MBA in Supply Chain Management
An MBA can prove an essential tool for an aspiring executive or entrepreneur. Some benefits are obvious. The salary potential for those who possess an MBA is much higher than those without an MBA. A recent report from the Financial Times found that students who studied in one of the world’s top 100 MBA programs doubled their pre-MBA salaries within three years.
However, an MBA represents more than just a chance to make more money. There are many intangible benefits associated with this degree, including the development of vital skills for successful businessmen and women, such as leadership, teamwork, strategic thinking, as well as confidence and networking. That being said, the process of obtaining an MBA is not an easy task, and students must be prepared to show up for class and work hard for their degree.
Fortunately, modern technology is now making MBA programs more accessible than ever by allowing schools to offer online degree programs. By providing students with the opportunity to study from home and on their schedule, many schools nationwide are helping aspiring entrepreneurs reach their dreams of securing a professional degree.
Many MBA programs also allow students to specialize in some areas, such as operations, logistics, and supply chain management. This field, in particular, might be an exciting choice for aspiring students who are interested in sourcing, supply chain operations, logistics, and the movement of goods.
This article outlines eight well-known online MBA programs with a specialization in operations, logistics, or supply chain management, as well as three highly respected professors who are teaching classes in this field.
Professors to Know in Online MBA in Operations, Logistics, and Supply Chain Programs
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Ritu Agarwal, PhD University of MarylandDr. Ritu Agarwal is the dean’s chair of information sciences and senior associate dean for faculty and research at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. Dr. Agarwal is also the founder and director of the Center for Health Information and Decision Systems at the school. From 2011 to 2016, she was the editor-in-chief of Information Systems Research, and she has published more than 100 papers in journals including MIS Quarterly, the Journal of Management Information Systems, Health Affairs, and IEEE Transactions, among many others. In 2010, Dr. Agarwal initiated and chaired the Conference on Health IT and Analytics (CHITA), which is a multi-disciplinary research conference to engage the research, policy and practice communities in understanding the role of digital technologies in healthcare transformation. Dr. Agarwal obtained her doctorate in the management of information systems and master's in computer science from Syracuse University, her MBA from the Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta, and her undergraduate degree from Delhi University in India.
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Kingsley Gnanendran, PhD University of ScrantonDr. Kingsley Gnanendran is a professor of operations and information management at the Kania School of Management. He is also the director of the online MBA program. For more than two decades, Dr. Gnanendran has led courses in inventory and production planning, management science, supply chain and logistics management, and database applications development. His research interests focus on the optimization modeling to supply chains. He has published widely in journals such as the European Journal of Operational Research, Mathematical Programming, and Decision Support Systems,, among others. Dr. Gnanendran has also served as a visiting professor at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, and at the Capital University of Economics and Business in Beijing, China. He completed his bachelor's in mechanical engineering from the University of Moratuwa, his master's in industrial engineering from the Asian Institute of Technology, and his doctorate in management science from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
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Burak Kazaz, PhD Syracuse UniversityDr. Burak Kazaz is the Steven R. Becker professor of supply chain management and the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith professor of teaching excellence at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. He also serves as executive director of the H.H. Franklin Center for Supply Chain Management at Syracuse University, the first research center dedicated to supply chain management in the United States. His interests include the integration of supply chain operations, marketing, and finance, with a specific interest in managing uncertainty and risk in global supply chains. His writing has been featured in journals such as Management Science, Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, and Operations Research, among others, and his papers have been the recipient of the best paper awards from the Production and Operations Management Society in 2016 and the Decision Sciences Institute in 2014. Dr. Kazaz received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial engineering from Middle East Technical University in Turkey and his doctorate from Purdue University.
Featured Online MBA Programs in Operations, Logistics, and Supply Chain
1 Maryville University View Full ProfileThe Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland offers a flexible two-year online MBA program that was ranked ninth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Students in this program may choose from a variety of specializations, including supply chain management, as well as accounting, finance, information systems and business analytics, and marketing. The program allows students to build their professional network over the course of their studies by connecting with the more than 60,000 alumni worldwide who have graduated from the school. The program includes a handful of live online classes that students are required to attend, although the program is largely asynchronous, allowing students to complete their degree on their own schedule. In the supply chain management track, students will take courses on global trade logistics, innovative solutions to supply chain challenges, supply chain risk management, international business, and global study.
| Location: College Park, Maryland |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $83,970 for the full program |
| Program length: Two years |
The MBA program at D’Amore-Kim School of Business at Northeastern University was ranked eighth in the nation by Financial Times. This degree can be completed entirely online in as little as two years, while still allowing students time to continue working in their existing jobs. The school offers several specialized tracks, including one focusing on supply chain management—additional tracks include high technology management, sustainability, and innovation entrepreneurship, among others. In the supply chain management track, students will learn about the importance of transportation planning, inventory control, warehouse management, customer service standards, and design of supply and distribution systems. They will take courses in logistics and transportation management, global supply chain management, strategic sourcing, and sustainability. Students who complete this program can network with the more than 235,000 distinguished alumni of the school and will have an in-depth understanding of business enterprise, as well as critical thinking skills that will help them succeed in the field.
