Darden MBA Program
CONCENTRATIONS
Class of 2015
ASSET MANAGEMENT / SALES & TRADING
CORPORATE FINANCE / INVESTMENT BANKING
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
CORPORATE INNOVATION
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH
STRATEGY CONSULTING
CONSUMER MARKETING
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS MARKETING
MARKET ANALYTICS
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
INNOVATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY
BUSINESS ANALYTICS
GLOBAL BUSINESS
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1
ASSET MANAGEMENT / SALES & TRADING
Learning Objectives
This concentration is designed to extend the valuation principles learned in the first year
curriculum to solve complex problems faced by asset managers and sales and trading
professionals. The courses expose students to a variety of different financial markets and
give students a deeper understanding for how companies are valued, which are critical
components for either managing a client’s funds or executing security trades.
Faculty Contact: Ken Eades, eadesk@darden.virginia.edu
Concentration Requirements
A student will be recognized as having this concentration when they have completed 9.0
hours of the courses listed below, of which no more than 3.0 hours may be chosen from the
Secondary electives list.
Specific Required Courses: None
Primary Electives: (Minimum of 6 credits required)
Credit hrs.
Course title
Course number
1.5
Valuation in Financial Markets
GBUS 7603
1.5
Derivative Securities: Options & Futures
GBUS 8426
1.5
Financial Trading
GBUS 8623
1.5
Investments
GBUS 8444
1.5
Portfolio Management
GBUS 8445
4.5
Darden Capital Management
GBUS 8520IA
Secondary Electives: Maximum of 3 credits will count toward the total of 9 credit hours.
Credit hrs.
Course title
1.5
Financial Reporting & Analysis
1.5
Fin Stmt Analysis & Corp Valuation
1.5
Management Decision Models
1.5
Hot Topics in Finance
1.5
Financial Institutions and Markets
1.5
Global Financial Markets
Experiential: (None)
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Course number
GBUS 7601
GBUS 8410
GBUS 8900
GBUS 8450
GBUS 8490
GBUS 7602
2
CORPORATE FINANCE / INVESTMENT BANKING
Learning Objectives
This concentration is designed to extend the valuation and value creation principles learned
in the first year curriculum to the solving of complex problems faced by companies and
investment banks. This concentration should be of interest to students with professional
interests in corporate finance (including CFO type responsibilities, internal M&A groups,
strategic planning, business development, and treasury and cash management), investment
banking (capital raising, deal structuring, and M&A advisory), commercial banking and
financial services, consulting in financial services, and a wide range of other management
positions that require advanced understanding of finance.
Faculty Contact: Ken Eades, eadesk@darden.virginia.edu
Concentration Requirements
A student will be recognized as having this concentration when they have completed 9.0
hours of the courses listed below, of which no more than 3.0 hours may be chosen from the
Secondary electives list.
Specific Required Courses: None
Primary Electives: (Minimum of 6 credits required)
Credit hrs.
Course title
Course number
1.5
Valuation in Financial Markets
GBUS 7603
1.5
Corporate Financial Policies
GBUS 8423
1.5
Entrepreneurial Finance & Private Equity
GBUS 8453
1.5
Corporate Financing
GBUS 8470
1.5
Financial Institutions and Markets
GBUS 8490
1.5
Mergers and Acquisitions
GBUS 8625
1.5
Derivative Securities: Options & Futures
GBUS 8426
Secondary Electives: (Maximum of 3 credits will count toward the total of 9 credit hours.)
Credit hrs.
Course title
Course number
1.5
Financial Reporting & Analysis
1.5
Taxation of Mergers and Acquisitions
1.5
Taxation and Management Decisions
1.5
Fin Stmt Analysis & Corp Valuation
1.5
Management Decision Models
1.5
Acquisition of Closely-Held Enterprises
1.5
Hot Topics in Finance
1.5
Managing Turnarounds and Workouts
1.5
Small Enterprise Finance
Experiential: (None)
GBUS 7601
GBUS 8160
GBUS 8190
GBUS 8410
GBUS 8900
GBUS 8106
GBUS 8450
GBUS 8617
GBUS 8454
Credit hrs.
