Undergraduate Major - Supply Chain & Operations Management

Confirm
Apply
Visit
Request Information

Supply chain and operations (SCO) professionals manage the flow of goods, services, and information both within and across organizations. In every organization and in every industry, SCO professionals make sure that products get made, services are provided, and customers are satisfied.

  • SCO professionals tackle sustainability challenges, including efficient use of resources and responsible sourcing.
  • SCO professionals take a broad view of business by collaborating across functions and organizations.
  • SCO professionals are practical problem solvers and figure out better ways to get work done.
  • SCO professionals are curious about how things work and like to be hands-on.
  • SCO professionals have diverse career options, ranging from positions using strong people-facing communication skills to positions that require detailed analytics.

Major Curriculum

View the full Supply Chain and Operations Management Major catalog:

First-year students entering Fall 2022:

Supply Chain and Operations Management Major Program Requirements and Course Descriptions

Students entering prior to Fall 2022 and transfer students entering prior to Fall 2023:

Prior to Fall 2022 Supply Chain and Operations Management Major Program Requirements and Course Descriptions

 

Minor Curriculum

View the full Supply Chain and Operations Management Minor catalog:

Supply Chain and Operations Management Minor Program Requirements and Course Descriptions

Four-year Plan

Supply Chain & Operations Management Major Sample Plan

The APAS is the official method for tracking the completion of your specific degree requirements. Please be aware that there are multiple ways for students to progress through this major. This is just one sample. Students should work with their advisor to develop their individual plan.

Italic: course pre-requisites and co-requisites (designated by &)

Bold: Liberal Ed requirement

Print Plan

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

  • Econ 1165 Business Economics (Soc Sci) (4cr)
  • BA 2551 Business Statistics in R (Math) (4cr)
  • BA 1011 Leading Self & Teams (2cr)
  • BA 1021 Design Your Life (1cr)
  • Writ 1301 First Year Writing (4cr)

15 credits

Spring Semester

  • Acct 2051 Financial Reporting (4cr)
  • BA 2051 Solving Business Scenarios in Excel (2cr)
  • BA 2062 Powerful Problem Solving (2cr)
  • Design Your Career (1cr)
  • BA 2005 Corporate Responsibility & Ethics (Civ) (3cr) 
  • Liberal Ed (3-4cr)

15-16 credits

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

Maroon Block I-Core

  • Mktg 3001 Principles of Marketing (3cr)
  • IDSc 3001 Information Systems & Digital Transformation (3cr)
  • BA 3001 Race, Power, & Justice in Business (RPJ) (3cr)
  • Acct 3001 Strategic Management Accounting (3cr)
  • BA 3051 Data-Driven Business Decisions (BA 2551 & BA 2051) (3cr)

15 credits

Spring Semester

Gold Block I-Core

  • Fina 3001 Finance Fundamentals (Acct 2051 & BA 2551) (3cr)
  • Mgmt 3004 Strategic Management (3cr)
  • SCO 3001 Sustainable Supply Chain Management (3cr)
  • HRIR 3021 Human Capital Management (3cr)
  • BA 3062 Impact Lab Project (BA 2062) (2cr)

14 credits

Declare a major: 
z.umn.edu/CarlsonDeclare

Junior Year

Fall Semester

  • BA 3551 Business Analytics (BA 2551 & BA 2051) (3cr)
  • SCO 3056 Supply Chain Planning & Control (SCO 3001) (4cr)
  • SCO 3059 Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma (SCO 3001) (4cr)
  • Liberal Ed (4cr)

15 credits

Spring Semester

  • BA 3033W Business Communication (3cr)
  • SCO 3045 Sourcing and Supply Management (SCO 3001) (2cr)
  • SCO 3048 Transportation and Logistics Management (SCO 3001) (2cr)
  • Liberal Ed (3cr)
  • Liberal Ed (3cr)
  • Elective (3cr)

15 credits

Senior Year

Fall Semester

  • SCO 3072 Managing Technologies in the Supply Chain (SCO 3001) (2cr)
  • SCO elective (4cr) 
  • Liberal Ed (4cr)
  • Liberal Ed (3cr)
  • Liberal Ed (3cr)

16 credits

Spring Semester

  • SCO 4065W Capstone: Supply Chain & Operations Strategy (SCO 3056, 3059 & 4 SCO electives) (4cr)
  • Liberal Ed (3cr)
  • Elective (4cr)
  • Elective (4cr)

15 credits

Total Credits Needed for Degree: 120


Note: Students must complete an international experience as part of the program requirements. Short-term programs or semester-length programs may be used to meet this requirement. Explore your options: z.umn.edu/CarlsonIE

Jared Meyers

I chose to major in Supply Chain & Operations Management because the field combines mathematical thinking and analytics to solve planning-based problems with outreach on a global scale. I appreciate how the professional opportunities within this realm are limitless, with potential roles in procurement, logistics, operations, and strategic control, all of which contribute to the efficient flow of goods and services.

Jared Meyers, '26 BSB

Frequently Asked Questions

Think of every product you love—from your favorite sneakers to the phone in your pocket. Supply chain is the journey that gets those products from a factory halfway across the world directly into your hands.

It’s all about problem-solving on a global scale. You’ll learn how to manage the flow of goods and information to make sure businesses are efficient, responsible, and ready to meet customer needs. Whether it’s finding sustainable sources or streamlining a warehouse, you’ll be the one making sure the world keeps moving.
 

Our classes give you a front-row seat to how businesses actually work. You won’t just read about logistics; you’ll gain a complete, hands-on view of the entire process, from working with global suppliers to delivering the final product to a happy customer.

You’ll start with the basics of data and then dive into real-world projects. You’ll learn how to plan supply chains, ensure top-notch quality, and develop smart sourcing strategies. Plus, you’ll get to take your learning global through Carlson’s required international experience, seeing how trade works in different countries firsthand.
 

You can step into exciting roles like a sourcing specialist, a demand planner, or an inventory analyst. Because Carlson has strong connections in the Twin Cities, our students often land roles at major companies like Target, 3M, and Medtronic, where they help manage some of the most complex supply chains on the planet.
 

FIND MORE SUPPLY CHAIN AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT KEY CAREER INFO

Yes, and they are incredibly useful tools! You’ll learn how to use data to tell a story and make smart decisions. We’ll help you get comfortable with Excel modeling and data tools like R, showing you exactly how industry leaders use technology to track performance and solve real-world problems.
 

The National Undergraduate Supply Chain and Operations Case Competition, hosted at Carlson, is an opportunity where Carlson students solve real world corporate challenges and network with top-tier supply chain executives. Additionally, you can join the student-led Supply Chain and Operations club to build community, your leading local corporations, and connect with peers and professionals in the industry. 

  • SCO 3001 is a prerequisite for all other SCO classes.

Contact Undergraduate Program