The Logistics of a Global Marketplace

Organizations in virtually every industry rely on supply chain managers to oversee some of the most essential processes to keep their businesses moving in a global marketplace. Synchronizing the flow of products, information, and funds is becoming increasingly complex with products that move across continents daily and deadlines that directly affect a company’s profitability.

Supply chain management and logistics professionals are increasingly part of their organization’s strategic management teams. As a result, they often can benefit from additional education and credentials to assist them in their current position or to advance their careers.

Penn State’s online Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management can give you the ability to develop supply chain solutions for your organization as you gain an understanding of how companies use supply chain networks to acquire, produce, and deliver goods and services domestically and worldwide.

Why Supply Chain Management at Penn State

As a student in Penn State’s online Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management, you can learn from the same faculty who teach in Penn State’s Smeal College of Business, ranked #1 in supply chain education and AACSB accredited. You will study:

• supply chain strategy and network design
• purchasing and negotiations
• inventory cost analysis, planning, and control
• performance measurement
• information technology and decision support
• transportation systems operation and third-party logistics services providers

A comprehensive industry report released by Gartner ranked Penn State’s Smeal College of Business as the leading supply chain program in the United States for 2011 based on industry value, program depth, and program scope. In 2012, U.S. News & World Report ranked the Penn State supply chain/logistics graduate faculty as the fourth best supply chain faculty in the nation. With the Smeal College of Business’s reputation in supply chain education, employers recognize the high quality of this certificate program.

Continue Your Education in Supply Chain Management

In addition to being an excellent stand-alone credential, all of the courses in the graduate certificate in supply chain management can be applied toward the Master of Professional Studies in Supply Chain Management degree program (also offered through Penn State’s World campus), if you are accepted into that program.

Who Should Apply?

The Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management is designed for working logistics professionals who want to gain the knowledge and skills needed to maximize the efficiency of their respective organization's supply chain. Although many individuals in the program have supply chain experience, the program is also appropriate if your education and/or experience may be in disciplines such as the sciences, engineering, or the liberal arts.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

Your Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management can equip you for a variety of careers in the supply chain industry or in supply chain management positions in virtually any industry. You can prepare for positions such as:

• supply chain program manager
• logistics manager
• purchasing manager
• industrial production manager
• retail solutions manager
• product supply lead
• import operations specialist
• export specialist

Online Education at Penn State

Penn State has a history of 100+ years of distance education and more than a decade of experience in online learning. We strive to create an online learning environment that brings you as close to the face-to-face experience as possible. Learn more about Penn State World Campus.