Course number
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Course title
3
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Learning Objectives
Students graduate who understand their affinity for being entrepreneurial, understand the
fundamentals of effectual and causal thinking, and when each is appropriate and graduate with a set
of skills based on academic study and experiential work that allows them to be confident in starting
a new venture.
Faculty Contact: Philippe Sommer, sommerp@darden.virginia.edu
Concentration Requirements
A student will be recognized as having this concentration when they have completed 10.5 hours of
the courses listed below, of which 4.5 hours must be from the primary electives list, 3.0 credits
from the Secondary Electives list and 3.0 credits from the Experiential list.
Specific Required Courses: None
Primary Electives: (Choose 4.5 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
1.5
Entrepreneurial Thinking
1.5
Developing New Products and Services
1.5
Starting New Ventures
1.5
Venture Capital
Secondary Electives: (Choose 3 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
3.0
Acquisition of Closely Held Enterprises
Growing the Smaller Enterprise
Introduction to Business Law
Entrepreneurial Finance and Private Equity
Small Enterprise Finance
Entrepreneurs Taking Action
Sustainable Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Leading Innovation
Systems Design and Business Dynamics
Entrepreneur as Change Agent
Digital Marketing
Innovation and Design Experience
Or
1.5
Creativity and Design Thinking
Experiential: (Choose 3 credits)
Credit hrs.
3.0
1.5
3.0
1.5
1.5
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Course number
GBUS 7609
GBUS 8130
GBUS 8210
GBUS 8290
Course number
GBUS 8106
GBUS 8230
GBUS 8280
GBUS 8453
GBUS 8454
GBUS 8469
GBUS 8060/7613
GBUS 8840
GBUS 8430
GBUS 8427
GBUS 8033
GBUS 8459
GBUS 8484
Course title
Course number
Darden Venturing Project
Global Business Experience – Israel (if offered)
Markets in Human Hope
The Adrenaline Innovation Project
Develop an Entrepreneur’s Mindset
GBUS 8700
GBUS 8510P
GBUS 8478
GBUS 7614
GBUS 7615
4
CORPORATE INNOVATION
Learning Objectives
Students graduate who have developed the mindset and skill set to succeed at identifying
and implementing innovation in a corporate setting.
Faculty Contact: Jeanne Liedtka, liedtkaj@darden.virginia.edu
Concentration Requirements
A student will be recognized as having this concentration when they have completed 10.5 hours of
the courses listed below, of which 4.5 hours must be from the primary electives list, 4.5 credits
from the Secondary Electives list and 1.5 credits from the Experiential list.
Specific Required Courses: None
Primary Electives: (Choose 4.5 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
Course number
1.5
Developing New Products and Services
3.0
Innovation and Design Experience or
1.5
Creativity and Design Thinking
1.5
Managing Innovation & Product Development
1.5
Systems Design and Business Dynamics
Secondary Electives: (Choose 4.5 credits)
Credit hrs.
GBUS 8130
GBUS 8459
GBUS 8484
GBUS 8612
GBUS 8430
Course title
Course number
1.5
Leadership and Cultures of Trust and Innovation
1.5
Big Data in Marketing
1.5
Leading Strategic Change
1.5
Leadership and Theatre: Ethics, Innovation and Creativity
1.5
Entrepreneurial Thinking
3.0
The Experience Economy
1.5
Innovating and Integrating in Services
1.5
GBE Spain: Strategy as Design (If offered)
1.5
GBE: Sweden (with approval if offered)
Experiential: (Choose 1.5 credits)
Credit hrs.
