Supply Chain Management Major

Supply Chain Management is how business gets done. Supply chain management spans all movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods from point-of-origin to point-of-consumption. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Supply Chain Management is projected to be one of the fastest growing industries in recent years with employment increasing 83 percent in 2008. [Read Poets & Quants article about "Why Supply Chain Management Has Become A Hot Major At Business Schools," featuring Rutgers Business School.]

Countless firms rely on new technologies and the coordination of processes to expedite the distribution of goods. The use of computers to analyze work routines in order to optimize the use of available labor has led to increases in productivity. Modern systems development and related processes have created an entirely new set of integrated operations management functions, which require managers of supply chains, resource managers of material or manufacturing resources planning (MRP), and process and inventory control managers.

The Supply Chain Management undergraduate major offers students the comprehensive knowledge and technological skills they need in order to ensure employment in leading supply chain management roles. The requisite knowledge and skill sets extend over all supply chain echelons and functional areas: strategic sourcing, global procurement, contract management, business performance improvement, supply chain technologies and six sigma, pricing analysis, channel coordination, brand management, new product development, supply chain alignment, retail management and distribution management.

Upon graduation, graduates will have the ability to re-engineer the business processes involving multiple firms and different functional departments to achieve a higher level of business performance and profitability.

Key Facts

• Rutgers Business School Supply Chain Management undergraduate program tied for 2nd in North America
• Nearly 100% of SCM juniors obtain summer co-ops or internships
• Over 95% of graduating seniors land jobs by July
• Median pay: $78,000
• 50% of SCM graduates are double majors
• SCM professionals work an average of 41.5 hours per week

Career Paths

The new generation of business school graduates who are competent and well-prepared, with solid knowledge in both supply chain management and marketing/sales management, are in high demand across all industries. Supply Chain Management students are prepared for positions such as procurement/sourcing manager, logistics planner, supply management analyst, acquisition project analyst, marketing analyst, and sales/distribution managers. Industries such as pharmaceutical and healthcare companies are investing heavily in creating and supporting supply chains that achieve new heights of efficiency and productivity.

Rutgers Business School students graduate from the SCM program with a strong business foundation and are well prepared to enter the job market.

Sample Occupations

• Buyer/Senior Buyer
• Demand Manager
• Materials Analyst
• Procurement Manager
• Purchasing Agent/Analyst
• Senior Procurement Specialist
• Supplier Relationship Manager
• Vice President, Supply Chain Management

Compensation

According to the 2012 U.S. Bureau of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, bachelor’s degree candidates in supply chain management received offers with a median salary of $78,000.

How to Apply

• Learn more about the admissions process
• (PDF) Supply Chain Management Major factsheet