Haslam College of Business
Supply Chain Management Graduate Certificate
Supply chain is central to how companies compete, creating demand for professionals who can manage increasingly complex operations at every level. The Supply Chain Management graduate certificate from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business is designed for working professionals seeking to deepen their expertise through graduate-level coursework from a program Gartner ranks No. 1 in North America. The 12-credit-hour certificate provides a focused opportunity to build supply chain knowledge, with nine credit hours eligible to transfer into Haslam’s Online M.S. in Supply Chain Management.
Graduate Certificate
Program Overview
Haslam’s Supply Chain Management graduate certificate helps working professionals deepen their expertise in one of the field’s top-ranked programs. The 12-credit-hour program combines a required strategy course and capstone project with an elective focused on planning, sourcing, operations, distribution or supply chain finance. Courses are taught by faculty in Haslam’s Department of Supply Chain Management, whose graduate programs rank No. 2 among U.S. public universities and No. 1 in North America by Gartner. Designed for professionals already working in the field, the program gives preference to applicants with a business or engineering background or supply chain experience. For those who choose to continue their education, nine of the 12 credit hours can later be applied toward Haslam’s online M.S. in Supply Chain Management.
Graduate Certificate
Why Study Supply Chain Management?
Supply chain management has become one of the most consequential functions in business. When a supply chain works, no one notices; when it breaks, it makes the news. Companies compete on how well they plan, source, make and move their products, requiring professionals who understand the entire system. Haslam’s Supply Chain Management graduate certificate builds that understanding in a department that has helped shape the field.
Nationally Ranked Program
Haslam’s graduate supply chain programs rank No. 2 among U.S. public universities and No. 8 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Business Schools specialty rankings, and No. 1 in North America by Gartner. The college’s supply chain program has placed in the top five among publics for seven straight years and in the top 10 for more than a decade.
Built Around the Whole Supply Chain
The certificate combines strategy, hands-on application and focused study in an area of interest. A required strategy course provides the foundation, while a capstone project puts that knowledge to work. The elective allows students to focus on planning, sourcing, operations, distribution or supply chain finance. Together, the courses provide a practical credential for professionals looking to strengthen their supply chain expertise.
Built for Working Professionals
The certificate program is designed for working professionals. Admission preference is given to applicants with supply chain experience or a business or engineering background. Nine of the program’s 12 credit hours carry over to Haslam’s Online M.S. in Supply Chain Management program for those who choose to continue their education.
Graduate Certificate
Supply Chain Management Careers
Supply chain management is one of the fastest-growing areas of business, creating opportunities for professionals across a range of industries. Haslam’s Supply Chain Management graduate certificate prepares participants for roles in supply chain, logistics, procurement and operations across manufacturing, retail and e-commerce, transportation and logistics, healthcare, government and defense. Demand for supply chain professionals remains strong: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of logisticians to grow 17 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, and reports a median annual wage of $102,010 for transportation, storage and distribution managers.
Graduate Certificate
Featured Courses
The Supply Chain Management graduate certificate requires 12 credit hours of supply chain coursework: two required courses plus one elective. The elective options follow the stages of the supply chain, from planning through delivery, with a finance option as well.
The two required courses:
- SCM 545 — Supply Chain Strategy and Customer Value
3 credit hours
Taken in the first semester of study
Defines the principles and practice of end-to-end integrated supply chain management with particular emphasis on how supply chains serve customers to create organizational value; covers foundational concepts on integrating business activities through improved processes and relationships to achieve and maintain competitive advantage through supply chain management - SCM 599 — Special Topics in Supply Chain Management
3-6 credit hours
Certificate Capstone Project
Seminar designed to study specific current problem areas in supply chain management; topic announced prior to offering.
One elective selected from the following:
- SCM 547 — Supply Chain Operations Planning and Analysis (Plan)
Instructs in developing plans for executing supply chain processes to support integration of the supply chain across major functional areas of the business including logistics, marketing, manufacturing and procurement; introduces analytical tools and techniques that provide a cause and effect understanding linking operational plans with corporate objectives; utilizes exercises and a simulation to allow students to analyze and synthesize program coursework and may require a three-day immersion on the UT campus or another location - SCM 571 — Global Strategic and Sustainable Sourcing (Source)
Focuses on managing value-adding relationships and transactions between suppliers and customers, with an emphasis on the financial side of supply chain management; instruction in applying financial measures to supply chain decisions, managing costs and identifying sustainable approaches to sourcing and supply management; through cases, simulations and in-class exercises, the course connects foundational concepts to real-world supply chain decision-making - SCM 563 — Supply Chain Operations (Make)
Covers the concepts, methods and tools useful in understanding the management of a firm’s operations in manufacturing and service firms; includes coverage of systematic planning, design and operation of all processes required for the production and delivery of goods and services; highlights process improvement and operational excellence tools required to operate high quality operations - SCM 573 — Distribution, Logistics and Network Management (Deliver)
Focuses on strategic decisions related to supply chain network design and operation, including the location and capacity of suppliers, plants and warehouses; explore tradeoffs involving demand and lead-time variability, capacity, inventory centralization and pooling and apply analytical methods to develop practical skills in network design and strategic inventory positioning - SCM 555 — Supply Chain Finance
Explores the impact of supply chain management on the financial performance. includeing the impact of supply chain management on financial statements, budgeting, allocation strategies and related concepts
To receive the certificate, students must:
- Complete the Graduate Certificate Course Verification Form
- Apply to graduate from the certificate program through MyUTK
Graduate Certificate
Admissions & Aid
Applications are submitted through the UT Graduate School’s Office of Graduate Admissions.
Who Can Apply
Haslam’s Graduate and Executive Education office reviews each application together with the faculty director from the Department of Supply Chain Management. Applicants must meet UT Graduate School admission requirements. Preference is given to those who hold an undergraduate degree in business, engineering or a related field, or who have supply chain management work experience. Applications from international programs are reviewed individually, and applicants from non-UT undergraduate programs may be asked to provide additional material. All students are expected to follow UT’s ethical and professional standards.
Credit Hours
The certificate requires 12 graduate credit hours of supply chain coursework. Nine of those hours also count toward the Online M.S. in Supply Chain Management (integrated supply chain concentration, offered online). Admission is for a specific starting semester, and a student may defer for up to one calendar year before reapplying.
Ready to learn more?
Have a question about the courses, admission or how the certificate can lead into the online master’s? Contact Haslam to learn more.