| Location: Boston, Massachusetts |
| Accreditation: AACSB International |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $78,000 |
| Program length: Two years |
Students at Southern New Hampshire University have the opportunity to complete an online MBA program with a specialization in operations and supply chain management. Students can complete this 36-credit program in as little as 15 months of full-time study. They will take courses on government impact on business, operations management and technology, leading in an organization, and other core classes, as well as concentration courses in quantitative analysis for decision-making, operations management, six sigma quality management, and supply chain management. Students will complete a capstone to culminate their MBA experience. The program offers a great degree of flexibility, providing 24/7 access to classes, and does not require GRE or GMAT scores during the admissions process.
| Location: Manchester, New Hampshire |
| Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $22,572 for the full program |
| Program length: As little as 15 months |
The Martin. J. Whitman School of Management offers an online MBA that has been rated among one of the best of its kind by the Financial Times, U.S. News & World Report, and the Princeton Review, and even earned a spot as one of the best college programs for the military by the Military Times,. Students who choose to specialize in supply chain management must complete 54 credits across courses in global supply chain management, strategic sourcing, project management, principles of management science, and lean six sigma, among various other core classes, as well. Students must also complete three residencies as part of the program, which are held both in the United States and at various locations throughout the globe. Like other programs, graduates of Whitman have networking access to the myriad alumni, and students within the program may also have personal career coaching to help them meet their goals.
| Location: Syracuse, New York |
| Accreditation: AACSB International |
| Time to complete: Online with on-campus residencies |
| Tuition: $81,000 for the full program |
| Program length: Two years |
At the Kenan-Flagler Business School, students can complete an online MBA that has been ranked among the best in the world by U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review. This 66-credit hour program can be completed in 18 to 36 months and allows students to specialize in global supply chain management. In this concentration, students will take classes on analytical tools, operations management, global supply chain, modeling, project management, and data analytics. Although much of the program is online, students are required to participate in various immersions, which are hosted both locally and abroad. Upon completing their degree, graduates from the Kenan-Flagler Business School can network with the more than 34,500 alumni working in over 100 different countries, and will have lifelong access to all of their coursework and recorded lectures from the online MBA.
| Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Accreditation: AACSB International |
| Format: Online with on-campus residencies |
| Tuition: $114,048 for the full program |
| Program length: 18 to 36 months |
The School of Business and Management at Norwich University offers a top-rated online MBA program made up of six courses, each of which is delivered over an 11-week term—for a total of 36-credits. Students in this program can specialize in supply chain management and logistics. This track requires the completion of three electives focusing on all facets of supply chain management including strategy, planning, operations, logistics, design and execution, assessment, integration, and optimization. Although much of the MBA can be completed online, the program concludes with a residency at the Norwich University campus in Vermont, where students will meet with fellow students, faculty, and program staff and participate in academic recognition and commencement ceremonies.
| Location: Northfield, Vermont |
| Accreditation: ACBSP |
| Format: Online with one on-campus residency |
| Tuition: $28,512 for the full program |
| Program length: 18 to 24 months |
At the Kania School of Management at Scranton University, students have the opportunity to complete an online MBA degree in management. The school has been ranked among the top 10 universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report, and the program can be completed entirely online, allowing students to study from anywhere in the world. The 36-credit program can be finished in two years—although students are allowed up to six years to obtain their degree—by the completion of core courses, advanced electives, and a capstone class. Upon completing their degree, graduates can network with the more than 45,000 alumni of the school across the globe. Students in the operations management track will learn how to succeed in this data and technology-intensive field by taking classes in supply chain management, project and change management, business forecasting models, quality management, and production planning and control.
| Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Accreditation: AACSB International |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $34,740 for the full program |
| Program length: Two years |
The School of Business Administration at Widener University offers an online MBA program with a focus on business process innovation, which is directed by Yvonne Lederer Antonucci, who also serves as the SAP university alliance coordinator. There are several concentrations available, including healthcare management, leadership, and business process innovation. The 33-credit MBA in business process innovation program requires students to take a variety of core courses, as well as specialization courses, which include business process management (BPM), business process strategy and innovation, and knowledge management and social BPM. Overall, the program can be completed in between 18 to 24 months, and students are never required to visit the campus to finish their degree, although all online students have the opportunity to attend on-campus events, such as career fairs or networking opportunities.
| Location: Chester, Pennsylvania |
| Accreditation: AACSB International |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $33,132 for the full program |
| Program length: 18 to 24 months |