Old Dominion University stands out as a pioneer in maritime and supply chain management education within the United States. It is the exclusive university offering an undergraduate major in maritime and supply chain management, and one of only two universities with an undergraduate maritime major. Notably, the Journal of Commerce recently recognized Old Dominion University as one of Virginia's top three logistics schools.
The undergraduate major in maritime and supply chain management (MSCM) equips students with a comprehensive understanding of maritime operations and supply chain management, along with the critical thinking and analytical skills sought after by industries in these fields. The College provides various pathways for students interested in this domain, including a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree program with a major in MSCM, an undergraduate minor in MSCM, and Graduate Certificates in Supply Chain Management, and Maritime, Ports, and Logistics.
These certificate programs can be pursued independently or concurrently with the Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Public Administration (MPA) degrees, offering flexibility and diverse opportunities for students to tailor their education to their career aspirations.
Through general education and core business courses, students gain a specialization in maritime or supply chain management. The major consists of courses in international shipping, supply chain and logistics management, port management, shipping management, purchasing and strategic sourcing, distribution and materials management, etc.
Career opportunities for maritime and supply chain majors are numerous. They include Careers in the field include port operation, transportation carrier management, third-party shipper management (freight forwarding, third party logistics and customs brokerage), shipper logistical analysis, distribution and warehouse management, inventory control, scheduling, transportation planning, and global supply chain strategy.
Maritime and Supply Chain Management majors are encouraged to participate in ODU's two-week summer Port Study Abroad Program, alternating each year between Europe and Asia. In addition, MSCM majors have the opportunity to take the summer study abroad courses - "Transportation Systems and Trade Flows within the European Union" and "Hong Kong and Shanghai: History and Development of the Chinese Port."
The ODU Maritime Institute works with many international and local organizations to offer students internships and co-op opportunities throughout Hampton Roads, the United States, and internationally. Firms range from port authorities, operators, and carriers (shipping lines, railroads and trucking firms) to third-party logistics providers, warehousing and distribution centers, and shippers.