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METRANS Transportation Center University of Southern California California State University Long Beach

Professional Development

TrainThe CSULB College of Continuing and Professional Education offers training programs that contribute to the development of a well informed cadre of industry professionals. Under the umbrella of the Center for International Trade and Transportation (CITT) a variety of industry driven programs meet training needs for professionals in goods movement, for both the public and private sector, as well as for users and providers of global logistics services.

The offerings include professional designation and certificate programs, workshops and customized contract training, offered in the classroom or online.

Certificate Programs

Global Logistics Specialist (GLS®) Professional Designation Program   

GLobal Logistics Specialist (GLS) Logo

The Global Logistics Specialist (GLS®) program was developed through the Center for International Trade and Transportation (CITT) California State University, Long Beach – University College and Extension Services to meet an industry need for trained professionals who hold a clear overview understanding of international goods movement and supply chain management, including planning, implementing and controlling the efficient and effective forward and reverse flow and storage of containerized goods, services and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption.

The GLS® program is designed in a flexible format, grouped into six modules covering a total of 122 contact hours, including site visits, offered at three-hour long evening sessions and on Saturdays to accommodate the time schedule of working adults. Students may attend classes one night a week and three Saturdays to complete the program within one year. They also have the option of attending classes two evenings per week and three Saturdays, allowing them to graduate in six months.

GLS® Online

The business of international trade and transportation is increasingly conducted on the web via the Internet. The way goods are delivered today bears little resemblance to the past. The same holds true for the delivery of education needed in order to become a logistics professional. In the constantly growing global economy, the need for well-trained logistics professionals is universal. With a grant from METRANS, the highly-regarded GLS® program has been converted to a web-based delivery format to meet training needs nationwide and worldwide.

The GLS® Online consists of five modules and a Capstone Project. Each module has a specific area of focus and deals with different aspects of global logistics and supply chain management. GLS® Online modules can be taken in numerical order or out of sequence if needed.  The program can be completed in less then eight months.

The following are examples of other training offered in the past:

Certified Logistics Employee

The Certified Global Logistics Employee (GLE™) program prepares individuals for entry-level positions in the international trade and logistics industry. Industry segments include Freight Forwarders, Customs Brokers, Trucking and distribution companies, NVOCC’s (Non-Vessel Operating Carriers), Import and Export companies, and Air Cargo companies.

Worksite Compliance Training

The Center for International Trade and Transportation offers certificate classes in worksite compliance training that address how hazardous goods are transported, handled and stored from manufacturing to disposal. The courses are offered through CITT by a certified instructor in Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety/Compliance and Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Training. Individual classes include Department of Transportation Hazardous Material/Waste Manifest Training, required for employees who directly handle hazardous materials and Land Disposal Restriction Notification and Certification Training, for persons who generate, transport, or receive hazardous waste and for owners/operators of hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities.

In addition to degree and certificate programs offered by USC and CSULB, METRANS offers professional development and training opportunities in response to the specific needs of individual institutions. These training seminars allow METRANS to combine education and outreach efforts, bringing skilled personnel and expertise to a wider audience. Professional development offerings include:

Introduction for Beginners in Global Logistics

This class is designed for those "new-to-the-industry." It addresses the career opportunities in the fast growing transportation and logistics industry and its needs for a skilled workforce pool. Additionally, the students will learn basic supply chain concepts.

Global Distribution Overview/Introduction to Logistics and the Supply Chain

This is a 5-hour seminar designed to introduce students unfamiliar with goods movement to the role logistics plays in the operations and execution of supply chain management. Topics include the language of the supply chain, the various channels of a typical supply chain and how they are integrated in order to increase the flow of critical information from manufacturer to end user, and the return of critical information from end user to manufacturer.

Goods Movement/Logistics Seminar (Three-day)

This seminar is designed for transportation professionals without formal training in goods movement. It provides an overview of what is involved in moving international freight effectively from source to destination and engages participants in a broader discussion of goods movement and logistics planning. With a focus on meeting the freight and logistics management needs of the public sector, the seminar also addresses policy development, project financing, and best practices. The curriculum maximizes the participation of industry experts to help foster relationships among goods movement professionals and transportation planners and engineers.


Goods Movement/Logistics Seminar (Half-day)

This seminar is designed for elected officials and other decision makers (City Managers, Planning Commissioners, e.g.) interested in the relationship between goods movement and local communities. It provides a broad overview of what is involved in moving international freight effectively from source to destination and identifies key trends to observe in policy development and project financing.


Executive Seminar: "How Vulnerable is Your Supply Chain?"

This is an executive level seminar on planning and preparing for supply chain disruptions. The one-day workshop instructs managers responsible for strategic planning on how to assess existing supply chains, identify vulnerabilities and develop a contingency plan for weak links in the chain.


For information on these seminars or other customized contract training opportunities for your institution, please contact:

Marianne Venieris
Deputy Director, METRANS
Executive Director, CITT
1000 Studebaker, #3
Long Beach, CA 90815
562-985-2872
citt@ccpe.csulb.edu