REASONS FOR PROPOSED ACTION
After a review of its curriculum, the faculty of the Logistics, Transportation & Supply Chain Management (LTSCM) program of the
Robert H. Smith School of Business are proposing the changes listed below. Several course options are being removed because they
are no longer offered or because their significance to the field of study has decreased. In addition, the major is proposing to reduce the
number of upper level economics courses required from two to one for its LTSCM major. By reducing the number of required upper
level economics courses, students will be able to take an additional elective instead. Therefore, they will have greater flexibility and
increased opportunity to pursue other coursework in programs such as study abroad, minors, Smith School Fellows Programs, or 2nd
majors. In addition, the Economics Dept at UM has faced a significant increase in the number of students in its major. As a result,
business and economics students are having more difficulty accessing upper level ECON courses. By eliminating the 2nd economics
course required for the LTSCM major, these students will have less difficulty completing degree requirements. Furthermore, the
faculty of the LTSCM major has restructured the content of several of its upper level courses in the LTSCM major to include
sophisticated software applications that enable managers to optimize their supply chain networks as well as their production planning
and inventory operations. Each of these applications has underlying linear programming and optimization routines which are covered
in the classes.
In addition, LBPP is updating the titles and descriptions of its logistics/supply chain courses to match current terminology used in the
field today. Finally, LBPP would like to convert a special topics course to a hard number and add it as a course option for the major.
DESCRIPTION OF CURRICULUM CHANGE
Under the new requirements the following courses have been removed as options because they are either no longer being offered or
are being replaced by more relevant course options. The content of several LTSCM courses has been redesigned to feature network
optimization software, which assesses the geographic locations of a firm’s sourcing location, production points, distribution centers,
and customer locations and determines an optimal configuration, considering total supply chain costs. In these classes the students
learn the underlying algorithms. This content is more directly relevant to the supply chain manager.
BMGT 305 Survey of Business Information Systems & Technology (no longer offered by the Smith School)
GEOG 373 Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 430 Location Theory and Spatial Analysis
The following options have been added to the major requirements.
BMGT 302 Business Computer Application Programming
BMGT 455 Sales Management
Current LTSCM majors are required to complete 6 credits of upper level economics courses from two lists of options (see below for
details). Under the new requirements, LTSCM majors must complete 3 credits of upper level economics from a list of relevant upper
level ECON courses that are consistently offered by the department (see below for details). In addition, a note is being added to the
Economics requirement listing indicating that ECON325 Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis and ECON326 Intermediate
Microeconomic Analysis can substitute for ECON305 and ECON306 respectively. ECON325 and ECON326 are new courses that
Economics majors will complete in lieu of ECON305 and ECON306.
In recent semesters, the Logistics, Business and Public Policy Department has offered an Executive Seminar in Logistics,
Transportation, and Supply Chain Management under the special topics number of BMGT498L or BMGT488L. This course has been
very successful and the department would like to give this course a permanent number (BMGT471) and formally add it as an option in
the major (see details below). A request form has been submitted to VPAC for approval.
Finally, titles and course descriptions for many courses in the major have been updated and forms have been submitted to VPAC for
approval.
See details on the next 2 pages.
