The Marketing Department initiated the Logistics and Supply Chain Management (L&SCM) area of study. The program is offered both as a major of an undergraduate B.S. degree and as a concentration area in the M.B.A. degree. This program was developed in response to a demand from industry for graduates having a strong background in this area.

Logistics & Supply Chain Management as a Career

Logistics and Supply Chain Management (L&SCM) refers to the movement and storage of raw materials and component parts into and within a business firm, and the distribution of the finished products to customers. The L&SCM function within an organization is customer-driven and is an essential function that adds value to the final product. A career in L&SCM offers students the potential to make significant contributions to the improvement of corporate practices. The corporate demand for employees who have knowledge in L&SCM is increasing.

Successful L&SCM managers possess proficient oral and written communication skills, problem solving abilities, leadership and team-building skills, as well as knowledge about current logistics and transportation issues. Typically, a career in L&SCM begins in customer service, inventory management, transportation, or front-line supervision, and can ultimately lead to positions in supply-chain management and other related areas. L&SCM commonly addresses global as well as domestic operations.

"All companies now, not just the sophisticated ones, know that logistics is the key to staying in business," says George Sola, VP at A.T. Kearney Executive Search in a recent Inbound Logistics article. "Companies view logistics as the next way to cut costs and increase efficiency and service. It's a super-hot field, a huge growing industry with lots of jobs, and everyone needs help."

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Logistics & Supply Chain Management at Missouri State

The Logistics and Supply Chain Management program at Missouri State is part of the College of Business Administration. L&SCM is offered as a major of the Undergraduate curricula within the Department of Marketing.

L&SCM is also part of the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program as an "area of specialization" within the Department of Marketing.

L&SCM Major

Completion of the L&SCM Major requires twenty-four (24) hours of specialized course work in addition to the General Education requirements and COBA core courses (see Catalog). Of the 24 credits, the following four courses are required:

• MKT 430 Introduction to Logistics
• MKT 440 Logistics Models
• MKT 450 Supply Chain Management
• MKT 460 Logistics and Supply Chain Strategy

The remaining four courses must be selected from the following electives:

• MKT 351 Consumer Market Behavior
• MKT 352 Personal Selling
• MKT 360 Marketing Research
• MKT 394 Cooperative Education in Marketing
• MKT 464 International Logistics and Global Supply Chain Management
• MKT 472 Advanced Marketing
• MKT 474 International Marketing
• QBA 337 Applied Business Statistics
• MGT 367 Purchasing and Supply Management

L&SCM Minor

An L&SCM minor is also offered to any qualified student in the University. The minor requires completion of the following fifteen (15) credits of courses:

• MKT 350 Principles of Marketing
• MKT 430 Introduction to Logistics
• MKT 440 Logistics Models
• MKT 450 Supply Chain Management
• MKT 460 Logistics and Transportation Strategy
• MKT 464 International Logistics and Global Supply Chain Management

MBA L&SCM Area of Concentration

An MBA area of concentration in L&SCM requires agreement of the Director of the MBA program and establishing an L&SCM course plan that will best match the student's objectives. Twelve hours will be determined by the student's area of concentration from the following courses:

•  MKT 630 Logistics and Transportation
•  MKT 640 Supply Chain Models and Systems
•  MKT 650 Supply Chain Management Seminar
•  MKT 660 Logistics and Supply Chain Management
•  MKT 664 International Logistics and Global Supply Chain Management

•  MKT 696 Independent Study: Marketing

          (all 3 credit courses)

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L&SCM Course Descriptions

MKT 430 - Introduction to Logistics - Analysis of the activities and decisions necessary to plan, implement and control private and public physical distribution and transportation channel systems. Emphasis on physical, human, informational and organizational system components.

MKT 440 - Logistics Models - This course investigates the role of information management and decision support methods in the planning and management of supply chains and related processes. The course addresses techniques and methods used in facility location; forecasting; inventory control; routing and scheduling; purchasing; warehousing and other activities.

MKT 450 - Supply Chain Management - This course emphasizes the adoption of a supply chain orientation toward business and the need for more effective inter-firm relationships and operational processes. Topics include the structure and dynamics of supply chains; finance; operations; the global supply chain environment; forecasting/demand management; process analysis; inventory; performance measurement; inter-fuctional and inter-organizational relationships; and the role of information systems and the internet.

MKT 460 - Logistics and Supply Chain Strategy - Analysis of comprehensive cases incorporating strategic and tactical decisions throughout the materials and logistics marketing and management processes. Cases include identification/definition of transportation and logistics problems, evaluation of integrated alternatives and development of recommendations. 

MKT 464/664 - International Logistics and Global Supply Chain Management - Principles of logistics activities in international business with special emphasis on transportation, global sourcing, customs issues, import-export opportunities, customs documentation, the role of government in international transactions, customer service, and global supply chain management. Special emphasis is placed on current events and their effect on the marketing and logistics activities of organizations. Cannot receive credit for both MKT 464 and MKT 664.

MKT 630 - Logistics and Transportation - This course introduces students to the concepts and terminology associated with the planning and management of logistics activities. The course investigates introductory decisions in inventory management, warehousing, transportation, customer service, performance measurement, and others.

MKT 640 - Supply Chain Models and Systems - This course addresses concepts, techniques and systems used in supply chain management and decision support. Specific areas include ERP systems, manufacturing planning and management techniques and systems, inventory management, warehouse layout, distritbution management, routing and scheduling, process analysis, network analysis and the application of simulation and optimization techniques.

MKT 650 - Supply Chain Management Seminar - This course emphasizes the adoption of a supply chain orientation toward business and the need for more effective inter-firm relationships and operational processes. The course incorporates analyses of comprehensive cases involving strategic and tactical decisions throughout product and service supply chains in a domestic and global environment.

MKT 660 - Logistics and Supply Chain Management - This course serves as a capstone experience involving actual company projects, a comprehensive supply chain simulation exercise, and the identification and discussion of current events in logistics and supply chain management. Class sessions are augmented by discussions of current events involving logistics and supply chain management.

  

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Suggested Course Sequence

 

 

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Things You Should Know...

Opportunities for Student Internships:

Logistics and Supply Chain Management majors are strongly encouraged to pursue an internship experience. MKT 394 allows interns to earn 3 credits by integrating academic training with supervised L&T work experience.

Scholarships:

The department offers scholarships each year to Logistics and Supply Chain Management majors. Students apply for the scholarships in the Spring, the applications are reviewed by the Departmental Scholarship Committee and the scholarships are awarded for the following academic year.

Jobs:

Employment opportunities include: the five modes of transportation (air, truck, rail, water, pipeline), numerous retail formats (grocery, department, drug, specialty, c-store, restaurant, discount), all kinds of manufacturing companies (agriculture, auto, consumer products), 3^rd party service providers, and management consulting firms. There are tremendous job opportunities in almost every city in the world. Undergraduate starting salaries range from upper $30,000 to $50,000 a year, with a nationwide average of  over $43,364.

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For More Information

Visit the Department of Marketing in Glass Hall 238.
Phone: (417) 836-5413
E-mail: Marketing@missouristate.edu

OR
Dr. John L. Kent
Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program Coordinator
Department of Marketing
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65897
(417) 836-6346
Fax: (417) 836-4466
E-mail: johnkent@missouristate.edu