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Should I change my Major in my senior year from Marketing to Supply Chain Management?
I am currently a senior majoring in marketing and I found myself being unsure about my major and wishing to change it to supply chain management. I am thinking about making this switch as it appears that supply chain will give me more job stability in the future. I am 21 with no debt and would like some insight weither this is a good decision. I would also like to know if it is possible for a marketing major to work in supply chain? Is it also possible for me to switch to business management and land a career in supply chain?
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Kelly’s Answer
Hi Brillith,
Why can't a marketing person work in the supply chain environment? They are usually amazing at communicating to different styles, and can sell the company policies and changes to others.
I know how this goes because I was one of those college students that changed my major the summer after my third full year. I not only switched majors, but universities as well. The difference was that I did not feel fulfilled by my previous degree work in music, and did not support the class scheduling of 50 minutes/3x per week. The new university that I transferred to offered on grounds (3 hr. blocks), online, year-round (trimester scheduling). This was the selling point for me, but it tacked on about 50 credits or so. You do have a few things to consider in this decision, though, since your situation seems a bit different.
One factor I would consider is, can the degree program that you are enrolled in be finished within a year? If you can take on summer courses, and are confident that it can be completed by this time next year, it may be worth it for you to finish it. For job applications, at least you can say that you have a completed BA or BS. If you chose this path, would you be open to a master's program in supply chain management? The first set of masters work that I ever did was a graduate certification program in transportation management; My completed BS degree was in public safety. These are two fields that aren't very related, but at the time, I was working on loss prevention techniques for the public transit system.
Another option that you may consider, if you are staying at the same school to obtain the degree, can you have the departments put you in as either a double major or a major/minor. If most of your base coursework is done for marketing, adding a minor or concentration as global supply chain might cut down on the classes that you need to take. Some schools allow minors and concentrations, others are stricter with the labeling and requirements.
No matter what choice you make, I would strongly advise that you ensure that your program lists supply chain as the major. My doctorate is in business, but it is nowhere near as specific as the people who are in a global supply chain program. Their curriculum covers more in-depth areas of transportation, logistics, machinery management, etc. where my degree covered theoretical backing to employee behavior, changing a culture, and battling staffing issues.
Why can't a marketing person work in the supply chain environment? They are usually amazing at communicating to different styles, and can sell the company policies and changes to others.
I know how this goes because I was one of those college students that changed my major the summer after my third full year. I not only switched majors, but universities as well. The difference was that I did not feel fulfilled by my previous degree work in music, and did not support the class scheduling of 50 minutes/3x per week. The new university that I transferred to offered on grounds (3 hr. blocks), online, year-round (trimester scheduling). This was the selling point for me, but it tacked on about 50 credits or so. You do have a few things to consider in this decision, though, since your situation seems a bit different.
One factor I would consider is, can the degree program that you are enrolled in be finished within a year? If you can take on summer courses, and are confident that it can be completed by this time next year, it may be worth it for you to finish it. For job applications, at least you can say that you have a completed BA or BS. If you chose this path, would you be open to a master's program in supply chain management? The first set of masters work that I ever did was a graduate certification program in transportation management; My completed BS degree was in public safety. These are two fields that aren't very related, but at the time, I was working on loss prevention techniques for the public transit system.
Another option that you may consider, if you are staying at the same school to obtain the degree, can you have the departments put you in as either a double major or a major/minor. If most of your base coursework is done for marketing, adding a minor or concentration as global supply chain might cut down on the classes that you need to take. Some schools allow minors and concentrations, others are stricter with the labeling and requirements.
No matter what choice you make, I would strongly advise that you ensure that your program lists supply chain as the major. My doctorate is in business, but it is nowhere near as specific as the people who are in a global supply chain program. Their curriculum covers more in-depth areas of transportation, logistics, machinery management, etc. where my degree covered theoretical backing to employee behavior, changing a culture, and battling staffing issues.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
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James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Brillith,
Response:
The choice to switch your major from Marketing to Supply Chain Management during your senior year is a substantial one that warrants thoughtful deliberation. Here are some crucial factors to aid you in making an enlightened decision:
Employment Prospects and Career Opportunities: The field of supply chain management is experiencing rapid growth, with a rising demand for professionals capable of enhancing operations, cutting costs, and improving efficiency in the worldwide market. The future looks bright for supply chain management professionals, with potential opportunities in diverse sectors like manufacturing, retail, logistics, and technology.