Old Requirements
Major Requirements
BMGT 370 Intro to Transportation in Supply Chain Management
BMGT 372 Introduction to Logistics and Supply Chain Mgmt
BMGT 476 Applied Computer Models in Supply Chain Mgmt
3 cr
3 cr
3 cr
Two of the following:
6 cr
BMGT 373 Logistics, Transportation, and Supply Chain Mgmt
Internship
BMGT 470 Advanced Transportation Management
BMGT 472 Advanced Logistics Operations
BMGT 475 Advanced Supply Chain Mgmt Strategy and Technologies
BMGT 477 International Supply Chain Management
One of the following:
3 cr
BMGT 305 Survey of Business Information Systems &
Technology (option for DIS majors only) (deleting)
BMGT 332 Operations Research for Management Decisions
BMGT 385 Operations Management
BMGT 482 Business and Government
BMGT 484 Electronic Marketing
GEOG 373 Geographic Information Systems (deleting)
GEOG 430 Location Theory and Spatial Analysis (deleting)
Or one of the following not selected above: BMGT 373, 470,
472, 475 or 477
Total Major Requirements
Upper Level Economics Requirements
One of the following courses:
ECON 305 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory & Policy
ECON 306 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
ECON 330 Money and Banking
ECON 340 International Economics
18 cr
3 cr
One additional course from the following courses:
3 cr (deleting requirement)
ECON 305 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory & Policy
ECON 306 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
ECON 311 American Economic History Before the Civil War
ECON 315 Economic Development of Underdeveloped Areas
ECON 316 Economic Development of Latin America
ECON 317 No longer offered
ECON 330 Money and Banking
ECON 340 International Economics
ECON 361 Economics of American Industries
ECON 370 Labor Markets, Human Resources, and Trade Unions
ECON 374 Sex Roles in Economic Life
ECON 375 Economics of Poverty and Discrimination
ECON 380 Comparative Economic Systems
Any 400 Level ECON except 422, 423 or 425
Total Upper Level Economics Requirements
6 cr
New Requirements
Major Requirements
BMGT 370 Introduction to Transportation (new title)
BMGT 372 Introduction to Logistics and Supply Chain Mgmt
BMGT 476 Technology Applications in Supply
Chain Management (new title)
3 cr
3 cr
3 cr
Two of the following:
6 cr
BMGT 373 Supply Chain Management Internship (new title)
BMGT471 Seminar in Supply Chain Management: An Executive Perspective (new course)
BMGT 470 Carrier Management (new title)
BMGT 472 Purchasing and Inbound Logistics (new title)
BMGT 475 Supply Chain Strategy and Network Design (new title)
BMGT 477 International Supply Chain Management
One of the following:
3 cr
BMGT 302 Business Computer Application Programming (new option)
BMGT 332 Operations Research for Management Decisions
BMGT 385 Operations Management
BMGT 455 Sales Management (new option)
BMGT 482 Business and Government
BMGT 484 Electronic Marketing
Or one of the following not selected above: BMGT 373, 470, 471 (new option),
472, 475 or 477
Total Major Requirements
18 cr
Upper Level Economics Requirements
One of the following courses:
3 cr
ECON 305 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory & Policy
ECON 306 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
ECON 330 Money and Banking
ECON 340 International Economics
Total Upper Level Economics Requirements
3 cr
Note: Students who have completed ECON 325 and ECON326 can substitute these courses for ECON305 and ECON306
respectively.
Additional Degree Requirements of the Logistics, Transportation, & Supply Chain Management Major
At the Smith School of Business, a minimum of 120 credit hours is required to complete a Bachelor of Science degree. Besides the
major requirements listed above and the specific Smith School of Business requirements listed below, a student must complete the
University's CORE General Education Requirements and sufficient lower and upper level elective credit to accumulate a total of 120
credit hours. A minimum of 58 credit hours of the required 120 hours must be in 300-400 (upper) level courses. A detailed
explanation including additional Smith School of Business degree requirements are listed below.
Freshmen/Sophomore Smith School Requirements
MATH 220 or 140 - Elem.Calculus I or Calculus I
BMGT 220 & 221 - Principles of Accounting I & II
BMGT 230 or 231 - Business Statistics
ECON 200 & 201 - Principles of Micro & Macro Economics
COMM 100, 107 or 200 - Foundations of Speech Communications,
Speech Communication, or Critical Thinking and Speaking
Total
Junior/Senior Smith School Requirements
BMGT 301 - Introduction to Information Systems
BMGT 340 - Business Finance
BMGT 350 - Marketing Principles
BMGT 364 - Management and Organization
3-4 cr
6 cr
3 cr
8 cr
3 cr
23-24 cr
3 cr
3 cr
3 cr
3 cr
BMGT 367 - Career Search Strategies and Business
BMGT 380 - Business Law
BMGT 495 - Business Policies
Total
1 cr
3 cr
3 cr
19 cr
LTSCM Major Requirements (details listed previously)
18 cr
Upper Level Economics Requirements (details listed previously)
3 cr
University CORE General Education Requirements not fulfilled by
Smith School requirements listed above. - Total Credits
28 cr
Lower Level Electives
Upper Level Electives
Grand Total Required
16-17 cr
12 cr
120 cr
Current Catalog Description
The supply chain encompasses all organizations involved in production of a good or service and its ultimate delivery to the end
customer. Supply chain managers oversee many varied but inter-related processes including the flow of materials, information, and
transactions. Logistics deals primarily with the materials flow component of the supply chain, and logistics managers are responsible
for fulfilling customer orders while simultaneously controlling distribution costs.
