This article provides an overview of the MBA in logistics degree program, some of the subject matters and courses that the degree covers, and why this degree could be a great way to significantly advance your career. It also highlights an online MBA in Logistics program that you may want to consider enrolling in.
What Is an MBA in Logistics?
MBA (master of business administration) in logistics programs are those that teach students about advanced managerial techniques and business management techniques, while focusing specifically on the logistics and supply chain, and their various practices and theories. Those who graduate from this degree are able to make the organizations for which they work far more effective, regardless of where in the supply chain their work.
Why Earn an MBA in Logistics?
An MBA in logistics sets you up for a long and fascinating career. Almost every organization, whether it is public, private, or nonprofit, has a requirement for increased efficiency in its supply chain and logistics. An MBA degree, meanwhile, is seen as the most advanced business degree available. Hence, by completing it, you will greatly increase your employability.
Once you have obtained your MBA, you also have the opportunity to study at the doctorate degree level. Very few people to date hold the DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) degree, and there is therefore a real need for graduates of that degree, as they will be able to educate the next generation. Completing a DBA can usually also be done online.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has reported that logisticians had a median salary of $74,170 per year as of May 2016. However, this is at bachelor’s degree level. Those with a graduate degree or above are more likely to find themselves in the top 10% of earners, who earn $117,310 per year or more. The BLS has also indicated that there will be a 2% increase in demand for these professionals from 2014 to 2024, which is slower than the national average and will translate into some 2,500 new jobs.
Online Option for MBA in Logistics
Colorado Technical University
If you are interested in getting an MBA in logistics, you may want to consider the Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Logistics Management program that is offered by Colorado Technical University. This degree program is for those who already have professional experience in logistics, and it provides them with the opportunity to focus their skills on one of three specific areas, concentrations within concentrations, in other words. These are the:
- Military
- Government
- Private sector
Students look at logistics concepts and philosophies, understanding how these can be changed and adapted to specific environments. Students can customize their degree program through the three concentration options.
The Colorado Technical University degree has been named one of the Best Online Programs in the country by the U.S. News and World Report. The program is also accredited both by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and the Higher Learning Commission. To complete the degree, students must complete 48 credits.
The core courses of the degree are:
- Applied Managerial Accounting
- Applied Managerial Economics
- Strategic Management in Dynamic Environments
- Applied Managerial Finance
- Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making
- Applied Managerial Decision-Making
- Strategic Human Capital Management
- Applied Managerial Marketing
Students will then also have to complete 12 courses for their logistics track, including a management capstone. Those who opt for the government logistics track will take:
- Strategic Thinking in a Global Logistics Environment: Cultural and Legal Implications
- Integrated Supply Chain Management in a Global Environment
- Logistics Support Services in Impaired or Hazardous Environments
Those who choose the military logistics track will take:
- Intermodal Transportation/Logistics in Inclement Environments
- Transportation and Logistics Operations in Enriched and Impaired Environments
- Transportation/Logistics Security in Enriched and Impaired Environments
Those who choose the private sector logistics track will take:
- Inventory Process Management and Control
- Inventory and Supply Chain Management
- Reverse Inventory Management and Financial Implications
After getting the MBA in logistics degree, a wealth of career opportunities become available to you. These include the:
- Logistics consultant, in which you use your knowledge of technological advances to help improve the supply chain performance of your client. You will also be involved in strategic planning and re-engineering processing. Furthermore, you will ensure that you can identify supply chain and logistics problems and help to resolve them.
- Warehouse operations manager, in which role you will work in commercial or industrial distribution centers and direct their operations, while also handling the overall warehouse facilities. You will be responsible for the cost management of the warehouse facility, understanding the various expenses, and identifying areas of wastage and then addressing those so that the entire facility becomes more productive and cost-efficient.
- Transportation manager, where you will work with carrier systems and fleets, whether they are contract, private, or third party. You will ensure that the cargo arrives at its destination on schedule. Furthermore, you will be responsible for the expenses management of the overall transport operations, which includes both incoming and outgoing shipments.
- Inventory manager, in which role you will be responsible for the stocks, which could be a raw material in a production facility, or a retail stock in a warehouse. You ensure that customer service goals are as effective as possible, and that inventory costs in manufacturing plans, distribution centers, and other inbound material locations are minimized. Furthermore, you will work with the planning and production departments to make sure that all work is delivered in a timely and cost-effective manner.
- Purchasing manager, whereby you will be responsible for your company’s full buying activity. These roles can also be taken on with government agencies and nonprofit organizations. You will be responsible for choosing new suppliers, identifying where to get materials from globally, ensuring excellent relationships are maintained with suppliers and contracts, arranging service level agreements, monitoring contracts, and more.
- Logistics manager, where you will be fully responsible for the overall supply chain operations. These include forecasting and planning for companies and clients, distribution and warehouse operations, logistics systems, customer service, and so on. Often, this role has a strong international role, which means that you will also work with external purchasing, manufacturing, and marketing companies, developing on-schedule and inexpensive export and important supply chain systems.
Summary
As you can see, with an MBA in logistics degree, you can greatly advance your career. You will be able to take on a position of leadership and management within any kind of organization, in any type of industry or niche. You will hold a great deal of responsibility, ensuring they are cost-effective and always deliver the best possible products on time and within budget. Being able to shoulder this level of responsibility should give you a great deal of professional and personal pride.
References
- Logisticians. (2015, Dec. 17). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/logisticians.htm
- Master of Business Administration – Logistics Management. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.coloradotech.edu/degrees/masters/business/logistics
