BSBA in Supply Chain Management

For more than a decade, Duquesne University has offered the region's premier supply chain management program. Today, Duquesne still maintains the only program in Western Pennsylvania that is administered by an internationally accredited school of business.

Our A.J. Palumbo School of Business and John F. Donahue Graduate School of Business are among an elite 5 percent of business schools worldwide that meet the rigorous academic standards necessary to earn accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.

Broad-Based Curriculum

Many supply chain management programs focus on preparing students for "niche" areas, such as logistics or purchasing. However, Duquesne provides students with greater opportunities by offering a broad-based curriculum that emphasizes the importance of integrating supply chain activities. Our graduates have the skills to pursue careers in a number of supply chain specializations. Upon graduation, students are able to:

• Develop measurable, strategic plans for supply chain
  management
• Evaluate suppliers and manage all aspects of the relationship
  with suppliers
• Schedule the activities necessary for production and monitor
  quality and productivity
• Coordinate all logistics necessary for transporting goods
  to customers
• Manage networks for receiving defective or excess products
  that are returned from customers

Gaining Hands-On Experience & Networking

Beyond the classroom, supply chain management students gain valuable experience and insights through educational visits with local companies. Three times a semester, students can take half-day trips to conduct on-site reviews of supply chain management processes in a variety of industries.

To build their professional portfolios, students can earn an achievement certificate by completing a research paper examining the company's supply chain. Their portfolios are further strengthened by internship experiences, which we strongly encourage. The program has been highly successful at placing students in paid internships throughout the local business community.

On-campus, students can participate in Supply Chain Forums featuring guest speakers who address current trends in supply chain management. These Forums provide opportunities for discussion and the exchange of ideas among regional business professionals and our students. Recent topics have included the impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley law on supply chain activities, effective inventory management and the impact of technology on procurement.

Students also have the opportunity to network with supply chain professionals and learn about industry trends through participation in several organizations, including:

• Duquesne University Supply Chain Council
  The Council is a student-run organization that provides opportunities for students to gain experience, network with industry professionals and enhance their professional development.
• The Association for Operations Management (APICS)
  Duquesne hosts a student chapter of this organization, which specializes in sharing production and inventory management information with its members.
• Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
  Through Duquesne's involvement with the local chapter, it participates in the annual College Challenge that allows our students to compete with universities around the country. This event demonstrates the depth of their supply chain management knowledge.
• Institute for Supply Chain Management
  Many students are active members in this organization, which
  offers an annual scholarship exclusively to a Duquesne supply chain management student.
• Traffic Club of Pittsburgh
  Pittsburgh's Traffic Club annually awards four scholarships to students studying supply chain management. Our students have established an excellent track record of earning at least two or three of these scholarships each year.

Executive Connections