Supply Chain Management Bachelor of Science Degree

Two people stand in a warehouse looking at stocked shelves and a tablet computer.
 

Supply Chain Management
Bachelor of Science Degree

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In RIT’s supply chain management degree you'll learn to manage the flow of goods and services through logistics, planning, inventory demands, transportation, and execution behind moving products from farms and production facilities to warehouses and stores.

60%

Outcomes Rate of RIT Graduates from this degree

$70K

Median First-Year Salary of RIT Graduates from this degree

Overview for Supply Chain Management BS

Why Pursue a Supply Chain Management Degree at RIT

  • The supply chain management degree is an RIT New Economy Major. These degree programs are forward-thinking and future-forming, and help prepare you to excel in the multidisciplinary nature of our modern, dynamic economy.
  • Earn Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification through process improvement and project management.
  • Latest industry trends and software taught by top faculty and industry practitioners with leadership from the Management Advisory Board.
  • Network with industry experts as part of the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) club, a nationally affiliated ASCM chapter.
  • Advanced supply chain courses and electives, many from RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering, enhance your knowledge of the integration of engineering and technology with problem solving and organizational efficiency.
What Can You Do with a Supply Chain Management Degree?
Learn More

Many companies and organizations are involved in making supplies and products readily available so producers, manufacturers, and consumers, can have them when and where they want them, and at a competitive price. Coordinating and managing all of the organizations and suppliers involved in the activities that move products to the right places and the right times is the goal of supply chain management. More than ever, technology is driving supply chain processes and strategies to help give companies a competitive edge.

What is Supply Chain Management?

It’s not often a supply chain gets interrupted to the point where consumers cannot find the products they need. But when it does, people notice. And the disruption can cause chaos.

When the Covid-19 virus created panicked buying at grocery stores around the country, suddenly consumers couldn’t find toilet paper, paper towels, canned soup, tuna, rice, or cleaning products. As a result of those empty grocery store shelves, the public came to understand the importance of supply chain management in our every day lives.

What is a Supply Chain?

A supply chain is a complex and interconnected system that begins with business strategists forecasting or predicting consumer demand for goods and ends with products available for consumers to purchase. In between is a complex web of purchasers and negotiators managing raw materials and suppliers, information systems that manage inventory and data, transportation systems that move and distribute materials and goods between warehouses and retail operations, and retail stores stacking shelves and selling products to you, the consumer.

Supply chain optimization occurs when you manage this intricate, expansive network of suppliers, producers, vendors, warehouses, transportation networks, logistical partners, and retailers. This is the focus of the supply chain manager, the supply chain analyst, and other professionals in the field that deal with the wide range of responsibilities that keep the global supply chain humming along. Gaining the expertise you need to build a career in this dynamic field comes from a degree in supply chain management.

RIT’s Supply Chain Management Degree

RIT’s bachelor’s degree in supply chain management provides you with the knowledge needed to effectively develop, implement, and manage efficient global supplier systems in order to maximize customer value. Supply chain management coordinates a wide range of supply chain processes required of both businesses and business partners, including suppliers, to deliver products and services. You will gain a solid understanding of the areas needed to support supply chain management, such as supply chain strategies, logistics, information systems, lean/quality management, customer service, purchasing, negotiations, contracts, forecasting, inventory management, and project management. In addition to business operations, supply chain management plays a critical role in medical missions, disaster relief operations, and other types of service industries.

Supply Chain Courses

The degree in supply chain management includes foundational business courses in financial and management accounting, economics, marketing, business planning, and operations management. Supply chain management courses–in topics that include database management systems, enterprise systems, managing supplier relations, logistics in supply chain management, and Lean Six Sigma fundamentals–prepare you for a range of dynamic careers in the field. You’re free to select elective courses that round out your degree and add in-depth study within supply chain management. Elective courses include cross-cultural management, exporting and global sourcing, business intelligence, and negotiations and decision making, to name a few.

Furthering Your Education In Supply Chain Management

Today’s careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT’s Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.

  • +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway: Successful RIT applicants who are offered admission into the BS degree in supply chain management as an incoming first-year student may also be offered conditional early acceptance into the +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway. This option enables you to earn both your BS degree and an MBA in as little as five years of study. Learn how the +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway can help you add a competitive advantage to your studies.
  • +1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor’s degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.