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GBUS 8439
GBUS 8630
GBUS 8701
GBUS 8403
GBUS 7609
GBUS 8438
GBUS 8404
GBUS 8510G
GBUS 8510K
Course title
Course number
1.5
Darden Consulting Project
1.5
Developing New Products and Services
3.0
1.5
Innovation and Design Experience
GBE: Israel (If offered)
GBUS 8699
GBUS 8130 if not used
as primary
GBUS 8459 if not used
as primary
GBUS 8510P
5
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH
Learning Objectives
Sustainable success requires organizations to innovate and grow to maintain or increase
profitability. Students in this concentration will learn the fundamentals of managing
innovation, organic growth, and acquisition and integration of mergers and acquisitions.
Faculty Contact: Jeanne Liedtka, liedtkaj@darden.virginia.edu
Concentration Requirements
A student will be recognized as having this concentration when they have completed 10.5 hours of
the courses listed below, of which 4.5 hours must be from the primary electives list, 3.0 credits
from the Secondary Electives list and 3.0 credits from the Experiential list.
Specific Required Courses: None
Primary Electives: (Choose 4.5 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
1.5
Post-Merger Integration
1.5
Competitive Dynamics Seminar
1.5
Organic Growth
1.5
Managing Innovation & Product Development
Secondary Electives: (Choose 3.0 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
Course number
GBUS 8150
GBUS 8310
GBUS 8468
GBUS 8612
Course number
1.5
Strategy Seminar
1.5
Marketing Intelligence
1.5
Valuation in Financial Markets
1.5
Entrepreneurial Thinking
1.5
Corporate Governance
3.0
General Managers Taking Action
1.5
Developing New Products and Services
Experiential: (Choose 3.0 credits)
GBUS 8870
GBUS 7606
GBUS 7603
GBUS 7609
GBUS 8090
GBUS 8400
GBUS 8130
Credit hrs.
Course title
Course number
Darden Consulting Project
Innovation and Design Experience
Technology Accelerator
GBUS 8699
GBUS 8459
GBUS 8472
1.5
3.0
3.0
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6
STRATEGY CONSULTING
Learning Objectives
This concentration is intended to immerse students in the consulting process and to help
them identify and deepen the skill sets necessary for success in that role.
Faculty Contact: Jay Bourgeois, bourgeoisj@darden.virginia.edu
Concentration Requirements
A student will be recognized as having this concentration when they have completed 10.5
hours of the courses listed below, of which 4.5 hours must be from the primary electives list,
3.0 credits from the Secondary Electives list and 3.0 credits from the Experiential list.
Specific Required Courses: None
Primary Electives: (Choose 4.5 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
1.5
The Consulting Process
1.5
Competitive Dynamics Seminar
1.5
Strategy Seminar
1.5
Investigations into the Nature of Strategy
Secondary Electives: (Choose 3.0 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
Course number
GBUS 7611
GBUS 8310
GBUS 8870
GBUS 8970
Course number
1.5
Post-Merger Integration
1.5
Valuation in Financial Markets
1.5
Managing Innovation & Product Development
1.5
Marketing Intelligence
1.5
Operations Strategy
1.5
Management Decision Models
1.5
Health Care Management
1.5
Systems Design and Business Dynamics
3.0
Technology Accelerator
Experiential: (Choose 3.0 credits)
GBUS 8150
GBUS 7603
GBUS 8612
GBUS 7606
GBUS 8800
GBUS 8900
GBUS 8030
GBUS 8430
GBUS 8472
Credit hrs.
Course title
Course number
Darden Consulting Project
Innovation and Design Experience
GBUS 8699
GBUS 8459
3.0
3.0
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7
CONSUMER MARKETING (B2C)
Learning Objectives
The B2C Concentration will prepare students for careers where brand leadership is critical,
e.g., in consumer packaged goods, consumer durables, consumer services, consulting firms,
and even NFPs. Through this series of courses, students will gain insight into how customer
based marketing decisions can create loyal, engaged customers. (The B2C concentration
focuses on the end-user as customer.)
Faculty Contact: Marian Moore, moorema@darden.virginia.edu
Concentration Requirements
A student will be recognized as having this concentration when they have completed 9.0 hours
of the courses listed below, 3.0 hours are required courses and you must choose 6.0 credits
from the Primary Electives list.
