Ever since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, SUNY Plattsburgh students’ lives have changed one way or another. Many students have been taking more online classes than ever anticipated in their collegiate career. Nothing about online schooling has been easy for anybody. However, online schooling may have gotten a little bit more inclusive with SUNY Plattsburgh’s new online 4+1 agreement with Clarkson University.
“The 4+1 agreement is the agreement between SUNY Plattsburgh’s global supply chain management program and Clarkson University’s Master in Science in supply chain management program,” Dr. Kwangseek Choe, associate professor and chair of supply chain management and international business, said. “The ‘4+1’ means that students must complete their undergraduate study at Plattsburgh and graduate with a degree in global supply chain management. Then, students go on to complete one year at Clarkson University’s Master of Science in supply chain management program.”
The cohort-based program allows supply chain management students to turn their bachelor’s into a master’s degree. Students applying for the program are required to take 11 courses in a 10 week module quarter system. Upon completion of the program, students will earn 30 credit hours. The program is 100% online, so students can learn from the comfort of their dorms or bedrooms.
“We have redesigned our global supply chain management curriculum here at Plattsburgh,” Choe said. “The Master of Science in supply chain management at Clarkson university has six courses that are very similar to our own at Plattsburgh. So, these courses are in good alignment with our own global supply chain management curriculum.”
The one-year MS in supply chain management program offers a unique opportunity to students which will prepare them for their careers. Through the program, students will learn the necessary skills to help them succeed before starting in the working world. Before graduation, students will learn to solve problems using analytical tools, learn to communicate efficiently, and solve critical problems in a business environment.
“The MS in supply chain management program at Clarkson University offers a lot of interaction and hands-on experience in supply chain management.” Choe said. “Students bring their experiences and what they have learned in class and apply it to real life situations. The 4+1 agreement is a great opportunity for Plattsburgh students to pursue their academic and professional goals. Supply chain is an industry on the rise with positions all over the world that need to be filled, and the supply chain industry is in high demand for well-educated professionals. Last year the job placement rate for Plattsburghs’ global supply chain program was 96%, so I am confident that this program will increase that number.”
Once Plattsburgh global supply chain management students earn their degree, they can apply for admission to Clarkson to enroll in the Master of Science in supply chain management program. Students can begin the program during any quarter of the calendar year, however, a June start represents the normal track for completion of the program. On average, students will take two classes per quarter, which should put them on course to complete the program within a year.
“If students graduate from colleges with non-supply chain management majors, they may be required to take more than 11 courses including prerequisites,” Choe said. “Students from SUNY Plattsburgh with a major in global supply chain management are required to take those 11 courses only. No prerequisites will be required.”
Clarkson University offers automatic admission with GMAT/GRE equivalent scores exceeding 550 and a 3.0 GPA. There are no application fees for the program. An application and transcripts are all that will be needed for an automatic admission.
Since Plattsburgh is a partnership institution within the agreement, there are exclusive scholarship opportunities available to students. These exclusive opportunities include the Fellowship Award, which grants students at least 15% off tuition. Students can qualify for a higher level of merit-based scholarship.
Students who have also graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a GPA of 3.4 or higher are eligible to receive the Supply Chain Management Excellence Scholarship of $2,000.
“The business environment is ever changing and very competitive,” Choe said. “Students will need to improve their competitive edge, and this program will do just that. I really want to emphasize the wide range of excellent career opportunities this program will give students. So, be prepared. This pandemic will not last forever and the business environment will not be the same.”
