2023 Best Online Master's in Supply Chain Management Degrees

Through the University of Washington - Seattle, which is a public university, students can earn an online Master of Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics. Online learners typically complete this 43-credit hour program in one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study.

Using the Canvas learning management system (LMS), students take some classes asynchronously — on their own schedules — and some synchronously through live streaming one night a week. Some of the core courses include Facility Design & Operations Management, Inventory Management, and IT Systems & Supply Chain Integration. Other graduation requirements include a mandatory three-day residency, which is now available on campus or online, and a practicum project.

Georgetown University is a private, nonprofit institution affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. Students who plan to earn an online Master of Professional Studies in Supply Chain Management must select one of three areas of emphasis: logistics and fulfillment management, planning, or procurement management. Full-time students usually complete the 33-credit hour program in two years, while part-time students may need three to four years.

Georgetown students access their online courses — some asynchronous and some synchronous — through the Canvas LMS. The program begins with introductory courses on operations, cost and financial analysis, supply chain design, and project management. To graduate, students must also complete a course in ethics, four courses in their chosen concentration, and a capstone project.

The University of Southern California (USC) is a private, nonprofit institution that offers an online Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management. The degree requires the completion of 30 credit hours, which most students achieve in two to three years.

USC's program includes online courses in strategic procurement, outsourcing, logistics and distribution, and the role of information technology in supply chains. However, it also includes live, on-site learning experiences conducted in partnership with major companies and industry leaders like UPS and Walmart. To graduate, students must participate in two week-long trips to supply chain hubs such as Singapore and Los Angeles, where they will conduct research projects and give presentations.

Lehigh University's 36-credit hour Flex MBA programs are designed for working individuals who want to complete their degree on a part-time basis. Students interested in logistics can enroll in an online Flex Master of Business Administration with a concentration in supply chain management. Lehigh is a private, nonprofit university.

Enrollees in this program access a mix of synchronous and asynchronous courses through the Moodle platform. In addition to taking core MBA courses such as management, finance, and accounting, students with this concentration take classes in supply chain planning, strategic supply chain management, and logistics. Coursework also helps students develop skills in decision making, leadership, social responsibility, and communication, all with a global perspective.

The University of Arkansas, which is the state's public university, offers an online Master of Science in Supply Chain Management. Most students complete the required 30 credit hours in two to three years.

With an overarching focus on systems, some of the core courses for this program include Strategic Fundamentals: Strategic Integration, Foundations of Supply Chain Management, and Demand Planning and Inventory Operations. Students can then customize their programs by choosing electives such as Supply Chain Performance Management and Analytics, Supply Chain Financial Management, Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and Supply Chain Risk, Disruption, and Resilience.