Specific Required Courses: (3.0 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
1.5
Integrated Marketing Communications and Promotion
1.5
Managing Consumer Brands
Primary Electives: (Choose 6.0 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
1.5
Big Data in Marketing
1.5
Pricing
1.5
Developing New Products and Services
1.5
Hot Topics in Marketing
1.5
Digital Marketing
1.5
Marketing Intelligence
1.5
Consumer Psychology
3.0
Innovation and Design Experience
Secondary Electives: (None)
Course number
GBUS 7617
GBUS 8620
Course number
GBUS 8630
GBUS 8047
GBUS 8130
GBUS 8464
GBUS 8033
GBUS 7606
GBUS 8304
GBUS 8459
Experiential: (None)
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8
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS MARKETING (B2B)
Learning Objectives
This concentration is designed for those students who wish to pursue a career in
organizations that market goods and services to other businesses. It is also appropriate for
those seeking careers in consulting, operations or non-marketing jobs in a B2B firm. The
objective of this concentration is to provide students with an understanding for how
businesses relate to one another, how to manage these relationships, and how to develop and
implement a viable strategy.
Faculty Contact: Thomas Steenburgh, steenburght@darden.virginia.edu
Concentration Requirements
A student will be recognized as having this concentration when they have completed 10.5 hours
of the courses listed below, of which 3.0 are required, 1.5 hours must be from the primary
electives list, and 6.0 credits from the Secondary Electives list.
Specific Required Courses: (3.0 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
1.5
Marketing Intelligence
1.5
Business to Business Marketing
Primary Electives: ( Choose 1.5 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
1.5
Supply Chain Management
Emerging Topics in Technology & Operations
1.5
Management
1.5
Negotiations
1.5
Organic Growth
Secondary Electives: (Choose 6.0 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
1.5
Strategy Seminar
1.5
Operations Strategy
1.5
Big Data in Marketing
1.5
Developing New Products and Services
1.5
Hot Topics in Marketing
Experiential: None
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Course number
GBUS 7606
GBUS 8610
Course number
GBUS 8830
GBUS 8466
GBUS 8930
GBUS 8468
Course number
GBUS 8870
GBUS 8800
GBUS 8630
GBUS 8130
GBUS 8464
9
MARKET ANALYTICS
Learning Objectives
The objectives of this concentration are to equip students with strong analytic skills, expose
them to large data sets where they can engage in mining as it relates to customer
relationship management, brand marketing, and other processes for building closer
relationships with one’s customer base. The concentration is positioned for those students
who wish to follow a B2C career with more of a focus on the research, who are looking at
careers in consulting, business development, or other areas where analytic skills are highly
valued.
Faculty Contact: Raj Venkatesan, venkatesanr@darden.virginia.edu
Concentration Requirements
A student will be recognized as having this concentration when they have completed 10.5 hours
of the courses listed below, of which 6.0 are required, and a minimum of 4.5 credits from the
Secondary Electives list.
Specific Required Courses: (6.0 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
1.5
Marketing Intelligence
1.5
Big Data in Marketing
1.5
Data Analysis and Optimization
1.5
Pricing
Primary Electives: (None)
Credit hrs.
Course title
Course number
GBUS 7606
GBUS 8630
GBUS 7600
GBUS 8047
Course number
Secondary Electives: (Choose 4.5 credits)
Credit hrs.
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
Course title
Managing Consumer Brands
Hot Topics in Marketing
Data Science in Business
The Consulting Process
Integrated Marketing Communications and Promotion
Innovating and Integrating in Services – The New
1.5
Economy
Experiential: None
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Course number
GBUS 8620
GBUS 8464
GBUS 8622
GBUS 7611
GBUS 7617
GBUS 8404
10
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Learning Objectives
Obtain additional grounding in Operations Management concepts, develop depth in
knowledge of general management- associated supply chain management concepts and
principles, and build strength in related cross-functional skills.
Faculty Contact: Elliott Weiss weisse@virginia.edu
Concentration Requirements
A student will be recognized as having this concentration when they have completed 10.5
hours of the courses listed below, 1.5 credits are required courses, 3.0 hours must be from
the primary electives list, 4.5 credits from the Secondary Electives list and 1.5 credits from
the Experiential list.
Specific Required Courses: (1.5 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
Course number
1.5
Supply Chain Management
Primary Electives: ( Choose 3.0 credits)
GBUS 8830
Credit hrs.
Course number
Course title
1.5
Operations Strategy
1.5
Business to Business Marketing
1.5
Systems Design and Business Dynamics
1.5
General Management and Operational Effectiveness
Secondary Electives: (Choose 4.5 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
GBUS 8800
GBUS 8610
GBUS 8430
GBUS 7608
Course number
1.5
1.5
Negotiations
GBUS 8930
Management Decision Models
GBUS 8900
Emerging Topics in Technology & Operations
1.5
Management
GBUS 8466
1.5
Global Innovation and Technology Commercialization GBUS 8488
1.5
Strategic Alliances: Bridging Theory and Practice
GBUS 8483
Experiential: (Choose 1.5 credit hours) with a focus on Supply Chain management issues.
Credit hrs.
1.5
1.5
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Course title
Course number
Darden Independent Study (with approval)
Darden Consulting Project (with approval)
GBUS 8999
GBUS 8699
11
INNOVATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Learning Objectives
This concentration is designed to equip students with an informed sustainability perspective to strengthen
their managerial and decision-making capabilities and their ability to improve society through business.
Coursework will: 1) Enable students to design and execute collaborative sustainability strategies intended to
increase revenues through innovative products and services, lower costs through efficiencies and design,
create and enhance sustainable brands, and mitigate business risk. 2) Instill knowledge about the global and
systemic impacts on natural systems and human well-being from important societal trends such as
urbanization, industrialization, climate change and population growth; 3) Inform students of regional and
global institutions and policy instruments that influence business operations and strategy. This concentration
is relevant for students pursuing careers in operations, including supply chain, marketing/brand management,
consulting and finance, as well as for entrepreneurs.
Faculty Contact: Michael Lenox, lenoxm@darden.virginia.edu
Concentration Requirements
Students will be recognized as having this concentration when they have completed a minimum of 9.0 credits of
the courses listed below. A minimum of 6.0 credits must be from the Primary Electives, and a minimum of 1.5
credits must be from the Experiential Electives.
Primary Electives: (Choose a minimum of 6.0 credits)
Credit hrs.
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
3.0
Course title
Course number
Systems Design and Business Dynamics
Supply Chain Management
Business-Government Relations
Creative Capitalism
Leadership, Values and Ethics
Leadership and Diversity through Literature
Business Ethics through Literature
Philosophy and Business: Business in Society
Leading Strategic Change
Strategic Alliances
Managing Innovation and Product Development
Global Economics of Water
NON GBUS with approval (Max of 3.0 credit hours). For example:
Climate Change: Science, Markets & Policy
GBUS 8430
GBUS 8830
GBUS 8330
GBUS 7610
GBUS 8704
GBUS 8705
GBUS 8203
GBUS 8489
GBUS 8701
GBUS 8483
GBUS 8612
GBUS 8626
NON GBUS
EVSC 7040/LAW 9013
Experiential Electives: (Choose a minimum of 1.5 credits)
Credit hrs.
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
4.5
3.0
3.0
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Course title
Course number
Darden Independent Study (with approval)
Darden Consulting Projects (with approval)
Darden Venturing Projects (with approval)
Global Business Experience (with approval)
Darden Capital Management (Rotunda Fund)
Innovation and Design Experience (with approval)
Markets in Human Hope
GBUS 8999
GBUS 8699
GBUS 8700
GBUS 8510
GBUS 85201-A
GBUS 8459
GBUS 8478
12
BUSINESS ANALYTICS
Learning Objectives
This business analytics concentration will prepare students to participate in organizations that make
abundant use of data/quantitative/mathematical techniques as part of their business processes. It is a
more general version of the “Market Analytics” concentration in that the areas of application are more
than marketing. We expect completion of this concentration to be a useful signal to potential
employers of the analytic and quantitative abilities of the student.
