In the second part of the series about The Vanderbilt MBA program, we look at the curriculum structure and some unique electives the school has introduced to address the challenges that the current generation cares about.
How is the Vanderbilt MBA Structured?
The curriculum is organized into modules, with one module covering seven weeks plus a week-long exam week. A semester at Vanderbilt is two modules or mods.
By Mod 2 of the first year, students are encouraged to choose their specialty. Before the internship, students are expected to cover a breadth of topics either in their chosen specialty at the Owen Graduate School of Management or at other Vanderbilt Schools.
Students will complete a minimum of 62 credit hours of on-campus coursework over two years as Vanderbilt MBA candidates. Through the 11 mandatory core courses students must take during their first year, they will be thoroughly and immediately immersed in management fundamentals.
How quickly can Vanderbilt MBA students customize their curriculum?
Students must take an ethics course during their second-year and tailor their electives to fit intended professional objectives. Each student will finish at least one Concentration, which entails 12 additional credits in one field of study beyond the Core. Then, students can choose a wide range of elective courses that best suit their future job goals.
Students who want to "dig deeper" into a field of study might opt to complete a 20-credit Specialization. Students can add eight credit hours in one of three areas as emphases to their course of study.
What are the concentration and Specializations available at Vanderbilt MBA?
A concentration at Vanderbilt MBA is a minimum of 12 credits taken in a single field outside the Core.
Specialization vs. Concentration: Specializations are narrowly targeted course tracks for students who want a more in-depth look at the functional area relevant to their chosen career. Twenty credits of additional education outside of the Core are needed for specializations.
The 12 credits acquired in the corresponding focus plus eight credits total the 20 credits that are required to graduate. With eight hours of training, an emphasis enables students to delve deeper into a specific business or area of interest.
| Concentration | Specialization | Emphases |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | Brand Management | Entrepreneurship |
| Consumer Psychology and Marketing Analytics | Corporate Finance | International Studies |
| Finance | Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) | Sustainability & Social Impact |
| General Management | Investment Management | Customized Emphases: With Approval by Faculty |
| Healthcare | ||
| Human & Organizational Performance (HOP) | ||
| Marketing | ||
| Operations & Analytics | ||
| Strategy |
Does Vanderbilt MBA offer a Dual Degree MBA Program
The typical MBA program has 62 hours of coursework (four full semesters). However, the requirement has decreased to 50 credit hours (three semesters) when pursued as part of a joint degree, as Vanderbilt accepts 12 credit hours from the partner institution as electives.
Along with other professional and graduate institutions at Vanderbilt, the Vanderbilt MBA offers the following dual degrees: MBA/MD, MBA/JD, MBA/MALAS, MBA/MDiv, MBA/MTS, and MBA/MPP.
Additionally, Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt have dual degree agreements.
What is a Vanderbilt MBA Emphases
Minimum Requirement for an Emphases: With eight hours of training, an emphasis enables students to delve deeper into a certain business or area of interest. Any additional concentrations can be complemented by adding an emphasis on the degree. Vanderbilt emphasizes the following: International Studies, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainability & Social impact.
Following are the required courses for each of the three Emphases:
| Entrepreneurship | International Studies and Sustainability | Sustainability & Social Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship | Corporate Strategies for Environmental, Social, and Governmental Issues | Corporate Strategies for Environmental, Social, and Governmental Issues |
| Innovation Strategy | International Financial Markets and Instruments | Financial Analysis of ESG Data |
| Healthcare Innovation and Evaluation | Operations Strategy | The Future of Energy Markets in a Low-Carbon Economy |
| User-Centered Design II: Prototyping New Products and Services | Corporate Strategy | Project Pyramid |
| Introduction to Entrepreneurship | Doing Business in China | Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship |
| Launching the Venture | Project Pyramid Immersion | Women and Leadership |
| Entrepreneurial Finance | International Business Seminar | Law & Business of Climate Change |
| Business Models | International Exchange Programs and Maymester Courses | Strategic Business Solutions to Address Structural Racism |
| Launching the Venture II | Diversity in Organizations | |
| Project Pyramid—Global Trips Around the World | ||
| Project Pyramid Immersion |
What are the available Vanderbilt Experiential learning/Immersion Learning for MBA Candidates
Career Immersion and Trek: The Career Management Center allows students to travel to particular cities, interact with businesspeople and alums, and learn more about job options.
