Logistics certificate from Robert Morris University

Every day, the world is becoming more connected. People need products to arrive on time more than ever before. Whether it is the product’s final destination or just a stop along the way, the planning methods used to transport these goods are incredibly important. These skills and techniques are known simply as Logistics. Logistics are concerned with how products are stored and transported to meet customer needs. Logistics includes skills such as supply chain principles including supply chain networks and facilities, transportation, inventory management and how new technology can make transportation and storage more efficient.

Robert Morris University now offers a certificate to undergraduate students for them to obtain these skills. There are only five required classes in order to receive this certificate, and it can provide major benefits to students regardless of major. These classes are MARK2000 Principles of Marketing, MARK3150 Principles of Channel Management/Logistics, MARK 3550 Strategic Asset Management/Supply Chain, MARK 3575 International Logistics, and MARK 4851 Logistics Planning and Measurement.  

Here’s what these Logistics courses cover:

MARK3150: Channel marketing concepts (conflict, power, financial, and product flows), basic logistics concepts (inventory, warehousing, transportation).

MARK3550: Primary focus on inventory management from producer to consumer. Topics associated with inventory management is the key from acquisition, storage, and distribution.

MARK3575: Studies logistics on an international scale. Focuses on transportation and regulations, INCOTERMS (International Commerce Terms), specialized channels, banking, and international freight movement, required documentation, regulatory controls.

MARK4851: Works on refining skills in supply chain, macro and micro level planning of a logistical plan for transporting goods, quantifying goals for logistic plans, and solving real life logistic issues.

This certificate is really useful for those who aspire to become managers or entrepreneurs. This allows you to gain insight into managing resources, storing them, efficiently distributing them to other locations around the world. If you plan to operate your own business these are critical skills to have when developing a business plan and ensuring long term success. Managers with poor logistics skills are more likely to struggle at maintaining a business than those who have acquired these skills.

The best part is the certificate is it is not just for a niche group of students. Regardless of your major, this could be an extremely useful certificate to have. When asked about if there would be a use for a logistics certificate, a psychology major explained, “This actually could be really helpful for me down the road. If I were to have my own practice these sorts of skills would be very useful”.

Ultimately, there is a lot of value in this Logistics certificate. With only being four courses (plus Principles of Marketing) to acquire, one could hypothetically finish the entire certificate in one semester. With a low time cost and high potential value this could make a huge difference in someone’s life beyond college. Talk with Dr. Clinton, Dr. Smith, or your academic advisor to see if you can plan your future in logistics.

Alexander Gagnon ‘21                        Jonathan Kleer ‘22

Sport Management Major                   Sport Management Major

Edited by Dr. Cathleen Jones