Faculty Contact: Robert Carraway, carrawayr@darden.virginia.edu
Concentration Requirements
A student will be recognized as having completed this concentration when (s)he has met the following
three constraints:
Completed at least 10.5 hours of the courses listed below;
Completed at least 6 hours from the primary list;
Completed at least 1.5 hours from the experiential list with a Quantitative Analysis faculty member.*
*This requirement may under certain circumstances be relaxed. For example, if a student is doing an
Experiential Elective with another professor but it includes a significant analytical component, this
might be approved as a substitute. To waive this requirement, you must receive permission from
Robert Carraway.
Specific Required Courses: None; however, we expect students will take Data Analysis and
Optimization (GBUS 7600) as it is a prerequisite for some of the courses below.
Primary Electives: (At least 6 hours)
Credit hrs.
Course Title
Course Number
1.5
Data Analysis and Optimization
GBUS 7600
1.5
Games and Auctions
GBUS 8424
1.5
Management Decision Models
GBUS 8900
1.5
Optimization
GBUS 8631
1.5
Data Science in Business
GBUS 8622
Secondary Electives: (At least 1.5 hours)
Credit hrs.
Course Title
Course Number
1.5
Project Management
GBUS 8621
1.5
Systems Design and Business Dynamics
GBUS 8430
1.5
Big Data in Marketing
GBUS 8630
1.5
Investments
GBUS 8444
Experiential Electives: (At least 1.5 hours. Selection(s) must be approved by faculty contact)
Credit hrs.
Course Title
Course Number
1.5
Darden Consulting Project
GBUS 8699
1.5
Darden Independent Study
GBUS 8999
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13
GLOBAL BUSINESS
Learning Objectives
This concentration is designed for those students who wish to develop business knowledge, skills
and expertise in other regions of the world going beyond the standard global content in Darden’s
MBA program. The concentration combines globally-focused course content with an experiential
component so that students can apply their newly acquired skills and knowledge in a new
international environment. This concentration is well suited for students who wish to pursue a
career with a strong international component.
Faculty Contact: Peter Debaere debaerep@darden.virginia.edu
Concentration Requirements
Students have fulfilled this concentration when they have completed 10.5 hours of the courses
listed below, of which 4.5 hours must be from the primary electives list, 3.0 credits from the
Secondary Electives list and 3.0 credits from the Experiential list.
Specific Required Courses: None
Primary Electives: (Choose 4.5 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
1.5
Global Financial Markets
1.5
China in the World Economy
1.5
Management of Economic Growth and Society
1.5
Global Industry Economics
1.5
Global Economics of Water
Secondary Electives: (Choose 3 credits)
Credit hrs.
Course title
1.5
Course number
GBUS 7602
GBUS 8023
GBUS 8309
GBUS 8481
GBUS 8626
Course number
Advanced Global Financial Markets
International Deal Making: Legal & Business
1.5
Acquisitions
1.5
Leadership and Diversity through Literature
1.5
Business Government Relations
1.5
Markets and Society
Mastering Global Leadership: Managing your career
1.5
and Life in the Global Economy
1.5
Strategic Thinking: Integrating East and West
1.5
Pre-approved Independent Study on Global Topic
Experiential: (Choose 3.0 credits)**
GBUS 8491
Credit hrs.
Course number
1.5
Course title
Global Business Experiences
Global Business Experience Israel with Global
3.0
Innovations Course
3.0
Global Field Elective
3.0-12
International Exchange
** Experiential electives from some of our partner schools also count.
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GBUS 8419
GBUS 8705
GBUS 8330
GBUS 8022
GBUS 8473
GBUS 8305
GBUS 8510
GBUS 8510P
GBUS 8999
GBUS 8998
14