Advanced study in business administration and supply chain management is available through a dual degree program sponsored by the School of Business.
The dual degree Master of Business Administration and Master of Supply Chain Management program allows students to earn two degrees with a minimum of 63 graduate credits rather than the 75 graduate credits necessary if the two degrees were pursued separately. This efficiency lowers the overall cost of tuition while also reducing time to earning both degrees.
Prerequisite and/or foundation courses may effectively increase the number of credits needed to earn the degrees.
Program goals
The objectives of this dual degree program are to:
- Prepare individuals to be not just effective logistics professionals but also leaders and managers in today’s organizations
- Provide the ability to develop and use analytical models for making managerial decisions and achieving strategic organizational goals
- Develop in individuals not just an understanding of how supply chain issues can impact different areas of a firm but also the ability to design and implement solutions that consider firmwide implications
- Develop interpersonal and professional skills critical to business, including communication and presentation skills, leadership and management, and situational awareness, among others
Among the many benefits offered by participation in the dual degree program are the following:
- Complementing the general management skills obtained in the M.B.A. with a solid specialization in global logistics management
- Enhanced ability to effectively compete for managerial positions not just in logistics but across a wide spectrum of levels and areas in today’s organizations
- Enhanced job prospects — particularly for candidates intending to switch careers or striving to move up within their organizations
- The ability to effectively complete both degrees within a shorter time frame with considerable time and tuition savings through the 12 shared credits
The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded sequentially or simultaneously. Students are not required to begin both programs in the same semester, but must be enrolled in both degrees for at least one semester prior to graduation from either program for credits to be shared across programs.
Student learning outcomes
See each degree program page for student learning outcomes.
Other information
Advising
A program manager will serve as an adviser and administrative liaison for students. The assigned program manager will assist in developing a plan of study to meet the curriculum requirements of both programs. A faculty adviser from the Department of Supply Chain Management and Analytics will help students consider electives that will best serve their professional goals.
Admission requirements
Students must officially apply and be admitted to each degree program separately before the pursuit of the dual degree program may begin. It is not required to begin both programs in the same semester. View the application requirements for each program for additional details.
Degree requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 63 total credits to earn the Master of Business Administration and Master of Supply Chain Management. Students without sufficient background in analytics may be required to first complete prerequisite course work.
A total of 12 credits may be counted toward both programs:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SCMA 602 | Global Supply Chain Management (core requirement for M.S.C.M.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| SCMA 603 | SAP ERP and Supply Chain Management (core requirement for M.S.C.M.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| SCMA 606 | Supply Chain Innovation (core requirement for M.S.C.M.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management (core requirement for both degrees) | 3 |
The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded sequentially or simultaneously.
Curriculum requirements for the dual degree
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| M.B.A. requirements | ||
| • Required courses | ||
| ACCT 507 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 608 | Managerial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| ECON 610 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management | 3 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers | 3 |
| INFO 664 | Information Systems for Business Intelligence | 3 |
| MGMT 641 | Leading People and Organizations | 3 |
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| SCMA 524 | Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management (core requirement for both degrees) | 3 |
| • Electives | ||
| Satisfied by SCMA 602, SCMA 603 and SCMA 606 | 9 | |
| M.D.A. requirements | ||
| • Required courses | ||
| SCMA 602 | Global Supply Chain Management (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| SCMA 603 | SAP ERP and Supply Chain Management (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| SCMA 606 | Supply Chain Innovation (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| SCMA 615 | Strategic Logistics Management | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management (core requirement for both degrees) | 3 |
| SCMA 697 | Guided Study in Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| • Analytics courses | 6 | |
| Select two from the following: | ||
| Introduction to Econometrics | ||
| Econometrics | ||
| Prescriptive Analytics | ||
| Business Data Analytics | ||
| Statistical Quality Control | ||
| Statistical Analysis and Modeling | ||
| Developing and Implementing Forecasting Methods for Business | ||
| Quality Management and Six Sigma | ||
| • Electives | 6 | |
| Managerial Accounting Concepts | ||
| Information Systems for Managers | ||
| Information Systems for Business Intelligence | ||
| Negotiations | ||
| Entrepreneurship | ||
| Best Practices in Leadership | ||
| Marketing Management | ||
| Marketing Research | ||
| Service Quality Management | ||
| Digital Marketing | ||
| Marketing Analytics | ||
| Applied Multivariate Methods | ||
| Total Hours | 63 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 63.
Sample plan of study
What follows is an example plan that meets the prescribed requirements. Students may work with their adviser to consider an individual enrollment plan that best meets their goals. Part-time enrollment and summer courses may be considered.
| Year one | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| ACCT 507 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | 3 |
| INFO 664 | Information Systems for Business Intelligence | 3 |
| SCMA 524 | Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 610 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers | 3 |
| MGMT 641 | Leading People and Organizations | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management (core requirement for both degrees) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Year two | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ACCT 608 | Managerial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management | 3 |
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| SCMA 602 | Global Supply Chain Management (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| M.S.C.M. analytics courses | 6 | |
| M.S.C.M. elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Summer semester | ||
| SCMA 603 | SAP ERP and Supply Chain Management (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| SCMA 606 | Supply Chain Innovation (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 6 | |
| Year three | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| SCMA 615 | Strategic Logistics Management | 3 |
| SCMA 697 | Guided Study in Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| M.S.C.M. elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Total Hours: | 63 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 63.
Contact
Austen Gouldman
gouldmana@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
Additional contact
Graduate Studies in Business
gsib@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
Program website: business.vcu.edu/academics/mba-options