While transportation is the heart of logistics; inventory control, warehousing, order processing, materials handling, packaging, and
customer service are important logistics activities. These logistics activities comprise up to 30 percent of total costs for many
businesses. The cost of freight transportation alone is about 8 percent of the nation's annual domestic product.
Updated Catalog Description
No change.
Typical 4 Year Plan
Year 1, First Term
Courses
ENGL101 (if not exempt) or elective
MATH 220 (or as
placed)
ECON200
CORE class
Lower level elective
Year 1, Second Term
Credits
3
3
4
3
3
16
Year 2, First Term
Courses
BMGT220
BMGT230 (if still needed) or elective
Lower level elective
Lower level elective
CORE (Lab Science)
Credits
3
3
2
3
4
15
3
3
3
3
16
Courses
BMGT221
CORE
Remaining electives
CORE
Credits
3
3
6
3
15
Year 3, Second Term
Credits
3
3
3
3
3
1
16
Year 4, First Term
Courses
Professional Writing
Major requirement (4 of 6) from
options
Major requirement (5 of 6) from
options
College Core
Upper level elective (2 of 4)
MATH220 (if still needed) or BMGT230
COMM107
CORE
CORE
Credits
4
Year 2, Second Term
Year 3, First Term
Courses
College Core
BMGT370 (Major requirement 1 of 6)
BMGT372 (Major requirement 2 of 6)
College Core
Upper level ECON (from list)
BMGT367 (College
Core)
Courses
ECON201
Courses
College Core
Major requirement (3 of 6) from options
College Core
Advanced Studies Core
Upper Level Elective (1 of 4)
BMGT367 (if still
needed)
Credits
3
3
3
3
3
1
15-16
Year 4, Second Term
Credits
3
Courses
BMGT495 (College Core) (340/350/364 prereqs)
Credits
3
3
Major requirement (6 of 6) from options
3
3
3
3
15
Upper level elective (3 of 4)
Upper level elective (4 of 4)
3
3
12
Prerequisite/Course Sequencing Structure
BMGT 302 (prereq: proficiency in Microsoft Office, BMGT201, CMSC102, or CMSC103; or permission of department)
BMGT 332 (prereq: BMGT230)
BMGT 370
BMGT 372
BMGT 373 (prereq: BMGT370 or BMGT372)
BMGT 385
BMGT 455 (prereq: BMGT350)
BMGT 470 (prereq: BMGT370)
BMGT 471 (prereq: BMGT372)
BMGT 472 (prereq: BMGT372)
BMGT 475 (prereq: BMGT372)
BMGT 476 (prereq: BMGT372)
BMGT 477
BMGT 482 (prereq: ECON 200 or 205)
BMGT 484 (prereq: BMGT350)
Upper Level ECON (prereq: ECON200 & 201,
some options also require MATH 220/140)
Course Descriptions
BMGT302 Business Computer Application Programming; (3 credits) Prerequisite: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, BMGT201,
CMSC102, or CMSC103; or permission of department. Computer Science majors will not receive credit. For BMGT majors only.
Considers characteristics of business data programming and common software development processes and practices. Covers the
designing, writing, documenting and testing of an efficient, structured program in Visual Basic.
BMGT332 Operations Research For Management Decisions; (3 credits) Prerequisite: BMGT230 or BMGT231; or equivalent.
Surveys the philosophy, techniques and applications of operations research to managerial decision-making. Techniques covered
include: linear programming, transportation and assignment models, Markov processes and inventory and queuing models. Emphasis
is placed on formulating and solving decision problems in the functional areas of management.
