First Year Courses

The following courses represent the typical course sequence and schedule for your first year.

SCM 800: Supply Chain Management, Fall (4 credits)

SCM 800 provides an enhanced understanding of key concepts in supply chain management. For this course, supply chain management is defined as "the integration of key business processes from the end user through original suppliers that provides products, services and information that add value for customers.” The systems viewpoint and a process orientation are explored at the individual-firm level and from the perspective of interfirm collaborative relationships among participants in logistics supply chains. Case studies are used to explore the impact the supply chain perspective has on businesses today. The course provides opportunities to investigate individual supply chain topics such as the bullwhip effect, approaches to planning and managing inventory across supply chains, value creation through alignment and realignment of supply chain capabilities, and supply chain performance metrics and financial impacts.

SCM 810: Transportation and Distribution, Spring (4 credits)

SCM 810 focuses on the economic conditions, managerial strategies, governmental policies, and other phenomena which affect the demand for and supply of transport and distribution services – the deliver portion of the supply chain. The course is set against a background of microeconomic theory and in a framework of supply chain management. Course design is directed toward graduate students with relatively little or no previous academic work in transport management and economics. Subject coverage includes both conceptual and applied material, such as the principles of industry analysis and competitive positioning; theory and practice of transport demand, costing, pricing, and revenue and demand management in distribution settings.

SCM 820: Strategic Procurement, Summer (4 credits)

The course provides a special emphasis on the development and management of strategic sourcing relationships and promotes an understanding of the strategic role of supply management in effective supply/demand/value chain operations. By utilizing problem-based learning and emphasis on the case method, the student learns by establishing a practical “hands on” experience through an actual negotiations simulation exercise. The goal is to learn through the application of course materials to relevant supply management case problems and scenarios. Collaboration in case preparation is required. Online discussions, “what if scenarios”, and use of contemporary problems enhance the learning experience.

SCM 530: Advanced Methods for Supply Chain Analysis, Summer (3 credits)

Students in SCM 530 will manage competing firms in an action-learning simulation. In this simulation, students must make pricing, marketing, production, distribution, and procurement decisions for their firm. Students will develop analytic models to help support their decisions. Students will learn techniques for demand forecasting and inventory planning and build decision support tools to help make these decisions.  Note:  SCM 530 is accomplished in three consecutive phases: (1) an on-line introduction in early August followed by (2) an intensively developed four-day residency at the University Park, PA campus and concluded with (3) an on-line series on industry simulation decision cycles.