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Master of Science in Supply Chain and Operations Management

There is an explosive growth in supply chain and operations challenges, arising from globalization, big data, e-commerce, social media, mobile technologies and automation.

Be a part of the evolving and rapidly expanding field of supply chain and operations.

The UIC Business Liautaud Graduate School MS in Supply Chain and Operations Management Program is a STEM-designated program* directed at meeting the growing demand for professionals in supply chain and operations. It will provide you with foundational knowledge in the areas of analytical modeling, enterprise systems, and analytic and business intelligence, all while developing your leadership skills with a global context *(CIP Code 52.1399).

As a student, you will study in the heart of Chicago – a major hub for supply chain and operations. As a Carnegie R1 research institution, your faculty will be both researchers and professionals at the forefront of this in-demand discipline.

GMAT/GRE Requirement Heading link

For fall 2024 applicants, the MS in Supply Chain and Operations Management program offers GMAT/GRE waivers for the following:

  • 3.0 or better cumulative GPA from a U.S. college or university
  • 3+ years of work experience for domestic or international graduates
  • Current students and recent alums of the U of I system who qualify through Guaranteed Admissions

Please complete the GMAT/GRE Waiver Request Form to find out if you qualify. Please note that competitive GMAT/GRE scores may help your chances of admission and being awarded merit aid.

Cutting-Edge Curriculum

Fast-paced program, flexible schedule
The 32-credit hour program can be completed in one year of full-time study, or more than one year of part-time study. Students may be assigned additional prerequisite coursework depending upon their academic and professional background.* The program offers a flexible structure and schedule to allow completion while students are working full-time. The broad choice of electives enables the students to customize the curriculum to specific career or company interests.

Unique Format
The distinguishing feature of our program is its blend of business and functional knowledge, with technical and analytical skills, systems thinking, leadership capabilities and global orientation.

The program is designed to prepare you for a variety of career opportunities including supply analyst, procurement analyst, quality officer, and management roles. The curriculum can be applied in a range of industries including manufacturing, transportation and logistics, retail, pharmaceutical, and healthcare.

Experiential Learning
The MS in Supply Chain and Operations Management incorporates a practicum capstone experience course where students work with a client organization on supply chain and operations issues. This course integrates course material with project work that involves either detailed study of supply chain and operations strategy and practice in organizations, or development of supply chain related solutions for specific problems.

Who should enroll?

We encourage applicants with undergraduate degrees from business and other disciplines who seek specialized knowledge and training to work in varied business roles addressing supply chain and operations, as well as working professionals looking to enhance their skills and capabilities in this field.

More Information

  • *For a full list of requirements including prerequisites, visit the UIC Catalog.
  • Full a full list of courses offered, visit the Course Catalog.
  • For tuition and fees information, visit the Tuition page.

Explore Degree Requirements

Program Faculty Heading link

Featured Courses Heading link

IDS 552 Supply Chain Management

Strategic design of the supply network; demand and supply planning, inventory analysis, aggregate planning, transportation planning, sourcing, revenue management; operational control of materials and information flows; strategies to manage supply chain risk. Data and analytical methods for supply chain decisions.

IDS 544 Global Sourcing & Logistics

International trade theory, exporting and importing of goods; transportation, distribution and business infrastructure. Issues covered include terms of payment and trade, exchange rate exposure hedges, international insurance, customs clearance, agency and distributorship sales contracts, packaging, transportation, risk and security.

IDS 555 Applied Supply Chain Strategy & Practice

Projects and case studies to synthesize knowledge acquired across the program and learn how to apply learned concepts and skills to practical problems. Experiential learning through client based project. Operations and supply chain related issues in the context of enterprise strategy.

IDS 553 Supply Chain Analytics & Decision Models

Modeling and state-of-the-art analytics relevant to logistics and supply chain functions, including warehouse management, distribution management, transportation. Methods, tools and case studies are utilized to facilitate learning and hands-on training. Contemporary considerations such as last-mile delivery routing and same-day delivery, crowdsourcing, sustainability.

IDS 571 Quality Control & Lean Process Management

Tools and techniques to improve quality and process management in an organization. Planning and analyses of data to understand quality and operational performance. Application of process control techniques, statistical methods. Six Sigma Green Belt Certification.

IDS 535 Vendor Management

Fundamentals of vendor management and contracting, including procurement process, vendor selection, contracts, negotiation, relationship management, offshoring, service level agreements governance.

Joint Degrees

Graduate Certificate

A Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain and Operations Management is also available consisting of 16 credit hours. Your coursework will focus on such topics as production planning, inventory control, technology, warehouse management, quality control, supplier selection, procurement and managing supplier relationships.  Courses will take a case-oriented and problem solving approach imparting marketable skills in operations and supply chain management. Click here for admission and program requirements.