Online Logistics and Supply Chain Management Degrees

A degree may open the door to a variety of opportunities and diverse career paths. The degree programs offered at CTU will not necessarily lead to the featured careers. This collection of articles is intended to help inform and guide you through the process of determining which level of degree and types of certifications align with your desired career path.

Logistics and supply chain management is essential to many businesses and organizations. A logistics degree concentration can help you work to develop an understanding of various aspects of the supply chain (procurement, inventory management, transportation, etc.) with a particular focus on the movement of goods from origin to destination, or Point A to Point B.

If you’re considering a logistics degree, you may have noticed by now that some schools offer a logistics major while others offer an option to concentrate in logistics management or logistics and supply chain management as part of a business administration program. Colorado Technical University offers convenient and flexible online logistics degree concentration options as part of our bachelor’s- and master’s-level business administration programs.

What Is a Logistics Degree?

A logistics degree program or concentration makes it possible to explore topics such as transportation, warehousing and distributions systems; inventory and inventory process management; and integrated supply chain management. A program/concentration that focuses on both logistics and supply chain management will focus on these topics and the supply chain as a whole.

But because logistics management and supply chain management are so closely related, the terms can sometimes be confused or used interchangeably—even though they have different meanings.

To eliminate confusion, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) has developed its own definitions of these terms.

What Is Supply Chain Management?

• “Supply chain management encompasses the planning and management of all activities involved in sourcing and procurement, conversion, and all logistics management activities. Importantly, it also includes coordination and collaboration with channel partners, which can be suppliers, intermediaries, third party service providers, and customers….”¹

What Is Logistics Management?

• “Logistics management is that part of supply chain management that plans, implements, and controls the efficient, effective forward and reverses flow and storage of goods, services and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customers’ requirements.”¹

Logistics vs. Supply Chain Management—A Summary

In simpler terms, we can sum up the difference between logistics and supply chain management (logistics vs. supply chain) as follows:

• Supply chain management deals with the entire production process/system, from sourcing of raw materials/components through final delivery of the product to customers.
• Logistics management is a subset of supply chain management dealing with the movement of goods and/or services between the organization and its customers.

Online Logistics Degree Concentration: Logistics Courses

CTU’s online logistics courses are designed to help you work to develop your knowledge of important topics in the logistics and supply chain management industry.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration—Logistics and Supply Chain Management Degree Program

Courses in the BSBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management degree program are designed to examine the industry’s service and manufacturing demands. You will have the opportunity to build your knowledge and skills from a global perspective in the areas of distribution management, inventory control, procurement and more. The program’s logistics and supply chain management courses include:

• Quality Management
• Transportation and Distribution Management
• Material and Inventory Management
• Supply Chain Negotiation
• Contract Management
• Procurement and Acquisition
• Logistics/Supply Chain Management Capstone

Master of Business Administration—Logistics Management Degree Program

The core courses in the MBA in Logistics Management degree program are designed to help you work to develop a comprehensive general business foundation, while the concentration courses provide an opportunity to explore topics in government logistics, military logistics or private sector logistics. You can choose to focus your studies on one logistics track (government, military or private sector) or select courses from among all three tracks to tailor your education to your unique interests. Courses in this concentration include:

Government Logistics Track:

• 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

Military Logistics Track:

• Intermodal Transportation/Logistics in Inclement Environments
• Transportation and Logistics Operations in Enriched and Impaired Environments
• Transportation/Logistics Security in Enriched and Impaired Environments

Private Sector Logistics Track:

• Inventory and Supply Chain Management
• Inventory Process Management and Control
• Reverse Inventory Management & Financial Implications

In addition to logistics classes, an MBA capstone course will enable to you showcase critical thinking, strategic, leadership and other skills that taught throughout the program.

Logistics Career Path Overview—Logisticians

Logisticians analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain and can be found working in almost every industry. Logistical jobs tend to be fast-paced, and the work of logisticians is no exception—they are expected to act quickly whenever problems arise to ensure that operations stay on schedule.²

Logistics Job Duties

A logistician’s typical job duties include:²

• Managing a product’s life cycle
• Allocating materials, supplies and products
• Developing supplier and client relationships
• Understanding and meeting clients’ needs
• Reviewing logistical functions and identifying potential improvements
• Devising strategies to keep transport times and costs down

Logistics Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of logisticians is projected to grow 30 percent from 2020 to 2030, which is must faster than the average for all occupations (8 percent).² What’s behind the above-average projected growth for this particular logistics career path? There are several factors:²

• Organizations and government agencies are increasingly relying on logisticians to ensure the efficient movement of products, solve problems and identify potential logistical improvements.
• More logisticians will be needed to help with processes such just-in-time delivery and other complex logistical matters as e-commerce grows.
• Relatedly, as consumers make more online purchases, firms will try to gain competitive advantage via timeliness of delivery of goods—this should result in a greater demand for logisticians.

Logistics Career Path Overview—Related Occupations

Transportation, Storage and Distribution Managers are responsible for planning and overseeing transportation, storage or distribution activities. They ensure that these activities are carried out in accordance with organizational policies and government laws or regulations.³

• Potential Job Titles: Depending upon the organization and the logistics/supply chain manager’s job duties, transportation, storage and distribution managers may hold one of the following job titles: Distribution Center Manager, Distribution Manager, Shipping Manager, Logistics Director, Logistics Operations Manager, Supply Chain Logistics Manager, Transportation Manager, Warehouse Supervisor.³
  Growth: O*NET projects employment growth of 5 to 10 percent in this occupation from 2020-2030.^3/sup>

Supply Chain Managers are a type of transportation, storage and distribution manager. They are responsible for limiting costs and improving accuracy, customer service, or safety via management of production, purchasing, warehousing, distribution or financial forecasting services. They direct logistics activities (i.e., movement, storage and processing of inventory) and look for opportunities to improve product distribution-related activities.⁴

• Potential Job Titles: Supply chain management job titles may include: Global Supply Chain Director, Material Requirements Planning Manager, Solution Design and Analysis Manager, Supply Chain Director, Supply Chain Manager.⁴
  Growth: O*Net projects employment growth of 5 to 10 percent in this occupation from 2020-2030.⁴

Is a Logistics and Supply Chain Management Degree Program Right for You?

So, is a career in logistics right for you? How do you decide? To make the most informed decision possible, you should consider your professional and academic goals and your interests. You should also consider whether you have the time to dedicate to a degree program given your personal, professional and family obligations. Choosing an online degree program could give you the flexibility necessary to pursue your educational goals without putting your life on hold.

Business administration programs are designed to cover topics and skills that can be applied across multiple industries. This could be particularly useful in the logistics field because, as noted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, logisticians work in almost every industry.2 Whether you hope to pursue logistics career opportunities in the future or are currently working in the field, choosing an online logistics degree concentration could be a great way to develop career-focused knowledge.

Check out CTU’s Online Master’s in Logistics Management and Online Logistics and Supply Chain Management Degree programs today. Or if you’re ready to make your next move, apply now.

CTU cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. REQ1833907 6/2022