Global Supply Chain Institute

This course defines the principles and practice of end-to-end integrated supply chain management with particular emphasis on how supply chains create organizational value. The course covers foundational concepts on integrating business activities through improved processes and relationships to achieve and maintain competitive advantage through supply chain management.

This course explores the impact that supply chain management has on the financial performance of the organization. Coverage includes the impact of supply chain management on financial statements, budgeting, allocation strategies and related concepts.

This course explores the key issues associated with the design, modeling, and analysis of dynamic, flexible and responsive supply chain systems. Emphasis will be on the application and development of advanced modeling techniques for the analysis of strategic, tactical and operational supply chain problems including supply chain network design, inventory management, transportation management, purchasing, demand management and coordination among supply chain partners.

This course introduces students to information management strategies and tools to manage integrated supply chains. Coverage includes information technology systems used to support modern supply chains and exposure to the supply chain digitalization transition. The course aims to develop and produce supply chain professionals who can take a critical view of how information and technology can best support effective supply chain management.

This course explores development of 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. To facilitate achievement of these objectives, the course introduces analytical tools and techniques that provide a cause and effect understanding linking operational plans with corporate objectives. This course requires a three day immersion on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, campus or another location.

This course addresses the processes that facilitate the structure, creation, and management of value-added transactions and relationships between supplier and customer organizations in a channel, supply chain, and integrated value system context with a particular focus on financial techniques to better manage supply chain costs. It will help students learn to apply financial measures to supply chain decision-making problems and become effective and efficient supply chain managers. This is a highly interactive class, using cases, simulations, and in-class exercises to better align “real-world” thinking while focusing on the foundations of the supply chain and the interactive role of supply management within an organization and as a boundary spanner.

This course explores the complexities of managing supply chains in a global context and provides frameworks and foundations to help SCM professionals successfully work in international environments. Issues relating to the drivers of globalization and managing the supply and demand fulfillment processes across an extended and global organization will be addressed. Topics include cross-cultural relationships, overviews of important global business regions, regional trading blocs, global operations, offshoring, infrastructure, security and risk, sustainability, market entry and other related issues.

This course covers the concepts, methods and tools that are useful in understanding the management of a firm’s operations in manufacturing and service firms. This course covers systematic planning, design and operation of all processes required for the production and delivery of goods and services. Process improvement and operational excellence tools required to operate high quality operations are highlighted.

This course addresses strategic decision making related to the physical network design and operation of the supply chain, including the location and capacity of suppliers, plants and warehouses in a logistics network that delivers products and services to end customers. The content in this course will explore the tradeoffs inherent to physical network decision making with special emphasis on managing demand and lead time variability, matching capacity to demand, centralization and pooling of inventory and achieving a total value solution. This course will apply analytic methods learned in other courses to the problems of supply chain network design and strategic inventory positioning, in order to explore theoretical relationships and to provide students with decision making skills needed in practice.

This is a capstone course, enabling students to synthesize their learning from program coursework. The global context within which firms operate will provide the foundation for understanding global supply chain strategy, from market entry through to the integration of demand management and supply management processes to meet corporate objectives. The course will utilize exercises and a simulation to allow students to analyze and synthesize program coursework. The course will help students understand how to best use program knowledge to maximize value creation for employers and in their own career.

The program is flexible and can be completed at your own pace. Full-time students should expect to complete the degree in 18 months, while part-time may take closer to 24 months to finish.

The program comprises 30 credit hours at $1,379 per credit hour and will cost approximately $41,370, excluding immersion expenses.

Earning a master’s in supply chain management can significantly advance your career by providing specialized knowledge and skills highly sought after in today’s industries. With a growing demand for supply chain professionals, this degree offers opportunities for higher-level positions and increased earning potential.

Our program equips students with expertise in logistics, operations management, procurement, and analytics, along with valuable networking opportunities and the flexibility of online learning.

With supply chain management roles projected to grow 18% between 2022 and 2032, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for supply chain and logistics managers is bright. While not every position requires a master’s degree, job candidates with graduate degrees are considered more desirable and often better prepared to assume leadership positions. The average salary for supply chain professionals holding master’s degrees is $113,300.¹

With a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management, you can pursue a wide range of career opportunities across various industries. Some common career paths include:

• Supply chain manager
• Logistics manager
• Procurement manager
• Operations manager
• Inventory analyst
• Transportation coordinator

Graduates may secure roles in consulting firms, manufacturing companies, retail organizations, government agencies, and third-party logistics providers.

Online students earn the same degree as residential students. Led by the same expert faculty who guide our residential supply chain programs, the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management Online offers students the high-level instruction, curriculum, and support that distinguishes UT Knoxville. Our graduates are well-prepared to tackle real-world supply chain challenges and make lifelong connections with supply chain practitioners, researchers, and peers.

UT’s supply chain graduate programs have been ranked No. 1 in North America by Gartner.² In 2023, U.S. News and World Report ranked the UT Knoxville MS SCM No. 3 among all online graduate business programs offered by public institutions.³ Our faculty and the industry leaders they recruit to teach in the program will prepare you to make an immediate impact on your organization and career.

Intakes are held in January, May, and August of each year.

Applicants to our MS in Supply Chain Management Online program must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, preferably in business, economics, or engineering. While specific professional experience requirements may vary, candidates are encouraged to have relevant work experience in one of these fields. Candidates with calculus and statistics knowledge are preferred.

To enhance your application for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s MS in Supply Chain Management Online program, gain relevant experience, aim for a strong GPA and test scores (if you choose to submit them), and craft a focused personal statement. Customizing your application to showcase your competency in supply chain management will maximize your chances of admission. For further guidance, we recommend scheduling an application walkthrough with a member of our enrollment team.

We offer comprehensive support for online learners in the supply chain management program. This includes access to a personal student success coach who provides guidance from orientation through graduation, regular faculty office hours, tech support, and library resources.

The program also fosters a sense of community among online learners through virtual networking events, discussion forums, and collaboration opportunities with faculty and peers.