-
Want to Learn More?
What is the Associate in Supply Chain Management Program?
American Public University’s associate degree is designed to prepare students with an overview of supply chains and the systems that make the global flow of goods and services possible.
You can think of the network of suppliers as the links in a chain. This vast network, the supply chain, moves products from the raw materials stage to the production facility, then on to the distributor or retailer, and finally to the customer or user at the end of the chain. But it doesn’t always stop there. When a product needs to be returned, for example, because a garment doesn’t fit, or a machine part arrives damaged or too late, that item must be returned.
Transportation management and logistics are at the core of global supply chain management, encompassing the manufacturing, distribution, retailing, recreation, and national security industries. This supply chain management program focuses on the fundamental principles, policies, trends, and current issues within air, maritime, and ground transportation.
Earning this versatile undergraduate degree may help you advance your knowledge about the field. In addition, it could help you acquire new skills for your current role or an entirely different one.
Why Get the Associate Degree in Supply Chain Management?
You might be considering this program in supply chain management, sometimes referred to as SCM, as you explore new professional paths, or maybe you’re interested in enhancing your knowledge about how a company manages its logistics and supply chain. Maybe you’re at the start of your professional life and want to explore this field. American Public University’s supply chain management program outcomes are designed to help you:
- Satisfy your penchant to learn
- Expand your knowledge to impact decision-making
- Connect with professional peers and expand your network
All three of American Public University’s supply chain management degree programs—associate, bachelor's, and master’s—are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP®)*. You can learn more about all of American Public University’s accreditations here.
Why Does Accreditation Matter?
When you are reviewing programs at different institutions, it can be useful to have a benchmark, or an objective set of standards. Accredited colleges and universities have been evaluated by an unbiased outside entity, typically a regional accrediting organization.
Accredited schools have been evaluated for:
- Academic rigor
- Program effectiveness
- Operational ethics
Accreditation can help show you, potential employers, and other academic institutions that your school meets a universal standard of quality.
Two other important considerations:
- Only accredited colleges and universities may participate in federal financial aid and many other assistance programs for students.
- Other colleges and universities will typically accept transfer credit only from accredited academic institutions.
*ACBSP® is a registered trademark of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Can This Degree Be Earned Online?
American Public University’s associate degree in supply chain management is a fully online program designed specifically for learning in a digital environment. You’ll be guided by professors with real-world experience and who have specific expertise in teaching online courses.
There’s no need for you to be online for scheduled class periods or lectures. Instead, you’ll log in on the days and times that work best for you—day or night—and complete your assignments based on the weekly class schedule. Your assignments will be due at the end of each week.
Benefits of Earning the Associate Degree for Supply Chain Management Online
With a fully online degree program, you can complete your studies when and where it’s most convenient for you. This can be especially helpful when you need to juggle parenting and family responsibilities, professional duties, and your educational goals.
There’s no need to relocate or reschedule your current responsibilities or even travel. You can work toward your degree wherever you happen to be with an internet connection—from your kitchen table, your local coffee shop, or your home office.
In addition to the convenience factor of online programs, there is a valuable educational element. When choosing a fully online degree program, you broaden your network of peers and professionals with whom you learn and collaborate. An online program enables students across the country, even around the globe, to connect and share insight from their diverse perspectives.
Learning online can help you boost your familiarity—or your proficiency—in tech skills, too. Strong technical skills may be particularly useful in helping you prepare for the real-world challenges you might face in your professional life.
What Comes After You Earn the Associate Degree?
An associate degree is designed to help build knowledge and skills often required for entry-level responsibilities related to warehouse management, inventory control, and transportation and logistics. Higher-level capabilities, particularly those related to management, require a combination of experience and a bachelor’s degree.
Your next steps after earning the associate degree will depend on your personal and professional goals. To satisfy interests in supply chain management as well as the transportation and logistics field, there are some certification programs you may want to explore, notably the Certified Supply Chain Certification (CSCP®). American Public University’s degree program may help to prepare you to take the exam for this certification. The exam itself is administered by the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM®).
