College used to be the only place to earn a master’s degree in global supply chain management. Now you can get a graduate-level certification over the internet. Many online schools teach the skills required for an exciting new career in the manufacturing, transportation, logistics, and retail sectors. You could complete your master’s degree in one to two years and get a job as a distribution manager, purchasing manager, logistics planner, supply chain specialist, or another related role.
When studying for a master’s in global supply chain and management online, you can maintain any existing work and family commitments and won’t have to travel to a physical location to complete your studies, which provides you with greater flexibility than a conventional college program. Plus, you can earn your degree at a time that suits you. Just log into your computer or smart device and access course content 24 hours a day.
Discover more about online global supply chain management master’s degree programs below and explore the potential career opportunities available to you when you graduate.
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What Is an Online Master’s in Global Supply Chain Management?
An online master’s degree in global supply chain management is a graduate-level program that provides you with the required skills for a managerial role in the manufacturing, transportation, logistics, or retail sectors. These programs have an international focus, exploring the supply chain methods and processes that drive the global economy. You learn skills over the internet and access course content via a learning management system (LMS).
An online master’s in this discipline takes around one to two years to complete full time, and you can apply for various supply chain-related roles upon graduation. You will engage with staff via webinars, tutorials, and workshops online and receive the same academic support as you would get at a physical college. The only difference is that you complete your course on your computer or smart device.
You might learn these skills when studying for a master’s in global supply chain and management online:
- Procurement strategies
- Production and distribution methods that drive global supply chains
- Technologies that support supply chain processes
- Systems modeling techniques
- Supply chain management strategies
- Strategic awareness of global supply chains
- Supply chain data and analytics
- Research methods for logistics management
- Challenges that affect global supply chains
When you graduate, you could apply for a job as a:
- Distribution manager
- Transportation manager
- Storage manager
- Purchasing manager
- Inventory manager
- Logistics planner
- Supply chain specialist
An online master’s degree in this field could benefit someone who wants to work in a busy manufacturing or logistics environment. Those who graduate from these programs typically support an organization’s international supply chain management model. Responsibilities include managing procurement strategies, optimizing supply chain methodologies, liaising with transportation and logistics providers, improving the safety of manufacturing processes, taking care of inventories, and communicating with suppliers, retailers, and other third parties.
Studying for a master’s in global supply chain and management online could complement your current lifestyle more than a traditional college degree. You won’t have to commute to a physical location or pay for college accommodation, and you can balance any existing travel or family commitments with your studies. You could even maintain a full-time job and complete your education during the evening or at weekends.
How Much Does a Master’s in Global Supply Chain Management Cost?
It depends on the school. Tuition fees for a Master of Science in global supply chain management at USC Marshall School of Business cost $63,000 for the 2020-2021 academic year. Additional program fees, travel costs, and other mandatory expenses cost around $10,000. Tuition fees for the same program at the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University cost between $24,390 and $45,254 in 2021. That price doesn’t include additional travel, accommodation, or registration fees.
An online master’s degree in global supply chain management could cost you less than the prices quoted above because you won’t have any travel or accommodation costs. If eligible, you can also apply for a scholarship to reduce the costs associated with your degree.
Average Salary for a Master’s in Global Supply Chain Management
The median annual salary for someone with a Master of Science in supply chain management is around $77,000, according to PayScale. (Data correct as of July 28, 2021.)
The mean annual wage for transportation, storage, and distribution managers is $105,100, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). (Data correct as of May 2020.) That’s a mean hourly wage of $50.53.
The top-paying states for transportation, storage, and distribution managers are:
- District of Columbia: $143,510 (mean annual wage)
- Delaware: $137,460
- New Jersey: $131,540
- New York: $121,720
- Rhode Island: $121,310
The top-paying metropolitan areas for transportation, storage, and distribution managers are:
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $163,580 (mean annual wage)
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT: $ 37,680
- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ: $136,410
- Trenton, NJ: $136,080
- Peoria, IL: $135,160
The mean annual wage for purchasing managers is $132,660, according to BLS. (Data correct as of May 2020.) That’s a mean hourly wage of $63.78.
The top-paying states for purchasing managers are:
- New Jersey: $171,550
- New York: $158,650
- Colorado: $152,100
- District of Columbia: $148,660
- California: $147,850
The top-paying metropolitan areas for purchasing managers are:
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO: $181,240
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: $172,300
- Morgantown, WV: $167,740
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT: $165,070
- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA: $161,490
Graduates from global supply chain management master’s degree programs with international experience might earn higher salaries than those quoted above.
What Is the Job Outlook for Master’s in Global Supply Chain Management Holders?
The outlook is positive for graduates from global supply chain management master’s degree programs. There will be a 5.6% increase in employment opportunities for transportation, storage, and distribution managers and a 3.9% increase for purchasing managers from 2018 to 2028, according to research from Projections Central and the Department of Labor.
Courses in a Master’s in Global Supply Chain Management
A master’s degree in global supply chain management prepares students for managerial roles in transportation, logistics, manufacturing, and retail. These programs explore supply chain research methods, processes, and protocols that fuel the global economy and concepts that influence the operational performance of international organizations.
Here are some courses you might come across in a global supply chain management master’s degree program:
- International supply chain research methods
- Global management principles
- Organizational management
- Supply chain data and analytics
- How to use supply chain information systems
- Strategic operational planning
- Financial risk management
You might take these classes online or combine digital lessons and workshops with an internship at a transportation, manufacturing, or logistics organization.
You might also learn professional development skills that further your career and prove attractive to future employers. These skills include communication, cooperation, calendar management, international geography, and critical thinking.
FAQs About a Master’s in Global Supply Chain Management
Summary Information
- The cost of a master’s degree in this discipline depends on the school.
- A Master of Science in global supply chain management at USC Marshall School of Business cost $63,000 in tuition fees for the 2020-2021 academic year.
- You could get a scholarship to support your studies.
Benefits of studying for an online master’s degree in global supply chain management include:
- You don’t need to commute to a physical school.
- You don’t need to live on campus.
- You can balance any family or work commitments with your education.
- You can study classes 24 hours a day.
- The cost of a master’s degree in this discipline depends on the school.
- A Master of Science in global supply chain management at USC Marshall School of Business cost $63,000 in tuition fees for the 2020-2021 academic year.
- You could get a scholarship to support your studies.