Supply Chain Management Degrees in North Carolina

North Carolina is an excellent state for students considering a supply chain management degree. With plenty of outdoor spaces, major cities, and the Atlantic Ocean nearby, the state has much to offer.

Both the aerospace and pharma industries are rapidly growing, allowing for multiple specialties and career options around manufacturing, global transportation, and procurement.

Continue reading to learn about the state’s supply chain industry, educational opportunities, and a comprehensive list of available supply chain programs in North Carolina.

The Supply Chain Industry in North Carolina

Situated on North Carolina’s Atlantic coast are two large ports with extensive warehousing and storage: Wilmington and Morehead City. The Port of Wilmington offers around 101,000 square feet of cold storage, and Morehead City’s port is only four miles from the ocean.

Also part of the port system is the Charlotte Inland Port which provides easy access for distributing grounded containers to major highways and interstates.

The North Carolina Global Transpark contains a multimodal industrial park and airport to support a variety of manufacturing and logistic needs in the state. It’s also home to one of the five Foreign Trade Zones in the state, allowing for the import of foreign goods into a duty-free zone.

Study Supply Chain Management in North Carolina

Whether a student is looking for undergraduate, graduate, or supply chain-related certificates, they will find plenty of options in North Carolina.

Undergraduate Programs

North Carolina State University’s BSBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management helps students understand complex topics such as process performance measures, ethics in procurement, and operations planning. The business school includes an NCSU Supply Chain Club and a Supply Chain Resource Cooperative to connect students with professionals.

Meanwhile, Belmont Abbey College’s BA in Supply Chain Management encourages critical thinking and decision-making while exploring the ethical aspects of supply chain processes. Two internships are required to complete the degree.

A business major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill can pursue a concentration in Operations Management that also provides general business education with classes like Corporate Communication, Corporate Strategy, and Business Analytical Applications.

For the analytically minded student, a BS degree is the way to go. North Carolina Wesleyan University has a BS in Supply Chain Management that incorporates well-rounded business-related coursework like financial accounting, management information systems, and operations management. Another option is North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, which offers a degree in Supply Chain Management and is a nationally ranked program.

If online coursework is a must, there are three schools to choose from. Appalachian State University offers an online BSBA in Supply Chain Management that provides access to the Appalachian Supply Chain Club and Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, as well as the opportunity for students to obtain their Six Sigma Green Belt Certification.

To obtain a BS online, students can choose between the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, which offers a major in Information Systems and Supply Chain Management, and East Carolina University, which offers a BS in Industrial Distribution and Logistics.

Graduate Programs

When it comes to graduate programs, North Carolina has options for MBAs, master’s degrees, and PhDs.

Students looking to get ahead in their careers may want to pursue an MBA with a focus on supply chain management. Both the University of North Carolina Wilmington and the University of North Carolina Pembroke have online MBAs that take as little as 12 months. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill MBA can go up to 36 months and is ranked as the #1 MBA program by U.S. News & World Report.

For either an online or in-person MBA, Appalachian State University has concentrations in Business Analytics, Supply Chain Management, and Sustainable Business, as well as offering an MS in Supply Chain Analytics.

Ph.D. options include Duke University for Operations Management and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for Operations, Supply Chain, and Data Analytics.

Certificates/Continuing Education

North Carolina schools offer two graduate certificate options. The University of North Carolina Greensboro has an online, part-time Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management for professionals looking to gain relevant knowledge that can also help prep them for the APICS exams. East Carolina University also offers an online Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management aimed at professionals wanting to continue to the MBA program.

North Carolina State University’s Operations and Supply Chain Management Certificate is for students who have been in the workforce for at least two years after a four-year bachelor’s degree. With 12 credit hours, students will be prepared for a new career or advancement in their current role.