BMGT 370 Introduction to Transportation (3) An overview of the transportation field with an emphasis on freight movements from
the perspective of both providers of capacity and users of freight services. Examines the characteristics of the freight modes and the
role of each mode as a major component of logistics and supply chain management. Explores the economics, energy use, and finances
of each mode as well as the impact of government policies on each mode’s future. Discussion of infrastructure and capacity needs of
the transportation system and its ability to support the economy.
BMGT 372 Introduction to Logistics and Supply Chain Management (3) Supply chain management involves the coordination of
suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to ensure that products and services are available to the final consumer in a timely
and cost-effective fashion. Logistics management is the subset of supply chain management dealing with the physical flows of
product and includes such activities as transportation management, warehousing, materials handling, inventory management, and
order fulfillment. Attention is paid to the logistics cost trade-offs within the firm and between members of the supply chain.
BMGT 373 Supply Chain Management Internship (3) Prerequisite: Either BMGT 370 or BMGT 372. Involves supervised work
experience in supply chain management, logistics and/or transportation. Students will be expected to relate course material to work
experience in an analysis of a firm's operations.
BMGT385 Operations Management; (3 credits) Credit will be granted for only one of the following: BMGT385 or ENME426.
Studies the design, management and improvement of a firm's processes and systems for creation and delivery of products and services.
Includes strategic and operational views of supply chain, product development, and capacity analysis, highlighting the competitive
advantages that operations management can provide the firm.
BMGT455 Sales Management; (3 credits) Prerequisite: BMGT350. The roles of the sales executive as a planner, manager of
resources and marketing functions and recruiter, trainer, motivator and leader of field sales personnel. Techniques and sequence of
problem analysis for selling and sales management decisions and to the practical framework in which these decisions take place.
Teaching vehicles feature strong classroom interactions, cases, journal articles, research findings, guest sales managers, debates, and
modern company practices.
BMGT 470 Carrier Management (3) Prerequisite: BMGT 370. The study of the wide range of issues facing managers in
transportation. This includes decisions on market entry, pricing, competitive responses, service levels, marketing strategies, capital
structure, and growth objectives. Specific management decisions and overall strategies pursued by management are examined.
BMGT 471 Seminar in Supply Chain Management: An Executive Perspective (3) Prerequisite: BMGT 372. Designed to provide
students intensive interaction with senior supply chain executives from a cross-section of industries. Executives will share their
insights about leading competitive supply chains in the global marketplace and assist students in understanding how to develop supply
chain career strategies. Students will research the competitive supply chain dynamics of the each executive's industry and
review/analyze their findings with the executive.
BMGT 472 Purchasing and Inbound Logistics (3) Prerequisite: BMGT 372. Analysis of the resupply activities of logistics
management, including purchasing policies, transportation planning, and inventory control. Attention is directed toward total cost
minimization and the establishment of a sustainable competitive advantage based on procurement.
BMGT 475 Supply Chain Strategy and Network Design (3) Prerequisite: BMGT372. Analysis of the strategic aspects of supply chain
management. Emphasis on the creation of end-user value through supply chain cost reductions, service improvements or both.
Attention is directed toward the enabling role of technology in support of strategy evaluation and implementation.
BMGT 476 Technology Applications in Supply Chain Management (3) Prerequisites: BMGT372. An understanding of the role of
technology in managing the supply chain. This course provides students with hands-on experience in advanced software systems that
build on top of enterprise resource planning systems. Major emphasis is placed on demonstrating that these systems result in supply
chain cost reductions and service improvements.
BMGT 477 International Supply Chain Management (3) The study of the importance of supply chain management within a global
context. Topics covered include: the structure, service, pricing and competitive relationships among international carriers and
transport intermediaries as well as documentation, location decisions, international sourcing/distribution and management of inventory
throughout the international supply chain.
BMGT482 Business and Government; (3 credits) Prerequisite: ECON200; or ECON205. Focus is on the complex interrelationships
between business and government. Explores areas in which business and government are allies (cooperative research and financing
program) and adversaries (regulation). Emphasizes a strategic management approach by business to government involvement in
economic affairs.