Applicable Skills: Despite the differences between marketing and supply chain management, there are skills you might have honed during your marketing studies that could prove useful in a supply chain role. Abilities like communication, analytical thinking, project management, and problem-solving are in high demand in both fields.
Academic Requirements: If you decide to switch from marketing to supply chain management in your senior year, you might need to take extra courses or delay your graduation. It's crucial to discuss with academic advisors at your school to comprehend the particular requirements for changing majors at this point.
Career Trajectory: Having a background in marketing can be advantageous in a supply chain management career, particularly in roles that encompass procurement, vendor management, distribution, or customer relations. Your comprehension of consumer behavior, market trends, branding, and promotional strategies could offer a unique viewpoint when working in supply chain roles that necessitate collaboration across departments.
Business Management Alternative: If you're contemplating switching to business management as a route to enter the supply chain field, it's vital to examine the curriculum of the business management program at your school and evaluate how closely it aligns with the skills and knowledge required for a career in supply chain management.
Networking and Internship Opportunities: Participating in networking events, internships, or co-op programs related to supply chain management can offer you valuable insights into the field and assist you in making an informed decision about changing your major.
To sum up, while switching your major in your senior year is a substantial decision, transitioning from marketing to supply chain management or business management is feasible with careful planning and consideration of your career aspirations and interests.
Top 3 Reliable Sources Used:
Harvard Business Review: Offers insights on industry trends, career guidance, and educational pathways pertinent to marketing and supply chain management.
Forbes: Provides articles on job market analysis, career transitions, and skill development that can be useful for students contemplating changing majors.
Supply Chain Management Review: A premier publication focused on supply chain best practices, industry news, and career opportunities within the field.
GOD BLESS!
James Constantine Frangos.
Response:
The choice to switch your major from Marketing to Supply Chain Management during your senior year is a substantial one that warrants thoughtful deliberation. Here are some crucial factors to aid you in making an enlightened decision:
Employment Prospects and Career Opportunities: The field of supply chain management is experiencing rapid growth, with a rising demand for professionals capable of enhancing operations, cutting costs, and improving efficiency in the worldwide market. The future looks bright for supply chain management professionals, with potential opportunities in diverse sectors like manufacturing, retail, logistics, and technology.
Applicable Skills: Despite the differences between marketing and supply chain management, there are skills you might have honed during your marketing studies that could prove useful in a supply chain role. Abilities like communication, analytical thinking, project management, and problem-solving are in high demand in both fields.
Academic Requirements: If you decide to switch from marketing to supply chain management in your senior year, you might need to take extra courses or delay your graduation. It's crucial to discuss with academic advisors at your school to comprehend the particular requirements for changing majors at this point.
Career Trajectory: Having a background in marketing can be advantageous in a supply chain management career, particularly in roles that encompass procurement, vendor management, distribution, or customer relations. Your comprehension of consumer behavior, market trends, branding, and promotional strategies could offer a unique viewpoint when working in supply chain roles that necessitate collaboration across departments.
Business Management Alternative: If you're contemplating switching to business management as a route to enter the supply chain field, it's vital to examine the curriculum of the business management program at your school and evaluate how closely it aligns with the skills and knowledge required for a career in supply chain management.
Networking and Internship Opportunities: Participating in networking events, internships, or co-op programs related to supply chain management can offer you valuable insights into the field and assist you in making an informed decision about changing your major.
To sum up, while switching your major in your senior year is a substantial decision, transitioning from marketing to supply chain management or business management is feasible with careful planning and consideration of your career aspirations and interests.
Top 3 Reliable Sources Used:
Harvard Business Review: Offers insights on industry trends, career guidance, and educational pathways pertinent to marketing and supply chain management.
Forbes: Provides articles on job market analysis, career transitions, and skill development that can be useful for students contemplating changing majors.
Supply Chain Management Review: A premier publication focused on supply chain best practices, industry news, and career opportunities within the field.
GOD BLESS!
James Constantine Frangos.
I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question.
Brillith
Updated
Lora’s Answer
Hi there, I'm in the field of recycling, reuse, and manufacturing. We operate 100,000 Sq feet of space up in Wisconsin area. Typical day on the job is figuring out how to buy, process, sell and trade scrap commodities from the various items we collect for recycling, break down, and sell the raw materials from. In the 36 years we have been in business the most talented people in marketing were also interested in other skill sets to further understand how complex supply chain logistics works along side figuring out how to better prepare items we receive in, and update any processes as needed. There is actually a dying generation of very experienced workers on this end. The loss has equated to investing in employees that want to continually pursue one degree or another to further their knowledge base. I'd rather see a candidate on paper that can handle more than one thing. The education greatly helps you later on to be able to think and develop a thought process for handling moe complex problems. The other 50% is experience in whichever industry you choose to pursue, and paying attention to what it's going to take to be successful in that position.
Pick a job that matches your skills
Get an idea of what keeps you interested in a certain field of work
Life is short find a job thats fun to do
Lora recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Mary Ann’s Answer
Hi Brillith. Kudos to you that you are identifying what interests you. Only you can decide if you want to change your major in your Senior year. Some things to consider when making that decision are:
1. How many more years of school would you need to complete if you change your major?
2. Do you have the funds to support you, including education costs, for the additional years of schooling you would need?
To answer your other question about can you work in Supply Chain with a Marketing degree. Yes, you can. At one point in my career, I was involved in hiring the Sales team for the company. We hired people with all kinds of different degrees. While many had a degree in Business Administration, we also had people with degrees in Political Science, Math, English, Psychology, and many other areas of discipline. We looked to see if someone had completed college and were less concerned about their field of study. If they had a college degree, that told us the individual could set a goal, complete the tasks associated with that goal, and follow it through to completion. When someone is early in career and especially recently graduated from college, we knew that there would be a considerable amount of on the job training that would be needed. You will be that person that will do a lot of your learning on the job.
My guess is that with a marketing degree, you needed to complete a certain number of general business courses as part of your degree program. That would give you the general knowledge you would need to get an entry level position in the supply chain field. My advice is to look up some Supply Chain job descriptions at different companies and see what skills they require. Odds are, you probably have a lot of the skills they require. if you have at least 50%, you are likely a candidate for that job.
Whatever you decide, know that it's the right decision. Don't second guess yourself.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
1. How many more years of school would you need to complete if you change your major?
2. Do you have the funds to support you, including education costs, for the additional years of schooling you would need?
To answer your other question about can you work in Supply Chain with a Marketing degree. Yes, you can. At one point in my career, I was involved in hiring the Sales team for the company. We hired people with all kinds of different degrees. While many had a degree in Business Administration, we also had people with degrees in Political Science, Math, English, Psychology, and many other areas of discipline. We looked to see if someone had completed college and were less concerned about their field of study. If they had a college degree, that told us the individual could set a goal, complete the tasks associated with that goal, and follow it through to completion. When someone is early in career and especially recently graduated from college, we knew that there would be a considerable amount of on the job training that would be needed. You will be that person that will do a lot of your learning on the job.
My guess is that with a marketing degree, you needed to complete a certain number of general business courses as part of your degree program. That would give you the general knowledge you would need to get an entry level position in the supply chain field. My advice is to look up some Supply Chain job descriptions at different companies and see what skills they require. Odds are, you probably have a lot of the skills they require. if you have at least 50%, you are likely a candidate for that job.
Whatever you decide, know that it's the right decision. Don't second guess yourself.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
This was super helpful, thank you!
Brillith