Supply Chain Management Frequently Asked Questions

The need for emerging supply chain talent continues to grow at a rapid pace. The MSSCM Program equips students with the knowledge base and strategic mindset to fill this talent gap. The MSSCM Program elevates core supply chain topics to a strategic level and incorporates emerging trends in the field, shaping future leaders who harness an end-to-end understanding of supply chains to deliver value for their organizations.

This program helps students strengthen the strategic and analytical capabilities needed to manage supply chains from end to end. The result is a learning experience that is rigorous, relevant, and offers enduring value. This one-year, intensive program caters to working professionals with predominantly in-person evening courses, in concert with online classes and condensed courses on select weekends. Students complete 32 credits throughout the fall, spring, and summer semesters in the cohort-based program, which begins in August each year.

The MSSCM Program accelerates students’ careers in a growing field, whether these professionals are looking to advance in their current organization or are seeking a new challenge.

We are unable to provide specific program comparisons, but we encourage students to research schools with similar programs and talk to someone in their program office for more information. 

To aid in your research, here are some key highlights of the MSSCM program and Carlson School as a whole. 

• The cohort model is widely acknowledged by our students as a significant perk and advantage in the program, providing an unmatched opportunity to learn from others in the field across sectors and industries, all while growing your professional network. Classmates collaborate and provide support while also holding each other accountable, forming strong bonds that endure well beyond graduation.
• Starting from day one, leadership development is at the core of the program. Leadership sessions are incorporated throughout the yearlong program, empowering students to assess themselves at the start, identify strengths, create a personalized development plan, and measure growth. Students receive coaching from a leadership expert who helps them learn how to lead others, lead beyond boundaries, and continue growing as a leader long after graduation.
• Experiential learning through the Global Operations Strategy capstone is another highlight, where students work directly with companies to solve real-world business problems. Here, not only do you get to apply the knowledge and skills you've gained in the program, but you also get to network with companies and learn about other industries and sectors. 
• Broadly speaking the Carlson Business Career Center (CBCC) provides personalized support for our students in seeking new roles and developing within their career. Graduates of the Carlson School have access to the GBCC for life.

Furthermore, the school's reputation, rankings, and alumni network go a long way in helping our graduates succeed.

The Master of Science in Supply Chain Management is not a Master of Business Administration (MBA) but is a Master of Science (MS) degree.

The Master of Science in Supply Chain Management (MSSCM) program requires a minimum of three years full-time professional work experience. The program provides a deep dive into supply chain management, cultivating an end-to-end understanding of supply chains, enhancing your leadership abilities, and honing the skills you need to drive success for your organization. This MSSCM program is a full-time, one-year program with classes in the evening and online, designed primarily for working professionals.

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) typically requires a few years of work experience for program admission. The program provides a great breadth of business knowledge, with courses ranging from strategic management to accounting, marketing, finance, and other key subjects. Students have the option to specialize in a subject-area, but the bulk of coursework is designed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of management analysis and business strategy. Visit the Carlson School’s MBA website to learn more. 

If you are still unsure which program is the right fit for you, please schedule an appointment with our admissions advising and recruiting team to discuss your options.

No, there are no dual degrees offered with this program. However, some of our students choose to complete the MSSCM and a Full-Time MBA degree consecutively over a three-year period. Historically these graduates have completed the Full-Time MBA before enrolling in the MSSCM program. Individuals who pursue this course of study have the opportunity to transfer up to 8 credits from the MBA into the MSSCM program. Any other duplicate coursework can be replaced with an additional elective but cannot be transferred. If you are interested in completing the Full-Time MBA and then the MSSCM program, please reach out to the MBA Admissions and Recruiting team at ftmba@umn.edu for more information on beginning your application to the Full-Time MBA program.

The one-year lockstep, cohort-based MS Supply Chain Management program is the only highly specialized supply chain graduate degree currently offered at the Carlson School of Management. Alternatively, there is the lock-step Full-Time or more flexible Online or Part-Time Master of Business Administration (MBA) program where students can take a small selection of specialized or elective courses in supply chain, or the Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) which broadly covers business subjects with 1-2 supply chain courses.

You are not required to have an undergraduate degree, coursework, or work experience in supply chain, operations, or logistics. 

A minimum of three years of full-time, professional work experience is required for admission consideration to our Master of Science in Supply Chain Management program. Internships do not count toward this requirement. There are no exceptions. Students in the program have an average of 8-10 years of work experience, with a range from 3 years up to 30+ years.

No. The Master of Science in Supply Chain management program is a primarily in-person, on-campus program with only a select number of courses offered online. This program is not designed for distance or remote learning.

