The Georgetown McDonough MBA: What You Need To Know

Since 1981, the Georgetown McDonough School of Business has offered a full-time MBA, and more recently the school added a Flex MBA. Both programs give students a general management education that includes the functional knowledge and intellectual skills to manage and lead an organization.

The B-school is in Washington, DC, which offers a thriving business community, ample access to government and international organizations, and plenty of opportunities for networking, internships, and career advancement.

The B-school’s full-time MBA spans 21 months and the Flex MBA program spans anywhere from 26-60 months. Both programs follow the same 54-credit curriculum.

The McDonough’s MBA kicks off with the Leading Teams for Performance and Impact course, which explores the dynamics of diversity and inclusion, implicit biases, conflict and civility, and giving and receiving feedback. The course is followed by an experiential learning Structure of Global Industries course that provides experiential learning with an integrated global view of business. Students also take an Accounting Fundamentals course that covers the relationship between economic activity and financial information.

In cohorts, students take 36 credits of core courses together. In the latter part of the curriculum, students begin to tailor their studies to their interests and professional goals by choosing from more than 70 elective courses in different areas including accounting, finance, management, marketing, operations and information management, strategy, economics, ethics & public policy. Students also complete Intensive Learning Experiences: elective courses offered in one to two-week periods, for one and a half or three hours of academic credit.

The programs’ pedagogy mixes case study with hands-on group projects and culminates in consulting projects as a part of the Global Business Experience, a required course where student teams partner with executives from global Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and NGOs to address complex business challenges. After spending six to eight weeks on campus applying strategic and analytical theory to develop client solutions, the experience ends in a week-long in-country presentation abroad to clients. Some students gain more than one international experience during their time at the B-school.

“In just two years, I studied, served, and conducted business in six countries! I participated in programs that allowed me to consult with social enterprises in Columbia, rebrand consumer products in Brazil, and network with the c-suite of the first Ghanaian-owned oil and gas company. It humbles and inspires me to continue learning, exchange ideas, connect with those around me, and ultimately lead with empathy and service top of mind,” says MBA Loretta Richardson.

Students from both programs have access to the MBA Career Center with a wide array of opportunities to attend employer information sessions, career days, career treks, and interviews on campus, and may participate in over 40 student organizations to build upon their leadership skills.