Professional buyers and managers face a world of increasing global sources, team decision-making, single source suppliers, increasing need for customer satisfaction, shorter cycle times and greater emphasis on supply chain management.  Computer skills are growing requirement, due to the widespread use of computerized management information systems.

This is a decade of substantial shifts in the way business is conducted.  The slightest glitch in supply can impact efficiency and operating costs.  Materials management and the role of the purchasing manager have increasingly important effects on both private organizations’ budgets and operations.  Certificate graduates have accepted positions in organizations’ purchasing and supply management departments as well as other strategic positions in management when they completed the program.  Courses address issues that The Center for Advanced Purchasing Studies outlined as the purchasing field’s most important for the decade.

Program Designed for:

• Individuals new to t he buyer role or seeking a buyer role
• Experienced purchaser interested in enhancing their skills
• Anyone who has purchasing or negotiation responsibilities in their job
• People or Managers who want basic understanding of contracts and the purchasing function

Benefits of Program

As you progress in the program, you will learn to:

• Achieve supplier performance and selection excellence
• Integrate the supply management function into an organization
• Understand proven legal strategies and techniques for purchasing
• Develop strategic plans for today’s demanding global purchasing arena
• Understand the measurements of progress relative to TQM in purchasing Operations
• Better negotiation and contract management

Certificate Requirements

This certificate requires 14.0 CEU's (Continuing Education Units), seven core courses and three electives.

Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Certificate at a Glance

Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Course Descriptions and Schedules

How to Get Started

1. Review the current course schedule for the next course coming up and complete and submit a registration form. You can do this all on our website.
2. Attend the course and continue to the next course through completion.
3. If you are interested in the entire certificate program, complete and submit the Certificate Application Form (requires a one time, non-refundable fee of $50) and continue taking the rest of the courses required of the certificate program.  After completion of your last class required for the certificate, complete and submit a Certificate Request Form for processing (certificates take 4-6 weeks to process).

Attend an Information Session

We offer information sessions regularly throughout each term, which provide an opportunity for new and current students to meet our staff, network with other students and instructors, and learn more about our programs and courses. See the  Events section of our website for details of the next session and to RSVP.

Time to Complete

You must complete your certificate program within 2 years from your first course in the program.  While the program can be completed in as little as two terms, most students complete the work in two to three terms.

Partners