Case Study Penn State's online supply chain certificate program

By Damon Francis -- Purchasing, 4/5/2001

Penn State boasts that it has the "oldest, largest and most comprehensive program in logistics and supply chain management in the world." The Journal of Business Logistics seems to agree with that assessment and ranked the program #1 in a recent study of educational institutions.

"The Penn State name in business logistics has a lot of brand equity. It is a pioneer in the development of a supply chain curriculum and a Penn State credential lends credibility to any resume. I think the key to the value of any certificate program is whether or not an employer will recognize the program. With Penn State, it is fair to say that the vast majority of supply chain and purchasing professionals (especially in the Northeast) will know of Penn State's reputation in supply chain management and, more important, view it very positively," says Rohan.

The program is tailored for business professionals engaged in the whole gambit of supply chain activities, purchasing agents and representatives, logistics and transportation managers, analysts, planners, operations/warehouse personnel, customer service, order fulfillment and inventory-control managers.

Mike Evanko, who is juggling his participation in the Penn State online program with a contracting career for the Naval Supply Systems Command, says, "working and participating in a Penn State World Learning course is challenging. It takes a commitment to invest in study time on a regular basis, and while it's not easy, it is rewarding. There are many benefits, including a general broadening of my knowledge base and a greater understanding of how the components of the supply chain relate and affect each other. The 'big picture' is a great help in my day-to-day work." He goes on to add, "a certificate in logistics management also helps when it comes time to update my resume." Evanko had nothing but praise for the Penn State professors and the logistics program as a whole.

Admissions requirements: If you are planning to enroll in the Penn State Logistics and Supply Chain Management Graduate Credit Certification Program, you need to have a baccalaureate degree in business, engineering, economics, information sciences or a related field. You will also need to have completed a college-level course in microeconomic principles as part of the degree program and the degrees must have been received from an accredited institution. Penn State will assist anyone not sure of his or her accreditation status.

Cost: Once the tuition, information technology fee, course processing fee, and a whole host of other fees are tallied, the price of one of Penn State's courses should be somewhere in the range of $1,700.

Equipment requirements: This is one of the kickers. The equipment requirements for the program are extensive. From hard-drive space, plug-ins, modem speed, printer capabilities to sound cards and monitor size, the hardware you need to participate in the program is very specific. For a laundry list of equipment requirements or more information about Penn State's online continuing education programs, visit www.worldcampus.psu.edu.