Bachelor of Arts in Transportation and Logistics Management

This course outlines basic study and research techniques, the use of libraries, and the importance of research methodology and analysis for the social sciences. It is a writing intensive course that requires a sound understanding of written communication. Students enrolling in this course should be familiar with proper citations and documentation, grammar and syntax, organizing their writing, and parts of a paper. (Prerequisite: ENGL101 or ENGL102).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101),Effectiveness in Writing(ENGL102)

Microeconomics is an overview course that covers how households (consumers), firms (producers), and governments interact in competitive and other markets to set prices, and determine what and how much is produced. Key concepts introduced include the role of scarcity and choice, incentives and competition, and the law of supply and demand.

Introduction to Macroeconomics is a survey course that builds on the topics covered and skills developed in ECON101 (Microeconomics) in order to present a complete picture of the economy. Macroeconomics shows how consumers and markets fit into the overall or aggregated economy and provides a framework to assess government policies. Key topics covered will include economic cycles (growth and recession), economic indicators and measures and interest rates and money supply.

This course is an overview of the transportation sector, including providers, users and government agencies. It examines contemporary public policy issues, such as deregulation, along with managerial strategies in transportation.

This course focuses on the micro and macro economic issues associated with international, national, and local transport, logistics, and other issues in the transportation industry. Topics include the economic aspects of rail, water, air, ground, and other transport modes; inventory, and supply.

This course is a study of supply chain management from the consumer back to raw materials. The entire process is studied from the standpoint of the leading theory and practice of cutting-edge organizations.

This course examines the United States and worldwide commercial freight transportation systems, with an emphasis on international intermodal surface transportation. Modal/intermodal economic and operating characteristics will be surveyed, along with cost, pricing, and regulation of transportation services. In addition, students will be introduced to electronic data interchange (EDI) in commercial transportation and the use of computer software applications in transportation management—all with the goal of providing students with an in-depth understanding of the principles of intermodal transportation systems, a grasp of transportation terminology, and the interrelationship between the Defense Transportation System (DTS) and the global commercial transportation infrastructure.

This course studies the logistics functions of business involved in the movement and storage of supplies, work-in-progress, and finished goods. It examines the trade-offs between cost and service and the purchase and supply of raw materials; the warehousing and control of inventory; industrial packaging; materials handling within warehouses; and the distribution of finished goods to customers required to minimize costs, maximize profits or increase customer service levels. STUDENTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO COMPLETE TLMT311 PRIOR TO TAKING THIS COURSE.

This course examines the role of packaging marking and labeling as part of the physical distribution process. It examines inner, outer, and intermediate packing, packaging media, dunnage, lading and ISO & non-ISO containers. Topics include: packaging as containment; packaging as a physical barrier, packaging as an impediment to in-transit visibility and handling; packaging as a carrier of arachnids, nematodes and plant and animal life; and contaminated packaging incompatibilities.

This course addresses the principles and practices of transportation and its role in the distribution process. Topics include the physical transportation system of the United States and its performance; carrier responsibilities and services; economic and legal bases of rates, freight classification and tariffs; public policy regarding regulation; and transportation issues and problems.

Business Logistics is the set of activities involved in the flow of materials and products through an organization and through the supply chain to the market. This course examines and applies management tools and principles to these supply and distribution problems. Emphasis is first placed on developing a broad overview of the logistics field: what are its principle activities, decisions and how these activities produce value by supplying customer service through order fulfillment. Interfunctional coordination is reviewed by examining how logistics is coordinated or integrated with marketing and corporate strategy. Next, a thorough grounding in concepts, alternatives and tools for the primary activities of logistics: inventory, transportation, warehousing and order processing are presented. This provides the basis for examining issues in logistics system design, including stock location, sourcing, number and location of facilities and flow management. The organizational design of the logistics system across the internal supply chain is examined if time permits.

This course provides students with an overview of sustainment of materials recovered from waste management programs. Students will study environmental regulations and their impact on company’s plans to dispose of unused or waste materials into landfills or recycling programs. Students will gain a perspective on how reverse logistics can work to improve the environment to help increase the value of the company’s products, and increase revenue in the process. The student will evaluate the direct and indirect impact of reverse logistics operations and the impact on the local and regional and world environment. The “green” movement will be explored as a competitive advantage. The student will study various recycling processes for various products, from automotive to clothing to food and beverages.

