Courses and Descriptions
GSC 115 Introduction to Global Supply Chain Mgt. 3 Credits
This course introduces students to components of global supply chains and issues of managing the global supply chain. It is designed as a survey course to give first or second year business students a general view of supply chain management at both domestic and international levels, as well as familiarize them with basic concepts and major challenges of supply chain management. Delivery of course material will include lectures and guest speakers from industry, and in-class logistics mini cases.
GSC 235 Supply Chain External Focus: Customer and Supplier Logistics 3 Credits
This course is a detailed discussion of some of the major issues and components of supply chain management that are mainly external to an organization. In other words, it provides an “outward looking” perspective of supply chain management. Topics to be covered include sourcing, procurement, transportation, customer logistics, and distribution. The linkages to internal issues and components of supply chain will be made.
Prerequisite(s): GSC 115.
GSC 290 Strategic Sourcing and Procurement 3 Credits
Sourcing and procurement are vital components of a well-functioning and efficient supply chain. Obtaining raw materials, components, finished and semi-finished goods, critical technology, and essential services from different suppliers and countries with different languages, currencies, legal and cultural norms is a complex and risky task and made essential due to the value of these activities to the bottom-line of any global business today. Additionally, globalization raises issues involving not just costs but reliability, quality, credibility, product safety, product liability, and related social, ethical, governance, and environmental impact. In this course, students will learn and apply the concepts, principles, and techniques required to manage the sourcing process effectively. Topics include purchasing, outsourcing, materials management, inventory management, forecasting, price and cost analysis, transportation analysis, supplier selection, negotiation strategies, auctions, and legal framework. Students will apply the concepts covered in lectures, articles, case study analysis, a team project, and discussions. Additionally, a special component of this course will include participating in a multi-week real world procurement simulation where students will have an opportunity to interact in a purchasing process with senior industry procurement executives. The simulation will both teach and allow students to participate in developing and implementing bidding and negotiating strategies in real world vendor-customer relationships. Sophomore standing or higher.
Prerequisite(s): at least one of the following courses: ACC 210, or ECO 200, or ECO 201, or GSC 115.
GSC 315 International Business Tour 3 Credits
GSC 345 Customer Focus: The Customer Driven Supply Chain 3 Credits
Marketing and supply chain management programs are concerned with the creation and delivery of value to customers and organizations. No longer simply the domain of the warehouse manager or logistics director, supply chain management is viewed by most companies as a mission critical element. Marketing focuses on developing an understanding of customers and markets, creating products and services based on that understanding, and communicating and delivering the value added. This course will teach the student the essential role of marketing in all aspects of successful supply chain management - relationship management, technological and financial management - and it will help the student understand the structure, functions, principles and methods employed in discovering and translating consumer needs and wants into product and service specifications, and then transferring these goods and services from producers to consumers or end users.
GSC 355 Supply Chain Internal Focus: Firm Operations 3 Credits
This course is a detailed discussion of some of the major issues and components of supply chain management that are mainly internal to an organization. In other words, it provides an “inward looking” perspective of supply chain management. Topics to be covered include: manufacturing, quality, product design, inventory, and warehousing. The linkages to external issues and components of supply chain will be made.
GSC 375 Adv.Sem in Global Outsourcing 3 Credits
The course is aimed at generating a comprehensive understanding of the emergent domain of global business process outsourcing. Variously referred to as knowledge process outsourcing, IT-enabled services outsourcing, and business services outsourcing, the industry has seen enormous growth over the last decade and continues to grow. India commands the single largest share of this market but South Africa, Eastern Europe, Philippines, Morocco and Egypt have all emerged as other contenders in this global sector. The course is divided into four modules: the political economy of global outsourcing, process modeling, outsourcing management, and industry analysis. Please note: Students will not receive credit for both CIS 375 and GSC 375.
Prerequisite(s): junior standing.
GSC 385 Management Information Systems for Global Supply Chain Management 3 Credits
The purpose of this junior level management information systems course is to prepare students for today’s dynamic business environment by increasing their understanding of IT-enabled global information processing and management. This course has a specific emphasis on the impact and effective utilization of information systems and technology for the global supply chain. Students will gain a solid understanding of the value of business process integration through a combination of conceptual learning, business process analysis, and collaborative decision-making. This will be facilitated through hands-on experience with SAP ERP and analytical software as well as Microsoft Excel. GSC 385 is required for the Global Supply Chain Management major and can fulfill the CIS 385 requirement for all business majors. Please note: Students will not receive credit for both GSC 385 and CIS 385 without prior approval by the Dean's office.
Prerequisite(s): CIS 185 and junior standing.
GSC 399 GSC Co-op Program 6 Credits
The co-op program provides students with an opportunity to work full-time in an organization and apply what they have learned in their global supply chain and other business classes. It also enhances students’ employment opportunities since many employers use a co-op program as a first-step before they hire full-time employees. Eligible students include junior and senior global supply chain management majors with a minimum GPA of 3.0. The six credits are intended to be used as business electives, but it is also possible for them to be used as a combination of business and free electives.
Prerequisite(s): GSC 115 plus one additional course within the global supply chain management major, and permission of instructor.
GSC 445 Supply Chain Strategy and Design 3 Credits
This course introduces the student to the concepts and techniques necessary to design and operate global supply chains. It covers some of the strategic issues of managing a global supply chain and emphasizes the importance of understanding the organization, its value chain, industry, competitors, suppliers, and customers in a global framework. The course covers various strategies as well as different supply chain design models and approaches for efficient and effective supply chain operation.
GSC 490 Independent Study: Research and Creative Expression 3 Credits
Topics to be approved by instructor, program director, and academic dean. Available for juniors and seniors. No more than 12 credits allowed toward graduation.
Prerequisite(s): GSC 115 and permission of instructor.
GSC 491 GSC Internship 3 Credits
The Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM) Program formally sponsors an internship in global supply chain management. The intention of the course is to supplement theoretical foundations and other material introduced in the classroom with an opportunity to work in a sponsoring organization. Through the internship experience, the student will get a chance to see how supply chains are managed and will get a chance to apply supply chain concepts for themselves. If used in place of the co-op, internship credits will count toward GSCM major requirements, but can also be used as a business or free elective.
Prerequisite(s): GSC 115 plus one additional course within the GSCM major, and permission of instructor.