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Careers and Cooperative Education

Typical Job Titles

Supply Chain Analyst Purchasing Specialist Sourcing Analyst
Operations Manager Procurement Associate Logistics Analyst

Industries

  • Government (Local, State, Federal)

  • Management Consulting

  • Oil and Gas

  • Transportation and Logistics

  • Higher Education
Post-Graduation Salary and Career Info for Supply Chain Management BS

Cooperative Education

What’s different about an RIT education? It’s the career experience you gain by completing cooperative education and internships with top companies in every single industry. You’ll earn more than a degree. You’ll gain real-world career experience that sets you apart. It’s exposure–early and often–to a variety of professional work environments, career paths, and industries. 

Co-ops take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Business co-ops provide hands-on experience that enables you to apply your knowledge of business, management, finance, accounting, and related fields in professional settings. You'll make valuable connections between course work and real-world applications as you build a network of professional contacts.

Students in the supply chain management degree are required to complete at least one block of cooperative education.

Co-op and Experiential Learning Options for Supply Chain Management BS

Featured Work and Profiles

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Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Supply Chain Management BS

Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements

View Printable Curriculum

Supply Chain Management, BS degree, typical course sequence

Course Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
ACCT-110
Financial Accounting
An introduction to the way in which corporations report their financial performance to interested stakeholders such as investors and creditors. Coverage of the accounting cycle, generally accepted accounting principles, and analytical tools help students become informed users of financial statements. (This course is available to RIT degree-seeking undergraduate students.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
 3
ACCT-210
Management Accounting
Introduction to the use of accounting information by managers within a business. Explores the value of accounting information for the planning and controlling of operations, assessing the cost of a product/service, evaluating the performance of managers, and strategic decision making. (Prerequisites: ACCT-110 or NACC-205 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
 3
BANA-255
Data Literacy, Analytics, and Decision Making
This course serves as an introduction to the uses (and potential misuses) of data in a wide variety of social settings, including the exploration of contemporary techniques to analyze such data. Data acquisition, cleansing, management, analysis, and visualization will be addressed through hands-on projects. Project work will include contemporary social problems addressed using a dynamic set of resources and technologies. An emphasis will be placed on how insights gleaned from data analysis can be used to guide individual and group decision-making scenarios. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
 3
ECON-101
Principles of Microeconomics (General Education – Global Perspective)
Microeconomics studies the workings of individual markets. That is, it examines the interaction of the demanders of goods and services with the suppliers of those goods and services. It explores how the behavior of consumers (demanders), the behavior of producers (suppliers), and the level of market competition influence market outcomes. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
 3
ECON-201
Principles of Macroeconomics (General Education)
Macroeconomics studies aggregate economic behavior. The course begins by presenting the production possibilities model. This is followed by a discussion of basic macroeconomic concepts including inflation, unemployment, and economic growth and fluctuations. The next topic is national income accounting, which is the measurement of macroeconomic variables. The latter part of the course focuses on the development of one or more macroeconomic models, a discussion of the role of money in the macroeconomy, the aggregate supply-aggregate demand framework, and other topics the individual instructor may choose. (Prerequisites: ECON-101 or completion of one (1) 400 or 500 level ECON course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
 3
MATH-161
Applied Calculus (General Education)
This course is an introduction to the study of differential and integral calculus, including the study of functions and graphs, limits, continuity, the derivative, derivative formulas, applications of derivatives, the definite integral, the fundamental theorem of calculus, basic techniques of integral approximation, exponential and logarithmic functions, basic techniques of integration, an introduction to differential equations, and geometric series. Applications in business, management sciences, and life sciences will be included with an emphasis on manipulative skills. (Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH-101, MATH-111, MATH-131, NMTH-260, NMTH-272 or NMTH-275 or Math Placement Exam score greater than or equal to 45.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring).
 4
MGIS-130
Information Systems & Technology
To be successful in our globally-networked business environment, contemporary management professionals must have a strong grounding in the principles of information and information technology. This course provides an introduction to the field of management information systems (MIS), including the tools and techniques for managing information and information technologies within organizations. We place a particular emphasis on the nature of systems, the role of information in business processes, the management of data, and the planning of MIS design projects. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
 3
MGMT-101
Business 1: Introduction to Business Communication, Planning, and Analysis
This is the first of a two-course sequence, 4 credit year long experience, comprising the freshman-integrated experience. In Business 1, students will be introduced to the key functional areas of business, discuss current factors, events, and trends that impact business, build professional, personal leadership, communication, and teamwork skills, and evaluate business decisions, and the business plan process. By understanding the key functions of business and analyzing business decisions in Business 1, students will be able to then develop their own business ideas in Business 2. Lecture 3 (Fall).
 3
MGMT-102
Business 2: Business Planning and Professional Development
This course, the second in the First-year Business 4 Credit Experience, applies business and technology tools to create a modified business plan. Supported by guest speakers on a variety of professional development topics, along with student and professional mentors, students in this project-centered course use the Business Model Canvas innovation tool and learn to identify and communicate the nine key elements of a business model. Students will complete a team project that outlines the business case for a new product or service to address a selected challenge or opportunity. Student teams present a business case in both a one-page document and a 10-minute presentation pitch. (Prerequisites: MGMT-101 or MGMT-150 or equivalent course.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring).
 1
STAT-145
Introduction to Statistics I (General Education – Mathematical Perspective A)
This course introduces statistical methods of extracting meaning from data, and basic inferential statistics. Topics covered include data and data integrity, exploratory data analysis, data visualization, numeric summary measures, the normal distribution, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing. The emphasis of the course is on statistical thinking rather than computation. Statistical software is used. (Prerequisites: Any 100 level MATH course, or NMTH-260 or NMTH-272 or NMTH-275 or (NMTH-250 with a C- or better) or a Math Placement Exam score of at least 35.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
 3
YOPS-10
RIT 365: RIT Connections
RIT 365 students participate in experiential learning opportunities designed to launch them into their career at RIT, support them in making multiple and varied connections across the university, and immerse them in processes of competency development. Students will plan for and reflect on their first-year experiences, receive feedback, and develop a personal plan for future action in order to develop foundational self-awareness and recognize broad-based professional competencies. (This class is restricted to incoming 1st year or global campus students.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring).
 0
 