Several other organizations offer certifications related to supply chain management:
- Institute for Supply Management (ISM)
- Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP®)2
- The International Society of Logistics (SOLE)
- National Contract Management Association (NCMA®)3
- Project Management Institute (PMI®)4
NOTE: Completion of this program does not award any professional certifications, but may be helpful in preparing to seek such certifications.
1CSCP® and ASCM® are registered trademarks of APICS, Inc.
2CSCMP is a registered trademark of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.
3NCMA is a registered trademark of the National Contract Management Association.
4PMI is a registered trademark of the Project Management Institute.
How Do I Pay For My Online Degree?
Financial aid is available in several forms, from private organizations that offer gift funds, from the federal government in the form of grants and loans, and from private entities that offer loans. Here are a few ways to help cover the cost of your education:
While the University itself does not offer scholarships, there are many private organizations that offer gift funds. Scholarships are available based on a variety of different criteria, including particular talents, academic and sports achievement, and association with the sponsor. Learn more about how to find scholarships here.
Because American Public University is an accredited academic institution, you may be eligible for Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs. To see if you qualify, you can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®)*. Learn more about the FSA options here.
*FAFSA® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Education.
Banks, credit unions, and private loan companies offer private loans to help pay for educational goals. Unlike scholarship funds or grants, private loans must be repaid. It’s important to understand the terms and conditions of repayment.
If you’re planning to apply for any type of financial assistance, it’s a good idea to start your applications six weeks before you’d like to start classes. Learn more about how to pay for school.
For those who will pay out of pocket, American Public University accepts credit cards, e-checks, and has an Automatic Debit Plan (ADP) that will space tuition payments out over time to auto-bill to your credit card on a predetermined schedule.
When you enroll in a degree program at a University that accepts transfer credits, you may be able to save some time and money*. For example, our University accepts up to 45 credits toward an associate degree. If you’ve earned 45 credits elsewhere, you may already be three-quarters of the way toward completing this degree1. You can check our no-cost transfer credit evaluation service to find out if your previous education or training is eligible.
You should submit a Transfer Credit Evaluation if you have:
- Professional experience, training, or certification
- Credit by testing
- Government or public safety training
- Previous academic work
Frequently Asked Questions
An SCM degree can help build your knowledge, which may help you meet your personal and professional goals. According to the 2023 Association for Supply Chain Management’s Salary and Career Report, there is a lot of good news for people in SCM roles. Overall, total compensation grew by an average of 3% and supply chain professionals reported high job satisfaction.
If you’re looking for ways to become a leader in your field, associate’s degree in logistics management programs are designed to help prepare you to take on real-world challenges. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an associate degree in logistics management and SCM may be sufficient to enter some jobs as a logistician. Also, BLS states employment of logisticians is projected to grow 28% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. On average, about 24,800 openings for logisticians are projected each year over this decade. Many of those positions are expected to open up to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force for retirement.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, career information accessed February 2023 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/logisticians.htm. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
A typical supply chain program covers all the aspects related to the movement of goods from the manufacturer, distributor, retailer, and customer. Courses in a supply chain degree program usually include a variety of general education (history, arts and humanities, communications, mathematics, natural sciences, civics), marketing, basics of business management, economics, principles of supply chain management, and retail shipping and transportation.
Studying supply chain management can help you build your knowledge in the field. Many of the concepts in supply chain management may be applicable to other industries, too. An SCM degree might be right for you if you’re interested in expanding your skills in strategy, leadership, organization, decision-making, and budgeting.
This degree helps to prepare you with current knowledge that is relevant to businesses of all types. These degree programs are designed to support those who seek to build knowledge associated with these responsibilities:
- Logistics and Supply Chain
- Operations Management
- Purchasing
- Logistics Analysis
- Production Planning
- Storage and Distribution Management
- Warehouse Management
If you are looking to secure a fundamental understanding of logistics and supply chain management, an associate degree may be the answer. The best degree depends on your professional goals. If you want to take your knowledge to the next level, you could pursue an advanced degree. More than half of survey respondents age 29 and younger (53%) majored in supply chain, and about one-third (33%) studied supply chain, according to the Association for Supply Chain Management’s 2023 Supply Chain Salary and Career Report. Other areas of study included Business Administration and Engineering at the undergraduate level and Business Administration and Operations Management at the graduate level.