Associate in Science Supply Chain Management

The Supply Chain Management (SCM) associate in science degree is designed to meet the increasing need for entry-level SCM and operations professionals, especially in the manufacturing and services industries. Professionals in this field must learn and implement supply chain management skills and strategies in dynamic business environments to meet customer demand. Competency in organizational, quantitative, and communication skills is required. This program is designed to give students the theoretical background and practical experience necessary to work effectively in supply chain management at the entry level as well as to prepare them for advancement to a baccalaureate degree related to supply chain management. Graduates of this program can expect to be employed in several functional areas: manufacturing, operations, purchasing, warehousing, transportation, and logistics. This program also prepares students to obtain professional certifications specific to the field of SCM.

This new associate in science degree in supply chain management will support students seeking to complete their education for a middle-to high-wage, in-demand field. 

In recent years, the Business Administration program at MiraCosta has had steady enrollments.

Marketing the new SCM certificate and educating business administration students about the supply chain management field and its career opportunities will be important to supply the region withawards for logistics and supply chain management occupations.

 As noted in Item 4, there is a large gap of about 4,545 between employment demand for workers (6,521 openings per year)and the annual average supply (1,976 awards) in San Diego County.  This supports the adequate demand for the certificate.  The reports referenced above are included in the Supporting Documentation.

The proposed (new) Associate in Science Degree in Supply Chain Management (SCM) is aligned with MiraCosta’s mission as a career and technical education program and as an effort to support the economic and educational well-being of the communities served. This new certificate is in response to the labor market supply gap for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Occupations (San Diego-Imperial COE for Labor Market Research, 2020).  This new SCM certificate explicitly builds upon the College’s existing business administration certificates. The degree allows students who complete this local certificate or equivalent course work from other colleges to better prepare them to transfer into a bachelor’s degree program related to SCM as well as prepare them for entry-level positions in SCM and operations within the region and beyond

The new Supply Chain Management AS degree will serve the needs for Logistics and Supply Chain occupations in San Diego County. There is a current labor market supply gap in the region, with additional growth anticipated for Logistics and Supply Chain Management occupations in coming years, thus MiraCosta College’s Certificate of Achievement is well-positioned to serve this need.

The MiraCosta Community College Educational Plan 2016-2020 (addendum to the college’s Comprehensive Master Plan 2011-2020) contains 14 institutional objectives that describe strategies for achieving the College’s five institutional goals.The new degree in Supply Chain Management is aligned with Institutional Goal I, as an innovative practice that will broaden access to higher education for students, Institutional Goal II, as an institution that maximizes student success, and Institutional Goal V, as a conscientious community partner in serving students by providing them with the needed skills to participate in the growing supply chain management field.

The AS degree will prepare students for careers as logisticians; production, planning, and expediting clerks; procurement clerks, buyers, and managers; supervisors of production and operating workers; industrial production managers; cargo and freight agents; supervisors of transportation and material moving workers;transportation, storage, and distribution managers; and quality control analysts in a wide range of industries such as aerospace and defense,healthcare, higher education,  biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical equipment and supplies, communications equipment, and semiconductor and electronic components. The proposal adds coursework options in Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing and Services Operations, Transportation & Logistics,and Warehousing Operations, with curriculum exploring the impact of supply chains and workforce skills needed for today’s increasingly globalized business environment.  This certificate was proposed after discussions with the advisory board and local universities, as well as counselors and the biomanufacturing department at MiraCosta College. 

This new AS degree further ensures that the student will complete the appropriate preparation to be eligible to apply and transfer to a university with a bachelor’s degree program related to Supply Chain Management. Upon completion of this program, students will be able to demonstrate supply chain management skills and strategies to support global supply chain and operations management activities and decision-making.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to demonstrate supply chain management skills and strategies to support global supply chain and operations management activities and decision-making.

Besides completing units required of the major students will also complete the MiraCosta College general education requirements and graduation requirements.

Besides completing units required of the major students will also complete the MiraCosta College general education requirements and graduation requirements.