UNC MBA - Curriculum Analysis

In the second part of UNC MBA Analysis, we cover how the school has designed its curriculum, the electives, the concentrations, the dual degree programs, experiential learning, and global learning opportunities. If you have not read the first part of the series, read UNC MBA – Class Profile and Total Fees.

Core Curriculum

To qualify for an MBA at UNC, students require 62 credits in total. The 16 core courses provide a balance of people-centric (teamwork, leadership, communication) and functional skills to make effective decisions in the workplace.

The MBA foundations & skills course provides frameworks for team-based problem-solving through case competitions.

UNC’s core curriculum is unique for its emphasis on ethics, inclusive leadership, and sustainability, touching on handling corruption, practical aspects of integrating ethics in decision -making, sustainability in decision-making, and leadership development as an individual.

Electives

The 136 electives are designed with function-based (data analysis, finance, organizational behavior, operations, and marketing) and industry-based (healthcare, real estate, and energy) concentrations in mind.

10% of these electives are based on business trends and faculty research, modified each year to ensure that MBA graduates are prepared for emerging industry trends. The focus within technology electives is on strategy, fintech tools, innovation, and start-ups.

Innovation, a theme taught in 6 separate electives, focuses on value chain, strategies, design thinking, and financial inclusion. Consulting opportunities within the curriculum cater to start-ups, energy, and healthcare industries. Data analysis is a feature within multiple focus areas of the curriculum.

AI and Marketing: Modern technologies like artificial intelligence are taught only in the context of marketing. Their applications and capabilities in finance remain to be explored by the curriculum.

Concentrations

With two new concentrations added, there are Fourteen concentrations offered at UNC MBA, with students given the choice of up to 2 concentrations from either career or enrichment concentrations.

Students can also customize academic plans according to their career ambition within the 62-credit requirement.

Healthcare, Business Analytics, and Management Science are popular options. The extensive real estate concentration offers employment in related industries such as consulting, private equity, and investment banking. Students can also enter these fields through consulting and corporate finance concentrations.

Each of the concentrations has a mandatory capstone project, blending industry knowledge with practice.

Experiential Learning

UNC MBA’s experiential learning focuses on developing core leadership and data-driven decision-making skills.

STAR – Student Teams Achieving Results

With STAR, small teams of 4 to 6 students adopt consulting frameworks and methodologies while applying them to the industry. The teams include undergraduate Business students in addition to MBA peers.

UNC conducted past STAR projects by developing a new business strategy for GlaxoSmithKline, identifying new market opportunities for Coca-Cola, and solving a sustainability challenge for Procter and Gamble.

Since 2005, STAR teams have solved nearly 400 unique business challenges. Faculty members and STAR staff mentor student teams for the 15-week duration of the project. MBA students are provided opportunities to lead teams.

Student Managed Funds

The Capital Market Lab provides opportunities to 50 students in managing equity and fixed-income portfolios, research, manipulation of risk management, and financial modeling.

The three available fund categories are Applied Investment Management (AIM), Real Estate, and Private Equity funds.

AIM provides asset management of $18 million spread over 13 student-run funds, each of which adopts a different investment strategy, widening student perspective through practice and networking and developing skills in all aspects of fund management and investment analysis.

Real Estate Funds select a few students to identify, evaluate, and propose investment opportunities to faculty and other stakeholders.

Since 2007, the Private Equity Fund has had more than $6 million in capital under management, providing actual returns to its limited partners. Select students gain course credit and experiential learning for managing the entire investment cycle of raising money, deal sourcing, making investment decisions, and proposing recommendations to stakeholders.

Case Competitions

Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC): UNC provides budding entrepreneurs and venture capitalists with the opportunity to participate in its Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC). Students' abilities to conduct due diligence, assess investment decisions, pitch, and negotiate deals are subject to judgment during the competition.

UNC Kenan-Flagler Real Estate Development Challenge:  UNC Kenan-Flagler Real Estate Development Challenge gives access to 16 of the best student teams from top US MBA programs for a development project. Judged by leading real estate firms and financial institutions, students must design a site and conduct budget analysis.

Non-profit Board Consulting

Students chosen for nonprofit board consulting are entrusted with the responsibilities of analyzing mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, and formulating marketing strategies. They are placed as non-voting board members with access to high-level strategies that the board has adopted. Based on the insight, students must work on a social project while developing the communication and leadership skills to manage mentors, articulate consulting solutions, and learn the best practices of presenting to a board. Previous projects have included consulting projects with the Ronald McDonald House, Super Cooper Red Wagon Foundation, United Way, and Habitat for Humanity.

Global Learning

UNC MBA immerses students in international cultures with global learning projects. The 30+ years of experience delivering learning projects in 85 countries prepare candidates to gain exposure to diverse business practices globally.

In 2022, there will be eight different local and international immersion experiences to London, Montreal, the Netherlands, Alaska, Hungary, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C. The 2-week experience analyzing historical, cultural, and socioeconomic factors and business practices will build MBA’s cultural sensitivity and leadership to excel globally. Electives focusing on a specific function or industry, such as Entrepreneurship, Healthcare, Real Estate, Sustainability, Social Enterprise, and Innovation, build students’ foundation before applying their skills to immersion experiences.

Global Immersion Electives: Students study another culture and economy for academic credit through the Global Immersion Elective (GIE). Faculty at UNC Kenan-Flagler give classes in Chapel Hill that end in an intensive immersion in the country of study. The majority of GIE is focused on innovation and social enterprise, with a few expanding to real estate, healthcare and entrepreneurship. Students attend classes before the trip to study the region's history, culture, and socioeconomic climate, as well as cultural communication skills and examine the companies they visit. The training concludes with a 10- to 14-day intensive course in the country.

Exchange Program: As part of the member of the Partnership in International Management Consortium (PIM), UNC MBA students in the second year can participate in module or semester-long exchange programs with more than 50 leading business schools in Asia, Europe, South America, Africa, and the Middle East.

Doing Business In: Doing Business In (DBI) and short optional courses allow students to study abroad and learn about another culture. Courses are typically one to two weeks in length and involve class sessions as well as cultural tours to one of the MBA exchange partner schools. Argentina, Brazil, China, Israel, Germany, Austria, and France are among the destinations.

DBIs and short exchanges are possible in early January, March, May, June, and July, depending on the program. Fees vary by program and may include lodging and cultural visits in some scenarios.

UNC MBA Dual Degrees

UNC offers seven on-campus dual degrees. Two more dual degrees are offered in conjunction with Duke University, bringing a total of nine dual degree options. Each of the dual degrees has a mandatory summer internship requirement. Usually, the entry requirement is five years of post-graduation experience with a GMAT or GRE score.

•    The MBA/JD is a 4-year dual degree from UNC’s School of Law.
•    Gillings School of Global Public Health and UNC offer a 3-year MBA/Master of Health Administration and MBA/Master of Public Health.
•    3-year MBA/Master of City and Regional Planning
•    5-year MBA/PharmD with the Eshelman School of Pharmacy
•    5-year MBA/MD with the School of Medicine
•    5-year MBA/DDS with Adam’s School of Dentistry
•    3-year MBA/MA (EXSS-Sport Administration) with Exercise & Sports Science
•    3-year MBA/MEM or MBA/MF with the Nicholas School of Environment (Duke University)
•    3-year MBA/Master Public Policy with Sanford School of Public Policy (Duke University)

Related Service
•    UNC MBA Application Essay Editing
•    Consult with us to see if UNC MBA is the right program for you

Read the third part of the UNC MBA Series - UNC MBA - Scholarships, Fellowships, Loans and Financial Aid

Reference

UNC MBA