

  • BS in IT - Supply Chain Management
  • BSPR - Supply Chain Logistics
  • BSOM - Supply Chain Management and Logistics

Which subject are you interested in?

Full Sail University

  • B.S. - Music Business
  • B.S. - Sports Marketing and Media

What is your highest level of education?

Bryant & Stratton College

  • General Management (GM) - BBA
  • BA - General Management

What is your high school graduation status?

Keiser University

  • Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Accelerated Track to MBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Business Analytics

What is your highest level of education?

University of Maryland Global Campus

Golden Gate University - Aspire