Curriculum

The online MBA program in Supply Chain Management is a 42 credit-hour program. This program is designed to be completed part-time, and over the span of two years.  Maximum time to complete the program will be five years.  All students are required to take nine (3 credits each) MBA core courses, as well as a Leadership Development course (3 total credits) split into two short campus seminar style classes at the beginning of each academic year.  The remaining 12 credits are comprised of four elective courses chosen from a list of seven courses in Supply Chain Management.

A Global and Systems View Perspective

Globalization has dramatically changed the business enviornment.  Competition is no longer limited to domestic firms, and customers make greater demands for more efficient delivery and better services.  Conducting business successfully in a global marketplace means being able to integrate supply chains effectively across all functions - from supply management to operations to logistics - so that customer expectations are met in a cost-effective manner.

The principles behind supply chain management focus on developing seamless flows of raw materials, products/services, information, and financial capital.  The supply chain starts at the initial design process and includes raw material sourcing, logistics, and continues through the delivery of that product or service to the end customer, with a goal of creating customer satisfaction at optimal cost.  The supply chain management curriculum takes a systems approach, involving faculty from operations management, marketing, information systems, human resource management, strategic management, and economics woven together in a seamless curriculum.  Concepts emphasized include:

• A process management approach to quality
• A global orientation
• E-commerce based strategies
• Employing Information Technology as a decision-making tool
• People and organizational skills for implementing supply chain solutions

Below is a sample diagram outlining the structure of Clarkson's online MBA program in Supply Chain Management.  Four out of seven elective courses are shown (OM685, OS666, SB641, EC651).  For a larger version, click on the image: