BS in Supply Chain Management with a concentration in Purchasing

Purchasing is a core strategic function within supply chain management focused on acquiring the goods, services, and materials an organization needs to operate. The purchasing concentration prepares students to make high‑impact decisions related to supplier selection, contract negotiation, cost management, risk mitigation, and long‑term sourcing strategy. Students learn how to evaluate suppliers, manage relationships, ensure ethical and sustainable sourcing, and contribute to organizational competitiveness through effective procurement practices.

Purchasing professionals play a critical role in ensuring that organizations secure the right materials, at the right quality, at the right time, and at the right cost. Key activities include supplier evaluation, contract management, global sourcing, category management, demand planning, cost analysis, and collaboration with internal stakeholders such as operations, finance, engineering, and logistics.

You Learn

As part of BS in Supply Chain Management with Purchasing, students learn:

Technical knowledge of procurement processes including sourcing, contracting, supplier evaluation, and cost analysis
Strong interpersonal and communication skills for working with suppliers and internal teams
Negotiation skills to secure favorable terms, manage conflicts, and build long‑term supplier partnerships
Analytical and problem‑solving abilities for evaluating bids, assessing risks, and optimizing total cost of ownership
Business acumen to collaborate effectively with finance, operations, marketing, and engineering
Understanding of global supply markets, sustainability, and ethical sourcing practices
Presentation and reporting skills to communicate recommendations to senior leadership