The key to providing value to our students is to offer them applied learning experiences so they can combine theory and practice and learn from supply chain leaders across a variety of business sectors. To that end, we bring industry to the classroom through internships, guest lecturers, student-assisted real-world projects, contemporary case studies, technology applications, and opportunities for students to observe meetings, problem-solving and real-world data applications.

One college program with a proven method of ensuring value is Marquette University’s Operations & Supply Chain Management program. At the direction of industry professionals, ‘Applied Learning’ is a cornerstone of their program, and it is difficult to avoid the skill requirements of the real world. Applied Learning at Marquette encompasses integrating the classroom into the real world and mandatory internships. Marquette has executed Applied Learning at a high level, and students who complete the program are clearly differentiated.”
-Chris Adams, Executive Director of Value Chain Services, Network Services Company

Applied Procurement Course

Whether in the classroom or on-site, students in the Applied Procurement course work alongside some of the best in the business. Students are taught by experienced procurement professionals for one class period and spend two half-days each week in Milwaukee-area firms working on real-world tasks consistent with the content covered in class. A trifecta of learning occurs for each student, from their company sponsor, their instructor and their peers. This course has realized significant business value for our company partners.

  • Generally offered each Fall and Spring semester
  • Prerequisites to enroll: Personal interview the semester in advance, OSCM 3001: Introduction to Operations & Supply Chain Management

Applied Lean Six Sigma

Led by an experienced professional in Lean and Six Sigma practices, students learn advanced tools of continuous improvement through class work and real-world projects with Marquette University departments and local organizations. Students participate in a continuous improvement project with a team throughout the semester. The students also have the benefit of receiving guidance on their projects from an assigned experienced professional mentor.

  • Generally offered each Fall and Spring semester
  • Prerequisites to enroll: Personal interview the semester in advance, OSCM 3001: Introduction to Operations & Supply Chain Management

How to engage

  • Students: Reach out to the Center for Supply Chain Management to discuss which classes would be appropriate with your schedule. Most classes are designed to be taken by Operations & Supply Chain Management majors and minors.
  • Employers: For more information on how your company can participate in one of the courses above, or additional experiential learning within the Center for Supply Chain Management, please reach out to the associate director, Kelly Wesolowski. Each course is unique in its needs, and we encourage local and national organizations to engage.

Other applied learning opportunities

Through the Operations & Supply Chain Management Club, students connect with industry and stay on top of the latest trends impacting global business. Each year out students visit some of the Midwest’s prominent manufacturing and distribution firms to see supply chain in action. There are also opportunities to gain valuable networking and job interviewing skills. Students are also encouraged to become members in local and national supply chain organizations focused on their areas of interest in the industry.

Events: Participate in additional events geared towards recruitment and engagement with the supply chain industry BizNet – Fall event designed to connect Operations & Supply Chain Management and Information Systems majors with local and national organizations seeking these candidates for internships and full-time roles. Focused on networking, this event sees more than 300 student and employer attendees. Additional events include: Supply Speed Interviewing, Case Competitions, Women in Supply Chain Breakfast

Degree Programs

Undergraduate: Operations & Supply Chain Management Major

Operations & Supply Chain Management Minor

Graduate: MBA with a specialization in Operations & Supply Chain Management