Consider obtaining a PhD in supply chain management if you’re a business professional looking to better your career. This degree blends management with sourcing, procurement, and logistics-related studies.
Success in the modern global economy demands a range of abilities. During your PhD studies, you might learn how to control inventory, plan operations with suppliers of goods and services, and communicate with clients.
Additionally, you might develop skills in negotiation, relationship development, and legal compliance. Positions as a business executive in industries like operations, distribution, global systems, manufacturing, and purchasing may be available after earning this degree.
Online PhD programs in supply chain management
Business executives frequently deal with issues relating to domestic or foreign trade. A thorough understanding of information management, including information collecting, analysis, and assessment, is frequently necessary for success.
Making wise decisions and using critical thinking can make or break an organization. Today’s supply chain managers must possess the abilities to select the best goods and services, establish and maintain relationships with suppliers and consumers, and do all of this with ethics and integrity.
Your doctorate will assist in educating you so that you can conduct, comprehend, and apply modern theory-based research. Your interdisciplinary studies may cover topics like managing supplier relationships as well as designing and transforming global supply chains and networks within a business framework.
Creating best practices for inventories as well as designing marketing and sales strategies may also be part of your coursework.
Universities also place a strong emphasis on imparting the abilities necessary to build and maintain stellar interpersonal relationships with everyone you’ll come into contact with in the supply chain. You could also study customer service, forecasting needs, marketing, and sales.
A PhD in supply chain management is a flexible decision due to the broad range of job options it offers. This degree may also be known as an operations management degree or an online logistics degree at some universities.
Numerous colleges will feature professors with a wealth of real-world knowledge as well as mentorships from seasoned business leaders. You can frequently decide to focus your research and academic work in one specific area of interest after finishing the necessary core courses.
Once you earn your degree, you might be able to apply it both domestically and overseas. All across the world, businesses purchase and exchange the goods and services necessary for effective manufacturing. If living or traveling abroad appeals to you, you might want to think about getting this degree and getting a passport.
Careers in Supply Chain Management and Earnings
Your degree can be used to pursue professions in a variety of industries because a PhD program in supply chain management gives a strong basis for numerous business management-related topics. Manufacturing, healthcare, retail, government, transportation, aerospace, and defense are a few examples of these sectors.
Your online degree in supply chain management may aid in the development of your leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, time-management, and communication abilities. You can move from a corporate executive job to a variety of various product or service businesses with these talents.
The following jobs can be pursued with a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You might be able to make far more money than the incomes stated here if you have a doctorate and substantial work experience.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Chief Executive | $185,950 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $108,790 |
| General and Operations Manager | $104,280 |
| Health Services Manager | $103,650 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $98,890 |
| Warehouse Operations Manager | $96,390 |
| Management Analyst | $87,660 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $86,200 |
| Logistician | $76,270 |
| Cost Estimator | $66,610 |
Not only will salaries differ between industries, but also between locales. Different cities, states, and nations have varying salaries. The scale of the organization, including the number of employees you will supervise and the duties of your particular job description, can be another important wage component.
For instance, the average wage for a warehouse operations manager in the District of Columbia was more than $143,000, but in Northwest Illinois’ nonmetropolitan region, it was $75,600. A telecom company, meanwhile, reported paying its management staff more than $150,000 annually.
No PhD was necessary for any of these management jobs. A doctorate may help you stand out from other applicants and may boost your chances of being paid more.
A PhD degree also opens up the potential of part- or full-time employment as a professor in a university’s business school. PhD-holding college professors often start out making roughly $80,790.
With a PhD, you might also be able to work as a consultant or execute client-commissioned study on a specific logistical issue.
Doctoral Curriculum in Supply Chain Management
Supply chain management doctoral programs often cover management, connection building, critical thinking, inventory management, information collection, collaboration, and ethics in addition to theory and research.
The following are examples of courses you might take throughout your program, though classes will differ amongst universities:
Research in supply chain management: You’ll master the technique and design of doctoral-level studies, including data gathering, analysis, and interpretation.
Supply Chain Management: In order to satisfy the changing needs of businesses, this course teaches you how to apply management science concepts to supply chain planning.
The Economics of Supply Chain Management: The design, material competition, and data gathering aspects of supply chain operations will all be covered in your study of supply chain economics.
Statistical Analysis: This course will discuss descriptive and inferential statistics and when to use them to solve problems.
Theory of Supply Chain Management: You will develop a thorough understanding of every component of the supply chain, including raw materials, manufacturing processes, finished items, transportation, and the final consumer.
Contracts and Negotiations: This course will assist you in maximizing value for the party you represent by assisting you in understanding, negotiating, and writing contracts.
Interpersonal Aspects of Supply Chain Management: Because interpersonal interactions have an impact on each stage of the supply chain, this course emphasizes the connections between different parties.
Global Supply Chains: This course examines the workings of international markets and how they vary between cultures and societies.
Logistics: The principles, techniques, and strategies covered in this course will help students gain a competitive edge by lowering costs while preserving value.
Computer Simulation: You will create computer models in this course to help you make research tools to enhance company processes.
These kind of classes lay the groundwork for any later area of expertise. They will aid in preparing you to carry out the capstone projects and research that are frequently necessary for PhD studies.
Admissions Requirements
The requirements for admission to online doctoral programs vary, but the majority include:
Master’s degree: The majority of programs need for a master’s degree or higher from an authorized university, along with transcripts displaying a minimum GPA of 2.75.
Experience: For some programs, a minimum of three years of relevant professional experience may be necessary.
Test scores: You may wish to carefully study applications to find out whether any test scores are required. Some universities will require standardized graduate admissions examinations, such as the GRE or GMAT.
Essay or personal recommendations: Some applications may call for one or more letters of recommendation from business or private individuals, such as professors or employers. Additionally, a brief essay about your experiences or objectives may be required of you.
