The graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management will provide students with foundational understanding of the functionality and associated complexities related to managing global supply chains. A major emphasis is on the strategic decisions that are explored given the inherent tradeoffs and risks embedded in the decision framework.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing the program, students will be able to:
- Examine complex supply-chain problems through a variety of lenses and make informed decisions aimed at enhancing organizational performance
VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs
The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.
It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.
Graduation requirements
As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.
Admission requirements
| Degree: | Semester(s) of entry: | Deadline dates: | Test requirements: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Fall | Jul 1 | |
| Spring | Nov 1 | ||
| Summer | Mar 1 |
All applicants to the graduate certificate program are required to meet the admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School. Applicants will be required to submit the following materials to the Graduate Admissions office:
- Application form and application fee
- Three letters of recommendation, professional and/or academic
- Official undergraduate transcripts from all schools attended
- A statement of purpose outlining career goals
- A resume stating relevant work experience
No transfer credit hours are accepted for the program. Credits from a degree already awarded cannot be applied toward the certificate.
For international students, the following is required:
- An official transcript evaluation from a recognized foreign educational credentials evaluation service accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
- A Test of English as a Foreign Language minimum composite score of 100 for the Internet-Based Test or 600 for the paper-based score; or an International English language Testing System minimum score of 6.5 on the academic exam.
- A minimum score of 68 on the VCU English Language Program Compression test (Students who do not achieve a score of 68 will be placed in the appropriate level English language proficiency courses.)
Prerequisite course work
SCMA 524 or an equivalent statistics course is a prerequisite for this certificate program. The prerequisite may be waived for students who present satisfactory equivalent preparation at the undergraduate or graduate level. The determination is made by the faculty adviser at the time of admission.
Degree requirements
In addition to general VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, students in the Certificate in Supply Chain Management program must complete 12 credit hours of course work.
The curriculum prepares students to manage and coordinate all supply chain functions in an enterprise, ranging from acquisitions to receiving and handling, through internal allocation of resources to operations units, to the handling and delivery of output, while also assessing the inherent risks in each of these areas. Course work will provide students with the foundations of supply chain management and enable them to develop strategies aimed at enhancing organizational performance. The required courses focus on educating students about acquisitions and purchasing; inventory control, storage and handling; just-in-time manufacturing; logistics planning, transportation and delivery management; quality management and control; process analysis and resource utilization; and other relevant topics.
The foundation course, SCMA 524, may be waived for students who present satisfactory equivalent preparation at either the undergraduate or graduate level. This determination is made by the faculty adviser at the time of admission.
Curriculum requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses | ||
| SCMA 602 | Global Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| SCMA 615 | Strategic Logistics Management | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management | 3 |
| Restricted elective | ||
| SCMA 603 | SAP ERP and Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| or SCMA 606 | Supply Chain Innovation | |
| or SCMA 677 | Quality Management and Six Sigma | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this certificate is 12.
Students who complete the requirements for this program will receive a Certificate in Supply Chain Management.
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/supply-chain-management-and-analytics/certificate-in-supply-chain-management/