Supply Chain Management major
Supply Chain Management: courses, careers, and where to study
Supply Chain Management studies how goods, information, and money move from suppliers to customers, suiting students who like logistics, data, and operations.
A Supply Chain Management (SCM) major builds on the business core with coursework in logistics, procurement and sourcing, inventory and warehouse management, demand forecasting, transportation, operations management, and supply-chain analytics. Most programs are a 4-year BBA or BS that mixes quantitative methods (statistics, spreadsheet and ERP modeling, optimization) with hands-on study of how real supplier networks are designed and run, often capped by a practicum, simulation, or internship.
Graduates coordinate the flow of materials and products end to end: planning supply against demand, negotiating with vendors, routing freight, and using data to cut cost and delay. The major pairs naturally with Information Technology, Data Science, or general Business coursework, and several professional certifications (such as APICS/ASCM CPIM and CSCP) build on its foundation.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of logisticians, a primary occupation for SCM graduates, to grow 16.7% from 2024 to 2034, with a 2024 median wage of $80,880 and a typical entry-level requirement of a bachelor's degree.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Supply Chain Management maps to CIP 52.0203, Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management, within the BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES family. The official definition:
A program that prepares individuals to manage and coordinate all logistical functions in an enterprise, ranging from acquisitions to receiving and handling, through internal allocation of resources to operations units, to the handling and delivery of output. Includes instruction in acquisitions and purchasing, inventory control, storage and handling, just-in-time manufacturing, logistics planning, shipping and delivery management, transportation, quality control, resource estimation and allocation, and budgeting.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What you'll study
- Logistics and transportation management (modes, routing, freight)
- Procurement, sourcing, and supplier relationship management
- Inventory control and warehouse / distribution operations
- Demand planning and forecasting methods
- Operations and production management
- Supply-chain analytics and spreadsheet/optimization modeling
- Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and process design
- Global sourcing, trade logistics, and supply-chain risk management
Typical careers
- Logistician
- Supply Chain Analyst
- Procurement / Purchasing Specialist
- Operations Manager
- Inventory / Materials Manager
- Logistics Coordinator
Typical salary range: BLS, 2024 logisticians median $80,880Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Supply Chain Management. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.
- Industrial Production Managers
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
- Logisticians
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.
Before you commit to a Supply Chain Management major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Supply Chain Management program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Supply Chain Management department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Supply Chain Management program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Supply Chain Management programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Supply Chain Management by state
- Supply Chain Management in California
- Supply Chain Management in Florida
- Supply Chain Management in Georgia
- Supply Chain Management in Illinois
- Supply Chain Management in Maryland
- Supply Chain Management in Massachusetts
- Supply Chain Management in New York
- Supply Chain Management in North Carolina
- Supply Chain Management in Pennsylvania
- Supply Chain Management in Texas
Related majors
Business Administration
Business Administration is the most popular U.S. major, a broad foundation in accounting, finance, marketing, management, and economics that prepares graduates for nearly any industry.
Information Technology
Information Technology (IT) focuses on applying computing systems to organizational needs, administering networks, supporting users, building business systems, and managing IT operations.
Data Science
Data Science combines statistics, programming, and domain expertise to turn raw data into decisions, drawing on machine learning, visualization, and data engineering.
Economics
Economics studies how individuals, firms, and governments allocate resources, combining theory with empirical analysis and a strong mathematical foundation.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering applies physics, materials, and design to machines and mechanical systems, suiting students who want to build, analyze, and test physical hardware.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Supply Chain Management degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Management careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Business & Finance careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Supply Chain Management degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Supply Chain Management path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.