The MS in Supply Chain Management program is a STEM-designated degree program. STEM-designated programs are those selected by the U.S. Customs & Immigration Services as providing an in-depth curriculum in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Students graduating from a STEM-designated program have an additional 24 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT), totaling 36 months beyond graduation. Please visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website for up to date information about OPT. The program may also authorize CPT (Curricular Practical Training) during degree completion.

Yes, the MS in Supply Chain Management program is available to international students. The program can issue F1 student visas but also enrolls students who are sponsored on other visas, such as a spousal or work visa. Note that the program is primarily designed for working professionals, so classes are held in the evenings, over weekends, and online. This format can feel less conventional for our international students, who often pursue some form of employment to fill daytime hours.

Full details regarding admissions and application requirements are available on the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management website.

The admissions committee will conduct a holistic review by considering your past academic performance (transcripts for any post-secondary coursework and GPA), standardized test scores (if applicable), professional experience, current resume, personal statement, and recommendations.

We do not have minimum requirements for GPA. 

There are two prerequisites for the MS in Supply Chain Management program: applicants must have an equivalent to a 4-year U.S. bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and they must also have at least three years of full-time professional work experience at the time of application submission. Internships are not included. You can find more information about this requirement on our Application Requirements webpage.

No. All applicants must have at least three years of full-time professional work experience before applying to the program.

To be considered for admission, the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management program requires a first university degree that is an equivalent to a 4-year U.S. bachelor's degree. Students with a 3-year degree from India do not satisfy this minimum requirement and must complete an additional year of accredited post-baccalaureate study before submitting an application to the program.

International and domestic applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English language proficiency. For additional details regarding this requirement, please visit the International Applicants webpage.

The GMAT or GRE is not required for admission consideration to the MS in Supply Chain Management program, so no waiver is needed.

Applicants do not need to convert their GPA or CGPA or grads to a 4.0 or other grading scale. Simply provide these marks and evaluations only on the grading scale as it was awarded by your educational institution.

We require two recommendations for application to the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management program. These recommendations can be from any combination of professional and academic recommenders, though we suggest that at least one recommendation come from a supervisor if you have professional experience. We partner with GMAC for the Common Letter of Recommendation, which is a form for recommenders to fill out. Actual written letters are not required, although there is a section for recommenders to upload an official letter, if desired.

Your application will not be considered complete until at least two recommendations are received. This means all recommendations must be received before the deadline for which you would like to be considered.

All applicants for the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management program are required to submit an application fee. The application fee will be automatically waived for any applicants who have served on active duty in the U.S. military.

Admission interviews are by invitation only. Not all applicants will be interviewed. Interviews may be conducted on campus or virtually via Zoom. The interview is approximately 30-45 minutes in length and aimed at better understanding a candidate’s academic and professional background. You should treat the interview as you would a job interview. Appropriate attire is business professional. We do not provide any additional information regarding interview content.

Every year the online application and any updated requirements are posted on the website in September. So for someone applying for Fall 2025 admission consideration, the online application would be available in September 2024.

Current application deadlines and decision timelines can be found on our Application Requirements webpage. 

Applications are reviewed in batches after each deadline has passed. Applications submitted in between rounds are typically not reviewed until the next deadline has passed. After each deadline, applicants can expect to receive an admission decision within approximately two months.

The Carlson School of Management does not publish admission rates. Please refer to the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management class profile to gauge your competitiveness for the program.

Note that the admissions committee will conduct a holistic review by considering your past academic performance (transcripts for any post-secondary coursework and GPA), standardized test scores (if applicable), professional experience, current resume, personal statement, and recommendations.

Please refer to the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management class profile for the typical cohort size. We do not have a student quota.

We do not offer conditional admission to the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management program. All admission requirements must be met at the time of application for admission consideration.

If you are admitted and need to defer enrollment, please reach out to msscm@umn.edu to discuss your options.

No, students who enroll in either the MSSCM or Full-Time MBA program are expected to complete the full program as intended. The curriculum, course timeline, program structure, and cohort model are not designed to accommodate students moving between programs.

A separate application is required for each program. Please contact the specific program or visit their website for additional information about submitting an application. Applications from other programs cannot be considered for the MSSCM program.

If there are application materials you’d like to use across programs, such as Recommendations, please reach out to the program office at msscm@umn.edu to see if this is possible.

A breakdown of the tuition and fee costs can be found here. 

Yes, this program is eligible for the reciprocity agreements the University has with the states of Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the province of Manitoba, Canada.