Supply Chain Management Education in Vermont
In most industries, products follow a trail of events called the supply chain. The supply chain describes each event from a product’s birth to the moment it hits customers’ hands. Products must be designed, produced, shipped, stored and sold. These are all elements of a simple or complex supply chain, but certainly not all of them.
This entire supply chain process must be managed, and each step involves complex logistics. The specialists who manage supply chains are called logisticians, or supply chain managers (SCMs). They monitor, troubleshoot and improve the systems through which products pass on the supply chain.
The goal of logisticians is to maximize company profit, minimize cost and maximize efficiency throughout the entire supply chain process. Twenty-five percent of logisticians work in the manufacturing industry, while other high areas of employment are the federal government and professional services.
The field of supply chain management is expected to increase globally as technology continues to grow and the world relies more on growing industries. Logisticians in the United States can expect a 7 percent increase in employment levels by the year 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This means that job growth in this field is projected to grow at a steady rate compared to other types of jobs.
These professionals are also paid well above the minimum wage in all states, with a median income of $35.86 reported in 2018 by the BLS.
A Bachelor’s Degree Builds Your Business Knowledge
The best way to become a supply chain manager is by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management (SCM) or a related business field. Since Vermont is small, there are no specialized supply chain management bachelor’s programs within the state.
However,Vermont students can major in Business Administration and Business Technology to gain an important business background that’s necessary for logistician careers.
These are some Vermont bachelor’s degree options:
- Saint Michael’s College. Located in Colchester, this school offers a Business Administration bachelor’s degree.Students at this school study core business courses and learn the fundamentals of business while still having the freedom to choose from elective classes. The degree consists of 12 credit-hours in business-specific courses. Learn about the functional areas of business so you can understand the workings of a supply chain in your career as a logistician.
- Vermont Technical College. On the Williston and Randolph Center Campuses, students can earn their Bachelor of Science in Business Technologyand Management Degree. The degree is granted through the School of Professional Studies and Management and takes 120 credit hours to complete.
- Northern Vermont University. This is another school offering a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Business Master’s Program in Vermont
After obtaining your bachelor’s degree and some business experience, you might want to find master’s programs that specialize in the SCM field. It’s hard to find graduate programs specifically tailored to supply chain management within the state of Vermont. Students may want to look in nearby states for specialized SCM master’s programs.
There is one school that offers a business master’s degree: Marlboro College. Located in Marlboro, this school grants either a Master of Business Administration or Master of Science in Management degree. The degrees are 45 credits and 36 credits long, respectively. Both have monthly residency retreats. You can design your own specialty (such as supply chain management) in the MS degree.
Alternative SCM Programs
There are other degrees and certificates in SCM and business studies that take less time to complete than traditional bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.
Sometimes,those who have already graduated with a bachelor’s degree want to complete a post-graduate certificate to get started in the supply chain field quickly.
Other study options include shorter associate degrees in business, which can eventually be bridged into four-year bachelor’s degrees. These are a few alternative educational options for SCM and business in Vermont:
- Champlain College Online. You can earn a Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Managementby studying 12 credit-hours at Champlain. This program provides foundational knowledge in supply chain management for those who have already received their bachelor’s degrees. Admission requirements include a 2.5 GPA, personal essay and resume, among other requirements.
- Landmark College. Located in Putney, this school offers an Associate Degree (AA) in Business Studies. This shorter degree prepares you to continue into a four-year business degree. The entire program lasts 61 credits and includes courses in accounting, management and marketing.
- Northern Vermont University (NVU). This is another school with a two-year degree option in business. The Associate of Science in Business Administration is available on both the Johnson and Lyndon campuses. NVU has an agreement with Clarkson University that allows graduates from this program to complete their MBA within one year at Clarkson.
Professional Logistician Certifications and Credentials
For those who wish to enhance their careers with professional logistician credentials,certification can be sought through APICS, the global leading supply chain management organization.
Employers like seeing APICS credentials on the resumes of logisticians, because they demonstrate a thorough and current understanding of SCM.
APICS will be transitioning into the Association of Supply Chain Management (ACSM), which will take over the certifications in the future. There are currently four credentials which can be earned through APICS.
Logisticians in Vermont: Down to the Details
In 2017, logisticians in Vermont made a median hourly income of $31.85 per hour. The rate at which employment for these specialists is predicted to grow is 6.3 percent by the year 2026. This is right in line with the national employment growth rate predicted by the BLS, at 7 percent.
Location, Location, Location
If you live in Vermont and wonder which places are better for logisticians to work, Burlington seems to be the best spot. In 2018, the highest number of logisticians in the state worked in the Burlington-South Burlington area. Logistician employment rates per 1,000 jobs were the highest in this area as well, and the area’s median income of $34.79 per hour was the highest in the state.
If the field of supply chain sounds like an exciting career option for you, start looking for educational options now. Even if there aren’t specific supply chain management programs in your state, you may be able to find bachelor’s programs that specialize in the field nearby. Even by majoring in other business areas, you will begin learning the basics of the complex field of logistics.