General Education – First Year Writing (WI)
 3
Second Year
COMM-253
Communication (General Education)
An introduction to communication contexts and processes emphasizing both conceptual and practical dimensions. Participants engage in public speaking, small group problem solving and leadership, and writing exercises while acquiring theoretical background appropriate to understanding these skills. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
 3
DECS-310
Operations Management
A survey of operations and supply chain management that relates to both service- and goods- producing organizations. Topics include operations and supply chain strategies; ethical behavior; forecasting; product and service design, including innovation and sustainability; capacity and inventory management; lean operations; managing projects; quality assurance; global supply chains; and the impacts of technology. (Prerequisites: STAT-145 or MATH-251 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
 3
DECS-435
Supply Chain Management Fundamentals
This course introduces the basic concepts in supply chain management fundamentals as well as strategies and practice, and examines important managerial issues. Topics covered include forecasting, inventory management, third-party logistics, partnering, contracts, event management and conflict resolution, e-business, and strategy. (Prerequisites: DECS-310 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 .
 3
INTB-225
Global Business Environment (General Education)
Being an informed global citizen requires an understanding of the global business environment. Organizations critical to the development of the global business environment include for-profit businesses, non-profits, governmental, non-governmental, and supranational agencies. This course introduces students to the interdependent relationships between organizations and the global business environment. A holistic approach is used to examine the diverse economic, political, legal, cultural, and financial systems that influence both organizations and the global business environment. (This course is available to RIT degree-seeking undergraduate students.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
 3
MKTG-230
Principles of Marketing
An introduction to the field of marketing, stressing its role in the organization and society. Emphasis is on determining customer needs and wants and how the marketer can satisfy those needs through the controllable marketing variables of product, price, promotion and distribution. (This class is restricted to undergraduate students with at least 2nd year standing.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
 3
MGMT-215
Organizational Behavior
As an introductory course in managing and leading organizations, this course provides an overview of human behavior in organizations at the individual, group, and organizational level with an emphasis on enhancing organizational effectiveness. Topics include: individual differences, work teams, motivation, communication, leadership, conflict resolution, organizational culture, and organizational change. (This class is restricted to undergraduate students with at least 2nd year standing.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
 3
SCBI-035
Careers in Business
This course consists of a series of workshops designed to introduce business students to the skills needed to be successful in job and coop searches and applications to graduate schools. Students will establish their career goals, create material (e.g., resume, cover letter), and acquire skills needed to achieve these goals. (AL2,3,4-DegS) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
 0
STAT-146
Introduction to Statistics II (General Education – Mathematical Perspective B)
This course is an elementary introduction to the topics of regression and analysis of variance. The statistical software package Minitab will be used to reinforce these techniques. The focus of this course is on business applications. This is a general introductory statistics course and is intended for a broad range of programs. (Prerequisites: STAT-145 or equivalent course.) Lecture 6 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
 4
 