BMGT484 Electronic Marketing; (3 credits) Prerequisite: BMGT350. For BMGT majors only. Examines the process of developing,
implementing and analyzing strategies for successfully marketing a variety of existing and potential products and services on the
Internet. Special attention devoted to the tools and techniques unique to the electronic media. This course is restricted to BMGT
majors with 60 credit hours completed.
Assessment Plan
Logistics, Transportation and Supply Chain MGT
(PROGRAM OF STUDY / MAJOR / DEGREE LEVEL, ETC.)
Program Contact:
Martin Dresner
Date submitted to Academic Unit Head:
Phone:
5-2204
E-mail:
mdresner@rhsmith.umd.edu
September 2, 2005
Program Goals:
Provide students with the required business management skills, the general business knowledge, and the specific knowledge of the fields of logistics, transportation, and supply
chain management, to be future leaders in the knowledge-based “digital” economy.
Relevance of goals to the mission statements and/or strategic plans of the University, College, or Program as applicable:
Important business management skills required to succeed in the knowledge-based economy include critical reasoning, and oral and written communication. These are skills
outlined in the University’s learning goals and objectives. The R.H. Smith School’s Vision Statement stresses the importance of training students to be future leaders in the
knowledge and information-based, “digital” economy.
Student Learning Outcomes
Assessment Measures and Criteria
Assessment Schedule
(list the three-to-five most important)
(describe one or more measures for each
outcome and criteria for success)
(initial year, and
subsequent cycle)
1. Students will be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of important
concepts in the core business disciplines and in the specific fields of logistics,
transportation, and supply chain management.
All Logistics, Transportation, and Supply Chain
Management (LTSCM) students registered in BMGT
495, Business Policies (the capstone course for business
students) during the semester in which assessments occur,
are required to take a two-part test. Part 1 tests their
knowledge of core business disciplines while Part 2 tests
their knowledge of logistics, transportation, and supply
chain management. Eighty percent of students should
answer, correctly, 70 percent of the questions in Part1 of
the exam, and 80% of the students should answer,
correctly, 70% of the questions in Part 2 of the exam.
Pilot in the Spring semester
of 2006, run during school
year 2006- 2007 and then
every third school year
subsequently.
All LTSCM students are required to analyze a business
case for BMGT 495 and prepare a written analysis of the
case. Eighty percent of students should meet expectations
(21 out of 30 available points) in an assessment of their
critical reasoning and written communication skills. See
attached Critical Reasoning and Written Communication
Pilot in the Spring semester
of 2006, run in academic
year 2006- 2007 and then
every third school year
subsequently.
2. Students will demonstrate critical reasoning and written communication skills
through the individual analysis and write-up of a business case.
MBA and Ph.D. students
will be assessed in the two
other years of the three year
cycle.
grading rubric.
3. Students will demonstrate their oral communication skills by presenting an
analysis of a business case to their class.
All LTSCM students are required to make a presentation
in BMGT 495 on a business case. Eighty percent of
students should meet expectations in an assessment of
their oral presentation skills (18 out of 24 available
points). See attached Oral Communications grading
rubric.
Pilot in the Spring semester
of 2006, run in academic
year 2006- 2007 and then
every third school year
subsequently.
4. Students will demonstrate their leadership skills by leading a class discussion
on a business case.
After first making a class presentation on a business case,
all LTSCM students are required to lead a class
discussion based on the case and the presentation. Eighty
percent of students should meet expectations (12 of 18
available points) in an assessment of their skills in
leading the class discussion. See attached Leadership
grading rubric.
Pilot in the Spring semester
of 2006, run in academic
year 2006- 2007 and then
every third school year
subsequently.
5. Students will demonstrate their abilities to work effectively with other
members of a team in the preparation of a group project.
All LTSCM majors are required to participate in a the
completion of a group project as part of the requirements
for BMGT 495. The group generally consists of 4-6
students. The group is required to analyze a business
case, a major industry or a market segment. Eighty
percent of students should meet expectations (10 of 15
points) in an assessment of their teamwork skills. The
assessment will be made by the instructor but will, in
part, be based on student evaluation of other team
members. See attached Teamwork grading rubric.
Pilot in the Spring semester
of 2006, run in academic
year 2006- 2007 and then
every third school year
subsequently.