The field of logistics involves transportation, the handling of materials and warehousing, according to Education-Portal.com. This area is a critical part of any business because a business cannot meet its strategic goals without having the supplies it needs to produce its goods. A company also will not have substantial profits if it is not getting competitive prices for raw goods--the responsibility of a logistics department, according to WorldWideLearn.com. The supply management department of a company actually might spend more than half of an organization's gross revenue. A master's degree in logistics will give professionals the chance to make influential decisions in this field.
With a master's degree in logistics, an individual has many more career options than she would with a bachelor's or lower degree. Although undergraduate-degree holders can work in entry-level positions or even gain mid-level management jobs in this field, those with a graduate degree can climb to upper management positions. These professionals also can work in consulting or in higher education.
A master's degree in logistics offers a variety of courses usually targeting professionals who already are experienced in engineering or management. Classes cover topics such as logistics information systems, supply chain strategic planning, transportation management and analytic decision-making. Applicants to this type of program usually are required to have a bachelor's degree in engineering, math or physical science or any bachelor's degree along with experience in the field of logistics. Students also must have competitive Graduate Record Exam scores.
For students who want to complete a master's in business administration degree with a focus on logistics or supply chain management, competitive Graduate Management Admission Test scores are typically required along with some leadership and teamwork experience. Courses in this type of program include strategic cost accounting, supply chain relationships, outsource decisions, global logistics networks, e-commerce and "Six Sigma" principles. The "Six Sigma" methodology offers techniques to reduce defects in any process, according to Six Sigma Tutorial. Master's degree-level classes prepare students to be successful leaders in the logistics field.
The aim of a master's degree program in logistics is to train students to plan and manage logistics and supply chain operations in various industries, which includes the U.S. military. Logistics degree-holders can work as operations and systems analysts, fleet operations managers or loss prevention managers. Other job positions include import-export managers, directors of purchasing, production managers or quality assurance managers. Supply chain managers also can expand their duties to the areas of policy making or product development.
Employment of purchasing managers and agents is expected to increase 7 percent through 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median annual wages of purchasing managers in May 2008 were $89,160.