As a supply chain management major, you will learn the fundamental concepts and tools to make informed and responsible decisions about purchasing, inventory control, warehousing and distribution, and the dynamic system that supply chain represents. Supply chain students know how to model different components of the supply chain system and learn how to use supply chain technology to enhance the system. They come to understand and manage the hub of the system by learning about the production and operation processes. The Supply Chain Management major is the only Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) designed major in the College of Business. We successfully place our graduates in organizations where their supply chain management expertise is valued and rewarded.
Background Information
AACSB International, The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, accredits the undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Business at North Dakota State University. The College of Business is one of only two accredited schools of business in North Dakota.
AACSB International is one of higher education’s most prestigious and rigorous accrediting bodies, stressing academic excellence and a commitment to continuous improvement. Less than 10 percent of business programs worldwide have this accreditation.
The Program
Business students take core courses that cover all of the functional areas of a business, from marketing to management and accounting. Supply chain management courses build on this foundation to help students understand the way supply chain impacts the global economy. Courses cover integrate supply chain management, managing inventory and materials, supplier and customer relations, international supply chain management, scheduling in supply chain management, and more. The major provides you with an electronic portfolio to document your work which can be used during the job search process. Your assignments might be the use of a simulation to model a specific supply chain or a problem-based experience with a real supply chain organization. In addition to a thorough knowledge of the supply chain, you’ll learn problem-solving competencies, teamwork, effective written and oral communication competencies, how to manage your career, and both management and leadership competencies.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Supply chain management students can join the Supply Chain Student Organization. This student organization brings in industry speakers and also provides students with an opportunity to network. In addition, there are numerous opportunities to find internships in the supply chain management field and to attend field trips to supply chain organizations.
Selective Admission
Students who wish to study supply chain management at NDSU enroll as pre-supply chain amangement majors in the College of Business for the first semester of their freshman year. Pre-supply chain management majors then apply for admission to the major after completing the pre-major courses required for admission, including ENGL 120, COMM 110, MATH 144, ECON 201 or 202, and PSYC 111 or SOC 110. Transfer students with appropriate course work may also apply.
Admission to the major is based upon the successful completion of the pre-major course requirements and a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50.
The Minor
Working in conjunction, the College of Business, the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, and the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics offer a minor in Supply Chain Management. Companies directly involved with distribution, manufacturing, transportation as well as companies in the retail and wholesale sectors increasingly rely on an effective and efficient logistics system to remain competitive. In addition, the public sector also utilizes individuals with logistics and supply chain management skills. Minimum GPA requirements apply to this minor. A median salary in the field of logistics management is $77,000.
The Faculty
In order to provide a rigorous and timely educational experience, we have recruited and attracted faculty who are highly qualified to teach supply chain management. Dedicated to student learning, our faculty have often been recognized for their teaching excellence by students and colleagues. The faculty employ a wide variety of instructional techniques and are considered especially strong in approaches to the study of supply chain system dynamics and management decision making. They remain current in their sub-fields of supply chain management by actively engaging in research and constantly assisting organizations in identifying and solving supply chain challenges.
The INTERNSHIP
Supply chain management majors are encouraged to complete a three-credit internship. The internship is designed to enable students to relate supply chain concepts learned in the classroom to actual business situations and to give them a competitive edge in job placement.
Career Opportunities
Graduates with a supply chain management major have opportunities in business, industry, government service, and the non-profit sector, both regionally and globally. Job opportunities for supply chain management majors are found in manufacturing, in retail organizations, humanitarian organizations, in transportation firms, and large retail store distributions centers. There are thousands of job openings for supply chain management graduates throughout the country. Starting salaries range from $68,000 to $110,000.
The College
The College of Business also offers majors in accounting, business administration, management, marketing, management information systems, and global business (second major only), as well as Master of Business Administration, Master of Supply Chain Management, Master in Business Analytics, Master of Accountancy, and a PhD in Transportation and Supply Chain degrees.
High School Preparation
It is recommended that high school students interested in studying supply chain management at the university level take mathematics courses at least through pre-calculus. High school electives in the social sciences, English and communication also would be of benefit. Please speak with a professional advisor for more information.