Career-Focused Short Courses: Vanderbilt offers three courses with a career focus.
• Brand Week: For marketing students, Brand Week is a three-day intensive immersion into brand management.
• Healthcare Immersion: Through the viewpoints of doctors, nurses, patients, scientists, and administrators in real-world healthcare scenarios, this cutting-edge course immerses students in the real world of U.S. healthcare delivery.
• International Seminar Courses: The Global Business Association offers a planned excursion to a significant global business hub each year.
Case Competitions: Student teams from Vanderbilt Business frequently win case contests nationwide by showcasing superior leadership, teamwork, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Vanderbilt Business students run the tournament. The competition, which GE and Deloitte Consulting support, pits groups from the best graduate programs nationwide against one another to tackle a pressing problem with human capital.
Student-Managed Investment Funds: Students at Vanderbilt have the opportunity to take part in two student-run investment funds.
The Max Adler Student Investment Fund (MASIF) is the first. The fund’s objective is to give Vanderbilt MBA students a chance to develop their investment management and research skills.
The TVA Investment Challenge Program is the other. The Investment Challenge Program, a collaboration between TVA and 24 colleges in its service area, offers students a hands-on introduction to portfolio management.
Entrepreneurial Opportunities: The Center for Entrepreneurship (C4E) is the hub around which Vanderbilt students connect with cross-functional and cross-disciplinary talents, including members of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, the Nashville Capital Network, and Jumpstart Foundry, and business owners in the city. These organizations help aspiring business owners find finance for their initiatives.
Does Vanderbilt MBA offer any International Study program?
Students at Vanderbilt take part in international research and seminar excursions through exchange programs.
International Studies Emphases: Students study currency trading, international markets, operations, and trade policies.
Maymester and Summer Study Abroad Programs: Many study abroad options are available to Vanderbilt Business students during the months of May and the summer, some of which can be finished before the start of an internship in June. Students from various business schools in Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia are admitted to each program. All programs provide optional intensive language training. They are taught in English.
Turner Family Center for Social Ventures Opportunities: Turner Family Center for Social Ventures – a multidisciplinary, student-run organization is dedicated to creating leaders and doers who are socially and environmentally responsible.
Project Pyramid, an interdisciplinary, student-led program that facilitates hands-on learning opportunities with socially aware groups worldwide, is sponsored by Vanderbilt's Turner Family Center for Social Ventures.
Outgoing Exchange Programs For Vanderbilt Business Students: The Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management maintains formal exchange partnerships with business schools in Latin America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Vanderbilt students typically travel abroad during the fall or spring semester of their second year of study.
| Region | Partner School for Exchange Program |
|---|---|
| Africa | Wits Business School, Wits University |
| Asia | Fudan University School of Management |
| Graduate School of International Management, International University of Japan | |
| Guanghua School of Management, Peking University | |
| HKUST Business School, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology | |
| NUS Business School - National University of Singapore | |
| Pontificia Universidad Católica De Chile | |
| Australia | Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne |
| Europe | ESSEC - École Supérieure Des Sciences Économiques Et Commerciales |
| Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | |
| WHU - Otto Beisheim School Of Management | |
| EBS - European Business School Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht | |
| NHH - Norwegian School of Economics | |
| Latin America | Fundação Instituto de Administração, Universidade De São Paulo |
| IPADE Business School, Universidad Panamericana | |
| Pontificia Universidad Católica De Chile |
Incoming Exchange Programs For International Students: The university also hosts exchange students interested in Vanderbilt's core competencies in finance, human and organizational performance, operations, information technology, marketing, general management, and strategy. The exchange program lasts for one semester, and classes at Vanderbilt are taught in English.
Leadership Development
Students can add the Vanderbilt Leadership Development Program (LDP) experience to their coursework, career hunt, and extracurricular activities. Students may spend as little as one hour per week or as muh as five, depending on their goals, level of interest, and dedication.
Note: The Leadership Development Program is open to all students but is not a requirement for the MBA degree.
Students can personalize their first year by selecting one of three Leadership Development Program strategies.
In the second year, students apply what they've learned while continuing to push through practical leadership experiences and feedback.
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