Online Master of Science in Supply Chain Management Concentration in Logistics Management

The online MS in Supply Chain Management concentration in Logistics Management provides a solid foundation in the qualitative and quantitative methods used by logistics and transportation managers of complex global supply chains. Specifically, the Logistics Management concentration will emphasize decision-making in the areas of transportation management, warehouse and distribution center operations, and logistics network design—including an understanding of key tradeoffs and the effect of variance in a logistics system. In addition, students will learn how to analyze alternative inventory, storage, and distribution networks using mathematical and statistical tools to forecast demand, calculate safety stock, consider inventory aggregation, compare alternative transportation modes, and evaluate operational risks. Students will explore the foundations of international trade, import/export regulations, international tariffs, and other global trade mechanisms, as well as systematic process-oriented approaches to evaluating supply chain performance using statistical modeling with Six Sigma principles and techniques.

With its disruption of so many moving parts, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical and complex nature of logistics in global supply chains. A 2020 supply chain survey by Capgemini Research Institute shows that a significant majority of organizations—77 percent—are accelerating their investments in supply chain sustainability initiatives over the next three years, focusing on logistics and manufacturing. In their 2021 report, Allied Market Research projects that the global logistics market will reach almost $13 billion by 2027, registering a compound annual growth rate of 6.5 percent from 2020 to 2027. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows fast-as-average job growth for logisticians through 2029, with an annual median wage of $76,270 in 2020.

By including insight into the management of performance and exposure to the coordination of large-scale projects, the Logistics Management concentration will ensure that graduates are well-equipped to take their place among today’s supply chain leaders.

Students who complete the Supply Chain Management master’s degree concentration in Logistics Management will be able to:

  • Demonstrate the ability to use interlinked data inputs, analytics, and systems to support decision-making in a supply chain that is geographically dispersed and culturally diverse.
  • Use optimization theory and mathematical techniques to design and coordinate supply chain transportation systems in multiple directions across closed-loop global supply networks, while reducing shipping and storage costs.
  • Utilize financial statements, plan import/export transactions, and create strategies to take advantage of global macroeconomic trends while managing logistic supplier relationships, including supply chain consortiums and joint ventures.
  • Analyze alternative inventory, storage, and distribution networks using mathematical and statistical tools to forecast demand, calculate safety stock, consider inventory aggregation, compare alternative transportation modes, and evaluate operational risks.
  • Apply a systematic process-oriented approach to evaluating supply chain quality using statistical modeling with Six Sigma principles and techniques.

Awards & Accreditations


AACSB AccreditationAccredited member of AACSB International―The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

 

Council for Six Sigma Certification

Supply Chain Management program courses Operations Management: Business Process Fundamentals (MET AD 605) and Quality Management (MET AD 734) may qualify you for Green Belt Training accredited by the Council for Six Sigma Certification—an Official Industry Standard of Six Sigma Accreditation for Six Sigma training providers worldwide.

Why Choose BU’s Master of Science in Supply Chain Management?

  • The Supply Chain Management program offers the flexibility of online or on-campus study formats, ensuring that students can earn their degree the way that suits them the best.
  • U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs - Grad Business 2024In 2024, Metropolitan College’s online master’s degrees in management were ranked #6 among the Best Online Master's in Business Programs (Excluding MBA) by U.S. News & World Report.
  • Boston University is an accredited member of AACSB International―The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
  • Successfully complete Quality Management (MET AD 734) and you may qualify to earn a Six Sigma Green Belt accredited by the Council for Six Sigma Certification. By also completing Business Process Fundamentals (MET AD 605) you are eligible to earn a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. A Six Sigma certificate can help you increase productivity and decrease costs, enhancing your ability to deliver top-quality products and services to consumers in a limited amount of time. Eligibility is determined by satisfactory performance on final examinations in each course.
  • Capstone projects allow you to tackle a real-world project from a company and benefit from practical experience and opportunities to network, with the potential for internships and jobs. Each project is executed by a diverse team of students under the guidance of a BU professor in liaison with the client firm. Clients that have partnered with us as part of capstone projects include the City of Boston, Construction Specialties, Henkel Corporation, LEGO, Loctite, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Raytheon Technologies, Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, SharkNinja, and Waters Corporation, among others. View completed projects as well as capstone projects in progress.
  • Collaborate with professors and industrial practitioners in BU MET’s Decision Sciences Research Laboratory, while applying your analytical skills to solve current problems facing industrial organizations.
  • Learn from expert faculty from MET’s Department of Administrative Sciences, and benefit from a unique combination of dynamic academic curricula, the latest educational technologies, and direct professional contact with industry leaders in the supply chain management area.
  • Focus on design, optimization, and operation of a global supply chain process, while gaining expertise in efficient production, global supply chain coordination, risk mitigation, strategic logistics management, and import-export operations.
  • Benefit from advanced pedagogy and the latest digital-learning concepts introduced in the online environment, such as video conferencing, live lectures and seminars, proctored assessments, access to proprietary software applications within virtual labs and cloud servers/technologies, creative learning, teamwork, and competitive games offered with the help of advanced business simulations.

Meet Dr. Vladimir Zlatev, one of the faculty members you’ll work with in the Administrative Sciences department.

Career Outlook

Logisticians

4% increase in jobs through 2029

$76,270 median annual pay in 2020

Operations Research Analysts

25% increase in jobs through 2029

$86,200 median annual pay in 2020

Market Research Analysts

18% increase in jobs through 2029

$65,810 median annual pay in 2021

Management Analysts

11% increase in jobs through 2029

$87,660 median annual pay in 2020

Sales Managers

4% increase in jobs through 2029

$132,290 median annual pay in 2020

Industry Trends

The global logistics market is expected to grow by 4.7% through to 2024.

—Total Logistics 2021, ResearchandMarkets

Tuition & Financial Assistance

Money Matters

Boston University Metropolitan College (MET) offers competitive tuition rates that meet the needs of part-time students seeking an affordable education. These rates are substantially lower than those of the traditional, full-time residential programs yet provide access to the same high-quality BU education. To learn more about current tuition rates, visit the MET website.

Financial Assistance

Comprehensive financial assistance services are available at MET, including scholarships, graduate loans, and payment plans. There is no cost to apply for financial assistance, and you may qualify for a student loan regardless of your income. Learn more.


Curriculum

Students who are not choosing a concentration must complete the degree core courses, three specialization courses, a capstone project, and two electives. Students who take MET AD 734 and meet certain performance standards will earn Six Sigma Green Belt certification. Students who take both MET AD 605 and MET AD 734 and meet certain performance standards will earn a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.

Faculty

Canan Gunes Corlu

Canan Gunes Corlu

Associate Professor, Administrative Sciences; Coordinator, Supply Chain Management
PhD, MS, Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University; BS, Koc University

John Maleyeff

John Maleyeff

Associate Professor of the Practice, Administrative Sciences; Coordinator, Enterprise Risk Management
PhD, MS, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
BA, East Stroudsburg State College

David Ritt

David Ritt

Lecturer, Administrative Sciences
MS, Boston University; BA, University of Chicago

Vladimir Zlatev

Vladimir Zlatev

Associate Professor of the Practice and Director of Digital Learning, Administrative Sciences; Coordinator, Applied Business Analytics
PhD, MS, BS, Dresden University of Technology

Getting Started

To learn more or to contact a graduate admissions advisor before you get started, request information using the button below and tell us a little about yourself. Someone will be in touch to answer any questions you may have about the program and detail the next steps in earning your degree. You can also start your application or register for a course at Metropolitan College.