General Education – Artistic Perspective
 3
 
General Education – Social Perspective
 3
 
Open Elective
 3
Third Year
DECS-499
Decision Science Co-op (Summer)
One semester of paid work experience in decision science (This class is restricted to undergraduate students with at least 3rd year standing.) CO OP (Fall, Spring, Summer).
 0
FINC-220
Financial Management
Basic course in financial management. Covers business organization, time value of money, valuation of securities, capital budgeting decision rules, risk-return relation, Capital Asset Pricing Model, financial ratios, global finance, and working capital management. (Prerequisites: (ECON-101 or ECON-201) and ACCT-110 and (STAT-145 or STAT-251 or CQAS-251 or MATH-251 or MATH-252 or STAT-205) or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
 3
INTB-315
Exporting and Global Sourcing
The practice of international business is detailed-oriented and complex as cross-border trade and investment is subject to various market forces and government regulations. In this course students will study the issues of compliance, risk assessment, sources of international information, logistical complexities and intermediaries, and international payments and financing. The course will develop students with the necessary knowledge base and skills to become successful in the practice of cross border transactions. (Prerequisites: INTB-225 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
 3
MGMT-340
Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (General Education – Ethical Perspective)
This course applies concepts of ethics to business at the macro level and at the micro level. At the macro level the course examines competing business ideologies exploring the ethical concerns of capitalism as well as the role of business in society. At the micro level the course examines the role of the manager in establishing an ethical climate with an emphasis on the development of ethical leadership in business organizations. The following topics are typically discussed: the stakeholder theory of the firm, corporate governance, marketing and advertising ethics, the rights and responsibilities of employees, product safety, ethical reasoning, business's responsibility to the environment, moving from a culture of compliance to a culture of integrity, and ethical leadership. (This class is restricted to undergraduate students with at least 2nd year standing.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
 3
 
General Education – Immersion 1, 2
 6
 
General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective†
 3
 
General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective
 3
 
General Education – Elective
 3
 
Open Elective
 3
 
Supply Chain Management Elective
 3
Fourth Year
DECS-445
Managing Supplier Relations
This course introduces students to the subject of managing supplier relations and purchasing activities. Topics covered include supplier selection, vendor pricing, materials quality control, value analysis, make-or-buy, speculation and hedging, and international sourcing as well as the legal and ethical constraints faced by purchasing practitioners. (This class is restricted to undergraduate students with at least 3rd year standing.) Lecture 3 .
 3
DECS-550
Supply Chain Management Capstone (WI-PR)
In this course, students integrate the theoretical and practical skills they have acquired throughout the curriculum to design and manage the source, make, plan, and deliver functions of a global supply chain using several SCM simulation packages. In addition, cases would be assigned for the students to analyze and write comprehensive reports. (Prerequisites: DECS-435 and DECS-445 and INTB-315 or equivalent courses. This course is restricted to Undergraduate Saunders College of Business students.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
 3
ISEE-582
Lean Six Sigma Fundamentals
This course presents the philosophy and methods that enable participants to develop quality strategies and drive process improvements. The fundamental elements of Lean Six Sigma are covered along with many problem solving and statistical tools that are valuable in driving process improvements in a broad range of business environments and industries. Successful completion of this course is accompanied by “yellow belt” certification and provides a solid foundation for those who also wish to pursue a “green belt.” (Green belt certification requires completion of an approved project which is beyond the scope of this course). (Prerequisites: STAT-145 or STAT-205 or STAT-251 or MATH-251 or CHME-391 or equivalent course and at least 4th year standing.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
 3
MGMT-560
Strategic Management
A capstone course drawing upon major business functions—accounting, finance, marketing, operations management, and organizational theory and how strategic managers integrate functional theories and concepts to create competitive advantage. The course provides an integrated perspective of business organizations toward the achievement of enhanced profitability and a sustainable competitive advantage. Topics include the analysis of business environments, industry attractiveness, and competitive dynamics. Students learn how to formulate and implement effective business-level, corporate-level, and global strategies using theories, cases and a simulation. (Prerequisites: MGMT-215 and MKTG-230 and FINC-220 and DECS-310 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
 3
 
General Education – Immersion 3
 3
 
Open Elective
 6
 
General Education – Electives
 6
 
Supply Chain Management Elective
 3
Total Semester Credit Hours
123

Please see General Education Curriculum (GE) for more information.

Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two different Wellness courses.

† Students will satisfy this requirement by taking either a 3 or 4 credit hour lab science course. If a science course consists of separate lecture and laboratory sections, students must take both the lecture and lab portions to satisfy the requirement.

Supply Chain Management Electives

Course
DECS-350
Project Management
A study of the concepts and applications of project management. This course covers the organization and management of projects, including the role and responsibilities of the project manager, team responsibilities, tools and techniques for project planning, budgeting, and control, work breakdown, risk assessment, and project termination. The learning environment will include lectures and discussion, group exercises, case studies, and examinations. (This class is restricted to undergraduate students with at least 3rd year standing.) Lecture 3 .
INTB-300
Cross-Cultural Management
This course explores the key implementation issues facing global businesses and those firms wishing to expand into the global arena. An emphasis is placed on issues related to the topic of culture. The course examines its impact on management, individuals, groups, and how it affects organizational performance. Leadership styles, in the cross-cultural context, will be deconstructed as will communication, decision-making, negotiation, and motivation. (Prerequisites: INTB-225 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
INTB-550
Competing Globally
This course explores the opportunities and challenges businesses encounter creating and capturing value in the global environment. Areas of emphasis include: forecasting markets; why firms globalize; analyzing global competitors; the degree of globalization or regionalization; creating value for the firm globally which includes entry mode management, location decisions and timing, role of technology; and how to operate. (Prerequisites: INTB-225 or equivalent course and 4th year standing.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
ISEE-626
Lean System Design
In today’s competitive business environment, organizations strive to deliver high-quality products and services efficiently while continuously improving their processes. This course explores the principles and methodologies of lean manufacturing and service systems design, providing students with the knowledge and skills to improve operational systems across various industries. Topics covered include value stream mapping, just-in-time production, pull systems, continuous improvement, standardization, and visual management. The course also explores strategies for aligning operational systems with customer needs and market demands, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, to drive change and innovation. (This course is restricted to students in ISEE-MS, ENGMGT-MS, MIE-PHD, BIME-BS students with a BIMEISEE-U subplan, ISEE-BS students with a ISEEMS-U or ISEEEGMT-U subplan, or those with 5th year standing in ISEE-BS or ISEEDU-BS.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
MGIS-355
Business Intelligence
The course is intended to provide an integrative foundation in the field of business intelligence at both the operational and strategic levels. Students will experience a variety of contemporary tools to analyze complex business data and arrive at a rational solution. Topic such as data warehousing, visualization and data mining will be covered, along with other topics relevant to the field of business intelligence. The computer will be used extensively throughout the course. (Prerequisites: MGIS-350 and MGIS-320 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
MGIS-450
Enterprise Systems
This course explores the role of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in organizations. Students analyze cross-functional business processes and ERP systems commonly used to support these processes. Students engage in a hands-on project using a current ERP system, such as SAP R/3, to demonstrate, analyze and design system structures, key data elements and process configurations that support cross-functional business processes, including accounting, sales, material management, production and distribution. Lecture 3 (Fall).
MGMT-450
Negotiations and Decision-Making
This course is designed to improve your ability to negotiate by understanding decision-making biases that affect the negotiated outcome. Individual sessions will explore the structure and strategies to mitigate risks and challenges inherent in achieving optimal solutions. (Prerequisites: MGMT-215 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

Admissions and Financial Aid

First-Year Admission

A strong performance in a college preparatory program is expected. This includes:

  • 4 years of English
  • 3 years of social studies and/or history
  • 3 years of math is required and must include algebra, geometry, and algebra 2/trigonometry. Pre-calculus is preferred.
  • 2-3 years of science

Transfer Admission

Transfer course recommendations without associate degree
Courses in economics, accounting, liberal arts, science, and mathematics

Appropriate associate degree programs for transfer
AS degree in accounting or business administration

Learn How to Apply

Financial Aid and Scholarships

100% of all incoming first-year and transfer students receive aid.

RIT’s personalized and comprehensive financial aid program includes scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment programs. When all these are put to work, your actual cost may be much lower than the published estimated cost of attendance.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships

Accreditation

Saunders College of Business undergraduate and graduate programs are fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, the premier accrediting organization for business schools. Less than 5 percent of the institutions granting business degrees have received this accreditation.

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