This course provides students with a systems-centric view to explore how tracking and tracing technology, such as GPS, bar codes and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags can be used in reverse logistics operations for returns, recalls, recycling and waste management. Case studies of today’s best practices in reverse logistics technology used in manufacturing, retail and in the military will be studied and discussed. Packaging technology and the growth of new types of packages to reduce waste will be examined. A comparison will be conducted on how different technology is used in processes of reverse logistics as compared to forward logistics. A practitioner approach is used to explore and examine the management functions and the interrelationships regarding the use of technology to capture data for products flowing in the reverse logistics system. Data synchronization and the issues of interfacing legacy software systems or information technology systems will be explored. This course is intended for students and professionals working in reverse logistics, retail business management, general management, transportation management, supply chain management, and corporate and military decision makers.

This course provides students with a systems-centric view to explore the financial management components needed to develop best practices in reverse logistics applications in manufacturing, retail and in the military. A systems view of total life cycle cost will be calculated and compared to the benefits or value added by incorporating a reverse logistics process to manufacturing and retail operations. Students will analyze a potential reverse logistics case study to determine the short and long term financial implications to the company and to the environment. The student will examine how to define the problem and the core assumptions that define the problem space. This course is intended for students and professionals working in an organization that uses or is considering using reverse logistics.

This course provides students with a systems-centric view to explore what is seen as today’s best practices in reverse logistics applications to the food production and distribution industry as well as the beverage industry. The student will study new container and packaging designs, such as the TEDSBOX, to help eliminate the spoilage factor of food and beverage movement in a reverse logistics operation. The issue of food and beverage is complex with many solutions from retail grocery giants. How to process returned food and beverage items will be explored and options discussed. Field survey of a grocery store or commissary near the student will be encouraged in order to obtain the unique language used in each type of retail store. Recycled food and beverage items will be examined in order to reprocess basic ingredients, such as sugar, to be resold in the marketplace next to virgin sugar. This course is intended for students and professionals working in manufacturing and retail reverse logistic who are concerned with returns and unsalable products.

This course provides students with an overview of today’s best practices in reverse logistics applications in manufacturing, retail and in the military. It includes the nature, scope, practices, procedures and processes of adding a reverse logistics operations center to a forward logistics supply chain. A practitioner approach is used to explore and examine the management functions and the interrelationships among the components of reverse operational logistics are provided. Case studies of Central Returns Centers are examined and core assumptions derived to help define the steps to follow in setting up a Central Returns Center. This course is intended for students and professionals working in logistics, retail business management, general management, transportation management, supply chain management, and corporate and military decision makers.

This course provides students with a systems-centric view to explore what is seen as today’s best practices in product recalls in manufacturing and retail. There appears to be no one standard set of practices or steps to follow for recalls. Each time a recall is voluntary or is issued by a company or the government, different procedures seem to be followed. This course will examine case studies of recalls from the food and beverage industry, consumer electronics, automotive, toys, and home appliances and furniture. The student will examine these cases to discover a set of procedures or steps that are common and those that are unique. This course is intended for students and professionals working in reverse logistics, retail business management, general management, transportation management, supply chain management, and corporate and military decision makers.

This course provides students with a data-centric view to explore what is seen as today’s best practices in capturing and securing reverse logistics data. Students will study why there is a need to manage excess inventory, why outsourcing this process may be profitable, how and why to access secondary markets for products, and how best to record and track the data for returns. The student will study methods of preventing products from entering the reverse logistics chain and one method of managing such a process. However, when the product does enter the reverse logistics process, the data capture at the entry point and along that chain become an expense if not properly managed and synchronized with data from the forward supply chain. The student will examine the role of 3PL in reverse logistics, the impact of distressed and fake merchandise, and how they contribute to the triple bottom line of the company. A practitioner approach is used to explore and examine the management functions and the interrelationships among the components of reverse operational logistics. This course is intended for students and professionals working in returns logistics, retail business management, general management, transportation management, supply chain management, and corporate and military decision makers.

This course is designed to provide a solid foundation for undergraduate study in the online environment. Students will be introduced to learning theory, the tools available in the online classroom and campus, and online research. Identification of personal learning style allows students to improve their study/learning techniques and prepares them to succeed in college level courses. Students will be introduced to formatting and citation styles. APUS policy and procedure is addressed. There is an emphasis on written communication to assist students in the transition to the online environment.

This senior capstone course allows students majoring in transportation and logistics to analyze specific program related issues and problems using the knowledge and understanding gained by completing the required courses in the program and a significant number of the major courses. This is a capstone course to be taken after all other Transportation and Logistics courses have been satisfactorily completed. Student must have SENIOR standing to register.