To ensure that nothing is missing and the dates are met, you might wish to carefully examine all of the application requirements.
Accreditation
You may be sure that you are receiving a top-notch education that satisfies rigorous criteria in areas like curriculum, facilities, faculty, and student services by enrolling in a regionally accredited university. This procedure is supervised by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Additionally, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, a professional accrediting body, frequently grants accreditation to business schools (ACBSP). Accreditation by the ACBSP might increase the worth of your degree.
Employers typically prefer to work with applicants who attended approved institutions. Because accreditation demonstrates that a university has successfully completed stringent quality assurance assessments, it is the finest measure of educational merit.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Tuition costs may put a strain on any budget. The Federal government recognizes this and has created a simple-to-use online application process with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Scholarships may be accessible through a range of public or private organizations in addition to the FAFSA. For information on where you might find these possibilities and their eligibility restrictions, you can get in touch with the financial aid offices of the universities you’re thinking about.
Additionally, your present company might pay for your education. Many businesses might be ready to pay expenditures in full or in part for employees who have the potential to advance.
What Can a PhD in Supply Chain Management Get You?
Almost every institution need products and services to function. All businesses require experienced personnel with a PhD in supply chain management for senior positions. You can make sure that the required parts leave their original location and arrive at their final destination.
Foundational business administration courses and supply chain management courses will both be required for your doctorate. It integrates managerial studies, research, and scholarship. Our economy is a global one. Knowledge, expertise, and familiarity with new trends, models, and discoveries are necessary for effective competition.
A supply chain management doctorate could give you the advantage you need to relocate or advance in your career.
How long does it take to complete an online PhD in supply chain management?
Normally, it takes 3 to 5 years to complete a PhD. The number of needed units and how many you are able to finish each semester will determine how long it takes to earn a PhD in supply chain management. While each university has its own requirements, most demand between 40 and 60 credits.
You might complete your degree in three years if you are able to take on a full load of roughly 15 courses per semester. However, if you’re like most working professionals, you might enroll in 6 to 8 units per semester, which would need you to get your degree in roughly 7 semesters.
Because you may adjust your course load to fit your employment schedule, earning your PhD online may give you greater freedom.
Is a PhD in Supply Chain Management Worth It?
For many students, a PhD in supply chain management is worthwhile. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in the business and financial sectors will increase by 5% over the next ten years, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Logisticians, warehouse operations managers, general and operations managers, and industrial production managers are common professions in this area.
As you get more executive and academic experience, your income can increase significantly. This degree is adaptable because the majority of businesses and enterprises require a wide range of products and services to run.
With the help of your degree, you might be able to manage all the resources and procedures an employer needs to be successful in the fast-paced economy of today.
Universities that offer online PhD programs in supply chain management
Arizona State University
The full-time, residential PhD in Business Administration program at Arizona State University is intended for individuals who want to teach at colleges and universities when they graduate. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on research. Students conduct their own research, review and analyze that of others, and then publish it.
Arizona State University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
Capella University
Graduate-level training in global operations, global supply chain planning, and finance is provided to students in Capella University’s Doctor of Business Administration in Global Operations and Supply Chain Management program.
Eight core courses, four specialist courses, two residencies, and a research project make up the ACBSP-accredited program.
Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Colorado Technical University
Students at Colorado Technical University have a lot of freedom in creating the curricula for their graduate programs.
Students can get Master of Business Administration degrees in supply chain management (SCM) or logistics management by picking the appropriate electives. Similar to the MBA, the Doctor of Management offers electives from a variety of SCM courses.
Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Liberty University
Students may transfer up to half of the 60 credits needed to complete Liberty University’s 100% online Doctor of Business Administration in Supply Chain Management and Logistics degree, which is ACBSP recognized.
Advanced courses in operations management, overall quality management, logistics, and supply chain management are included in the curriculum.
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Pennsylvania State University – World Campus
Although supply chain management is not a PhD option at Pennsylvania State University – World Campus, students can still obtain graduate certifications in the subject.
The operation of transportation systems, supply chain strategy, inventory planning, cost analysis and control, performance evaluations, and network design are among the topics that students will study. Every course has a masters program transfer option.
Pennsylvania State University – World Campus is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Seton Hall University
Students seeking further expertise in this profession can get graduate certifications at Seton Hall University since there isn’t a PhD program in supply chain management there.
Supply chain operations, logistics, and analytics are among the subjects that must be covered in these courses. The following are available electives: supply chain management with SAP, business intelligence, and procurement management.
Seton Hall University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Sullivan University
Students can select from a variety of concentrations in the PhD in Management program at Sullivan University, including one in strategic management, which is the more general category that supply chain management belongs to.
Supply chain management, logistics, qualitative and quantitative research, organizational management theories, and essential leadership abilities will all be covered in-depth for students.
Sullivan University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
University of Missouri – Saint Louis
University of Missouri – St. Louis has a Doctor of Business Administration in Logistics and Supply Chain Management program that features an intense, comprehensive curriculum and periods of required residency on the UMSL campus. The program requires 60 total credits for completion, half of which will be supply chain-related courses.
The University of Missouri-St. Louis is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
University of Nebraska – Omaha
The University of Nebraska in Omaha offers a graduate certificate in supply chain management but no doctoral degree in the subject. No entrance exam is necessary, and all 12 credits can be obtained online. The MBA supply chain management online program accepts nine of the twelve credits.
UNO is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Walden University
The Doctor of Business Administration in Global Supply Chain Management program at Walden University gives students the option of finishing their doctorates in up to 8 years, while most do so much sooner.
A mix of basic, core business, business strategy, and research methodologies courses will be required of the students. There are also two residencies necessary.
Walden is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
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