MS in Supply Chain Management
The Master of Science in Supply Chain Management program at Boston University’s Metropolitan College provides the analytical basis for the design, optimization, operation, and improvement of a global supply chain. The curriculum provides comprehensive coverage of quantitative tools to support decisionmaking in complex, ever-changing supply chain environments. These tools include time series data analytics, mathematical optimization, simulation, statistical and financial analysis, regression, lean methods, and control charting. The application of these tools supports capacity and inventory buffering, customer flow analysis, demand forecasting, risk assessment, queue modeling, quality assurance, and Six Sigma process improvement. Particular attention is given to recent tendencies in supply chain digitalization and sustainability efforts with the prevalence of global pandemic and climate change impacts. Students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through an industrial-based capstone project and earn a Six Sigma Green Belt. All students joining the program are supported by several self-paced laboratories that prepare them for the analytical curriculum, including mathematics and statistics and associated software applications.
This program requires an average of 8–16 months to complete. Students may begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer term.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrated ability to use interlinked data inputs, analytics, and systems to support decisionmaking in a supply chain that is geographically dispersed and culturally diverse.
- The ability to utilize financial statements and apply a systematic process-oriented approach to evaluating quality in manufacturing and service supply chains using statistical calculations.
- The ability to apply statistical methods to supply chain problems such as demand forecasting, quality control, risk analysis, safety stock calculations, and inventory aggregation.
- The ability to apply analytical methods to supply chain problems such as inventory optimization, stochastic inventory models, facility location optimization, capacity analysis, queueing theory, and delivery optimization.
- The ability to utilize mathematical modeling and optimization theory by choosing the appropriate quantitative tools to support supply chain operations.
Admissions Information
For current admissions information, please visit the Metropolitan College website.
Degree Requirements
Each student in the program will have access to the following free self-paced laboratories: Mathematics with Applications in Management (MwAM) and Statistics with Applications in Management (SwAM).
A total of eight courses (32 units) is required, as follows:
Core Courses (four courses/16 units)
- MET AD 519 Operations and Process Analysis*
- MET AD 632 Financial Concepts
- MET AD 680 Global Supply Chains
- MET AD 715 Quantitative and Qualitative Decision-Making
Electives (four courses/16 units)
Students not choosing a concentration in Analytics, Logistics Management, or Risk Management must select four courses from the following list:
- MET AD 510 Mathematics and Statistics in Management
- MET AD 690 Supply Chain Logistics
- MET AD 725 Negotiations and Organizational Conflict Resolution
- MET AD 734 Six Sigma Quality Methods*
- MET AD 760 International Trade and Logistics
- MET AD 804 Capstone Project for Supply Chain Management**
*Students who take MET AD 734 and meet specific performance standards will earn Six Sigma Green Belt certification. Students who take MET AD 519 and MET AD 734 and meet specific performance standards will earn a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
**Upon discussion with the program coordinator. Must have completed at least six courses.
Concentrations
Analytics
Students in the Analytics concentration will learn to apply descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytical methods to supply networks using R programming language and other specialized programming languages. They will utilize mathematical modeling and optimization theory by choosing the appropriate quantitative tools to support supply chain operations. The program will equip students with systematic process-oriented approaches to evaluate supply chain performance using statistical modeling with Six Sigma principles and techniques.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrated ability to use interlinked data inputs, analytics, and systems to support decisionmaking in a supply chain that is geographically dispersed and culturally diverse.
- The ability to utilize financial statements, create performance metrics, develop inspection systems, and evaluate performance in manufacturing, service, and business processes using statistical calculations and displays.
- The ability to apply descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytical methods to supply networks, including optimization, simulation, forecasting, risk analysis, queueing models, using R programming language and other specialized programming languages.
- The ability to utilize mathematical modeling and optimization theory by choosing the appropriate quantitative tools to support supply chain operations.
- The ability to apply a systematic process-oriented approach to evaluating supply chain quality using statistical modeling with Six Sigma principles and techniques.
