Supply Chain Management
Undergraduate Overview
Supply chain management is a rapidly growing and evolving area of employment being shaped by technology and international competition. If resources – people, money, machinery, facilities, material and information – are to be used wisely, supply chain management personnel must be familiar with computer technology, quantitative methods, and planning and problem-solving techniques useful in analyzing business systems.
In addition to computer and analytic skills, supply chain management personnel need excellent communication skills to work with people at all levels of the organization. Professionals with a degree in supply chain management can work in almost every industry imaginable. Career opportunities include operations and supply chain analysis, global supply chain management, distribution and warehouse planning, transportation management, quality control, and purchasing.
Students have the opportunity to tailor their degree with a wide variety of courses as well as several emphases in Supply Chain Management. Emphases include Global Sourcing, Logistics Analytics, and Project Management. The College of Business and Economics also offers co-curricular opportunities, including the UW-Whitewater ASCM (Association for Supply Chain Management) student organization.
With a strong internship program and career services, graduates of the Bachelor of Business Administration in Supply Chain Management are in high demand and the program boasts a 100 percent placement rate within six months of graduation.
The UW-Whitewater Bachelor of Business Administration in Supply Chain Management requires a minimum of 120 credits, including:
- General education requirements
- Business requirements
- Major requirements
- Electives (to bring the total to at least 120 credits)
Information on the requirements specific to the supply chain management major, including emphasis option, can be found in the Course Catalog. Major video guides and course planning sheets are also available in Four Year Planning Resources.
Individuals wishing to deepen their knowledge with post-baccalaureate studies can complete an advanced degree online or on campus through the UW-Whitewater Master of Business Administration and an emphasis in Supply Chain Management or one of 11 other unique emphases.
Supply chain management is also available as a minor for non-business students. Requirements can be found in the Course Catalog, or in the College of Business and Economics listing of minors and certificates.
Job Outlook
The field of Supply Chain Management is incredibly broad and diverse. Most employers require a bachelor's degree for entry-level or managerial-level positions. You can explore entry-level career prospects at the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, including Logisticians, Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks, Purchasing Managers and Purchasing Agents, First-Line Supervisors of Production, as well as Operations Research Analysts. Managerial level prospects include Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers, Industrial Production Managers, and Purchasing Managers.
UW-Whitewater Placement Information
Placement Rate 1
100%
UW-Whitewater Salary Estimate 1
$46,957
Highlighted Employers 2
Recently graduates have obtained employment at Amazon, DSC Logistics, HUSCO International, Kerry, and PepsiCo. Many of our graduates are placed national and international with companies such as Harley Davidson, Generac, SC Johnson, and Abbott.
Furthermore, the supply chain program has a strong relationship with Millipore Sigma, U-Line, TMC Transport, CNH, and other regionally-based companies, providing rich opportunities for students.
Common Titles 2
Buyer, Inventory Analyst, Production Planner, Purchasing Analyst, Supply Chain Analyst
1 Based on survey response for 2019-20 UW-Whitewater graduates
2 Self-reported data from UW-Whitewater surveys