GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Supply Chain Management
Every product you order, every service you use, and every organization you'll work for depends on decisions made by people who understand how supply chains operate. Complete your STEM-designated master's in just nine months and join them.
Prepare to Lead the Future of Supply Chains
Supply chain decisions influence nearly every part of business, from sourcing raw materials and managing inventory to meeting customer expectations and controlling costs. The Master of Supply Chain Management (M.S.C.M.) at Penn State Smeal College of Business prepares you to weigh tradeoffs and make informed decisions across sourcing, logistics, operations, and strategy.
In just nine months, you'll build the technical and business expertise to analyze supply chain complexity, manage risk, and solve the kind of operational problems organizations are actively hiring for. The 30-credit, STEM-designated curriculum is built around real industry challenges, and the Center for Supply Chain Research connects you with one of the country's leading university-industry partnerships in the field.
Through coursework, professional development, and hands-on experiences, you'll learn to:
Analyze supply chain performance using quantitative and analytical methods
Design strategies that improve efficiency, responsiveness, and resilience
Evaluate sourcing, procurement, transportation, and distribution choices
Manage operational and supply chain risk
Drive strategic decision-making through supply chain analysis
Analyze how global supply chains create value and where they break down
Program Highlights
Duration: Complete your degree in just nine months
STEM Designation: STEM-designated program
Simple Admissions: No GMAT or GRE required to apply
Hands-on Capstone: Apply core concepts to real-world operational challenges through an industry capstone project
Industry Access: Connect directly with corporate partners through Smeal’s renowned
Where a Master of Supply Chain Management Can Take You
M.S.C.M. graduates step into roles solving operational challenges for organizations in diverse industries, with roles in consulting, logistics, procurement, and supply chain strategy. Recent graduates have joined DHL Supply Chain, Amazon, Aegis Construction Management, Astec Industries, and Whiting-Turner.
93%
Employed Within One Year of Graduation
$68,000
Average Starting Salary
#19
Graduate Supply Chain Program
U.S. News & World Report
Sample Roles & Career Pathways
Supply Chain Analyst
Evaluate supply chain performance, identify improvement opportunities, and support operational decision-making through data analysis.
Procurement Manager
Manage sourcing, supplier relationships, purchasing, and procurement decisions across organizations.
Operations Manager
Oversee business operations and identify ways to improve processes, efficiency, and performance.
Logistics Manager
Manage transportation, inventory, warehousing, and distribution to keep goods moving efficiently.
Supply Chain Manager
Coordinate supply chain strategy and operations across sourcing, planning, logistics, and related functions.
Why Choose Penn State Smeal?
Join a Network That Lasts a Lifetime
Connect with more than 98,000 Smeal alumni and more than 800,000 Penn State graduates working across industries and around the world.
Dedicated Graduate Career Support
Access personalized career coaching, employer engagement, networking opportunities, and recruiting resources designed specifically for graduate business students.
Customize Your Graduate Path
Expand your expertise by combining eligible master's programs, certificates, and electives to build credentials that align with your career goals.
Is This Program Right for You?
The Master of Supply Chain Management is for students who are interested in how goods and services reach customers and want to dive deeper. You don't need a supply chain background to apply, but you should be curious about sourcing, production, logistics, and delivery.You may be a good fit for the M.S.C.M. if you want to:
Build expertise in supply chain management, operations, and logistics to accelerate your career.
Solve complex business challenges through data analysis and strategic thinking
Pursue careers in sourcing, procurement, operations, or consulting
Gain experience working in cross-functional teams to solve business problems
Earn a STEM-designated graduate degree and the OPT extension opportunity it provides
Complete an immersive, full-time graduate program in just nine months
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Master of Supply Chain Management vs. M.B.A.: What's the Difference?
Master of Supply Chain Management (M.S.C.M.)
The M.S.C.M. builds expertise in supply chain strategy, sourcing, procurement, logistics, analytics, and operations. Students gain the technical and business skills to solve complex supply chain challenges and prepare for careers in supply chain management.
Best For: Students pursuing careers in supply chain management, operations, logistics, procurement, or consulting.
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
An M.B.A. provides broad business preparation across leadership, finance, marketing, operations, and strategy. It develops management skills for professionals seeking cross-functional leadership or executive career paths.
Best For
Students seeking broad business leadership skills or exploring multiple management career paths.
What Your M.S.C.M. Experience Looks Like
Fall Semester
Build a foundation in supply chain strategy, operations, sourcing, and financial analysis.
Spring Semester
Advance your expertise through coursework in emerging supply chain topics, strategy, quantitative analytical methods, and supply chain transformation.
Graduate in May
Complete the 30-credit, STEM-designated program in just nine months and step directly into the field.
Hear from Supply Chain Management Students and Alumni
The curriculum gave me practical strategies I could apply immediately at work. I gained new ways to improve operations, strengthen decision-making, and prepare for the next step in my career."
Angela Acuna '26
Supply Operations Development Manager, Inter IKEA
The flexibility of the program made it possible to continue advancing my career while earning my degree. I applied what I learned in real time, earned promotions, and developed the strategic perspective to take on greater leadership responsibilities."
Geoffrey Davis
Senior Financial Planning Analyst, Avnet
The program sharpened the way I approach complex operational challenges. Beyond the coursework, the faculty, professional network, and relationships I built helped me grow both personally and professionally."
Matthew A. Price '24
Logistics Officer, U.S. Department of War
CONNECTIONS THAT LAST
98,000+ Smeal Alumni Worldwide
Join a global network of more than 98,000 Smeal alumni working across industries and organizations around the world. As a student, you'll gain access to a community that provides mentorship, professional connections, career insights, and opportunities long after graduation.
Take the Next Step
Explore how a Penn State Smeal graduate degree can help you build specialized expertise, expand your professional network, and prepare for long-term career success. Connect with our admissions team to get started.
Learn From Supply Chain and Operations Experts
Charles F. Nicholson
Program Academic Director, Clinical Professor of Supply Chain & Information Systems
Supply chain strategy, logistics, food systems, and operational performance.
Tom Mulherin
Faculty, Supply Chain & Information Systems
Supply chain management and student engagement.
Mauricio Maldonado Guillen
Adjunct Professor, Supply Chain & Information Systems
Supply chain management, strategy, and executive leadership.
Steve F. Tracey
Professor of Practice
Global supply chain strategy, sourcing, logistics, and enterprise operations leadership.
David J. Huff
Clinical Professor
Operations management, supply chain analytics, inventory management, and business analytics.
Suresh Muthulingam
Professor of Supply Chain Management
Supply chain management, operations strategy, quality management, and sustainability.