Concentration Requirements
In addition to the MS in Supply Chain Management degree core courses (16 units), students pursuing a concentration in Analytics must also take the following:
(four courses/16 units)
- MET AD 571 Business Analytics Foundations
- MET AD 616 Enterprise Risk Analytics
- MET AD 734 Six Sigma Quality Methods*
- One course selected from the following:
- MET AD 510 Mathematics and Statistics in Management
- MET AD 654 Marketing Analytics
- MET AD 688 Cloud Analytics for Business
- MET AD 690 Supply Chain Logistics
- MET AD 699 Data Mining for Business Analytics
- MET AD 804 Capstone Project for Supply Chain Management**
*Students who take MET AD 734 and meet specific performance standards will earn Six Sigma Green Belt certification. Students who take MET AD 519 and MET AD 734 and meet specific performance standards will earn a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
**Upon discussion with the program coordinator. Must have completed at least six courses.
Logistics Management
Students in the Logistics Management concentration will learn to analyze alternative inventory, storage, and distribution networks using mathematical and statistical tools to forecast demand, calculate safety stock, consider inventory aggregation, compare alternative transportation modes, and evaluate operational risks. They will learn the foundations of international trade, import/export regulations, international tariffs, and other global trade mechanisms. The program will equip students with systematic process-oriented approaches to evaluating supply chain performance using statistical modeling with Six Sigma principles and techniques.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrated ability to use interlinked data inputs, analytics, and systems to support decisionmaking in a supply chain that is geographically dispersed and culturally diverse.
- The ability to use optimization theory and mathematical techniques to design and coordinate supply chain transportation systems in multiple directions across closed-loop global supply networks, while reducing shipping and storage costs.
- The ability to utilize financial statements, plan import/export transactions, and create strategies to take advantage of global macroeconomic trends while managing logistic supplier relationships, including supply chain consortiums and joint ventures.
- The ability to analyze alternative inventory, storage, and distribution networks using mathematical and statistical tools to forecast demand, calculate safety stock, consider inventory aggregation, compare alternative transportation modes, and evaluate operational risks.
- The ability to apply a systematic process-oriented approach to evaluating supply chain quality using statistical modeling with Six Sigma principles and techniques.
Concentration Requirements
In addition to the MS in Supply Chain Management degree core courses (16 units), students pursuing a concentration in Logistics Management must also take the following:
(four courses/16 units)
- MET AD 690 Supply Chain Logistics
- MET AD 734 Six Sigma Quality Methods*
- MET AD 760 International Trade and Logistics
- One course selected from the following:
- MET AD 510 Mathematics and Statistics in Management
- MET AD 725 Negotiations and Organizational Conflict Resolution
- MET AD 804 Capstone Project for Supply Chain Management**
*Students who take MET AD 734 and meet specific performance standards will earn Six Sigma Green Belt certification. Students who take MET AD 519 and MET AD 734 and meet specific performance standards will earn a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
**Upon discussion with the program coordinator. Must have completed at least six courses.
Risk Management
Students in the Risk Management concentration will learn to evaluate cost and resource requirements associated with major supply chain initiatives that require careful project planning, including statistical analysis of uncertainties that create operational risks. They will quantify supply chain risks in terms of their likelihood and impacts so that appropriate mitigation strategies can be implemented. The program will equip students with systematic process-oriented approaches to evaluate supply chain performance using statistical modeling with Six Sigma principles and techniques.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrated ability to use interlinked data inputs, analytics, and systems to support decisionmaking in a supply chain that is geographically dispersed and culturally diverse.
- The ability to utilize financial statements and use quantitative analysis tools to create a resilient supply chain by assessing the threats and vulnerabilities faced by a global supply chain decisionmaker, including impacts of climate change, pandemics, cybersecurity, and the global economy.
- The ability to utilize mathematical modeling and optimization theory by choosing the appropriate quantitative tools to support supply chain operations.
- The ability to evaluate cost and resource requirements associated with major supply chain initiatives that require careful project planning, including statistical analysis of uncertainties that create operational risks.
- The ability to apply a systematic process-oriented approach to evaluating supply chain quality using statistical modeling with Six Sigma principles and techniques.
Concentration Requirements
In addition to the MS in Supply Chain Management degree core courses (16 units), students pursuing a concentration in Risk Management must also take the following:
(four courses/16 units)
- MET AD 503 Enterprise Risk Management
- MET AD 617 Business Continuity Management
- MET AD 734 Six Sigma Quality Methods*
- One course selected from the following:
- MET AD 510 Mathematics and Statistics in Management
- MET AD 614 Disaster Management
- MET AD 618 Technology Risk Management
- MET AD 690 Supply Chain Logistics
- MET AD 725 Negotiations and Organizational Conflict Resolution
- MET AD 782 Project Value Strategies
- MET AD 804 Capstone Project for Supply Chain Management**
*Students who take MET AD 734 and meet specific performance standards will earn Six Sigma Green Belt certification. Students who take MET AD 519 and MET AD 734 and meet specific performance standards will earn a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
**Upon discussion with the program coordinator. Must have completed at least six courses.
