ASCEnT Program

Why ASCEnT: 

Today’s employers face a critical talent gap: an urgent need for professionals who can think and act at the intersection of business, engineering and technology in the global environment. ASCEnT was designed to develop exactly this type of leader — one capable of translating between global market signals, operational realities, technical demands and AI / Industry 4.0 solutions. 

Building on Marquette’s Top 10 nationally ranked supply chain program, ASCEnT leverages state-of-the-art resources — like the university’s Omron Advanced Automation Lab — and an extensive industry network. This concentration ensures students do more than just keep pace with a changing landscape; they will graduate as practice-ready professionals capable of using ethical, evidence-based judgment to solve high-stakes global challenges. 

Program overview: 

ASCEnT is an 11-credit interdisciplinary concentration designed to complement students’ primary major in Business, Engineering or Computer Science. Rather than repackaging existing classes, this program builds a unique "integrated skill stack" that enables students to translate between technical and managerial worlds.

The ASCEnT Journey: Course Sequence 

The program consists of 11 credit hours delivered through a connected sequence of eight courses that blend foundational theory with high-impact field discovery. 

Sophomore Year – J-term and Spring: 

• MILESTONE - AI Agility (0 cr.) 
• ASET3951 - Supply Network Discovery Trip - Domestic (0 cr.)  
• ASET3210 - Supply Network Systems Thinking (3 cr.) 

Junior year - Fall 

• ASET 3300 - Uncertainty Management (2 cr.) 

Junior year - Spring 

• ASET4951 - Supply Network Discovery Trip - International (0 cr.) 
• ASET4210 - Technology Integration & Digital Transformation (3 cr.) 

Senior Year - Fall 

• ASET4998 - The Chaos Project (2 cr.) 

Senior Year - Spring 

• ASET4996 - Reflection & Integration Studio (1 cr.) 

The ASCEnT program is designed to give students a transformative educational experience by layering specialized competencies onto primary degrees. The program prepares students to lead in the global marketplace by providing: 

High-Impact Experiential Learning:

Students’ education extends beyond the classroom through domestic and international discovery trips, hands-on work in the Omron Advanced Automation Lab and the "Chaos Project" — a high-stakes project where you navigate real-time disruptions and uncertainties under real-time constraints. 

Integrated Skill Stack:

Students will develop a high-value combination of technological fluency in AI and Industry 4.0, cross-functional business expertise, and advanced systems thinking. 

Builds on Rather Than Replaces Your Major:

Designed as a strategic 11-credit addition, ASCEnT layers onto students’ primary degree without duplicating major requirements, allowing expertise to strengthen without extending the graduation timeline. 

Selective Cross-Functional Cohort Model:

Students will learn and collaborate within a selective group of peers from business, engineering and computer science, mirroring the interdisciplinary teams found in the real world. 

Accelerated Career Progression:

By mastering the ability to think and problem solve through a systems lens, students will be able translate between technical and managerial stakeholders and can expect faster onboarding and a quicker transition into high-impact leadership roles. 

Workforce Readiness:

Students will graduate as a "practice-ready" professional with an employer-facing portfolio of skills and competencies that provide evidence ofdecision-making quality and technical expertise. 

Access to World-Class Faculty and Industry Experts:

Learn directly from a cross-college team of award-winning professors and external practitioners who bridge the gap between academic theory and industrial application. 

National Prestige:

Students will be joining others in Marquette’s Top 10 nationally ranked supply chain and technical ecosystem and supported by a robust network of industry partners. 

How to apply: 

To enroll in the ASCEnT concentration, students must apply and be accepted. The concentration is open to Fall 2026 sophomore student groups, who are: 

• College of Business Administration: supply chain majors 
• Opus College of Engineering: pursuing any engineering degree 

Application Timeline:

To begin the program in Spring 2027, students will need to apply during the application period in fall 2026.

• August 24, 2026: application period opens
• October 1, 2026: application period closes
• October 2 - 28, 2026: application review and interviews
• October 28, 2026: students notified of accepteptance decision

The application link will appear here.  

Acceptance in this concentration is based on: 

• GPA over 3.000 
• Completion or enrollment in OSCM3001 and declaration of OSCM major (for CoBA students) 
• Resume 
• Essay 
• Interview 

Academic Expectations for ASCEnT students: 

• All students accepted in the ASCEnT program must earn a B- or better in all ASCEnT courses. 
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000 during the entire program. 
• In addition to the courses offered, students will be strongly encouraged to complete at least one internship, prior to enrolling into ASET4998 – Chaos Project. 

International Travel Requirements:

Students will need a valid passport to take part in international travel experiences.