Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business

The A.B. Freeman School of Business MBA: What You Need To Know

The A. B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University was established in 1914, with the main campus sitting in Uptown New Orleans. The Freeman School has been dedicated to preparing current and future business leaders to contribute positively to their organizations and their communities.

New Orleans is right along the Mississippi River, famous for its rich culture, music, food, and festivals. The city has a growing startup scene, with many entrepreneurs and investors choosing to establish their businesses in the city.

To better prepare MBAs to take on today’s challenges, the B-School has redesigned their curriculum. The new format is set to launch in Fall of 2023, and includes focuses on managerial data analysis, interdisciplinary experiential learning, and ESG.

“Technological advances, climate change, geopolitical conflicts and social inequity are transforming the world at a staggering pace, and business leaders need new skills to navigate this volatile and highly dynamic environment. The Freeman MBA was designed from the bottom up to provide business leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to meet today’s demands and tomorrow’s challenges,” says Dean Paulo Goes.

As one might expect, to apply to the 21-month MBA, prospective students must submit GMAT/GRE scores, essays, and transcripts.

With an intimate group of 40 students, experiential learning takes on a whole new meaning. Although the cohorts are small, students often collaborate with others in joint degree programs in medicine, law, architecture, liberal arts and public health.

Although a good portion of the program is new, the B-School is keeping its 61-credit format, but the semesters are now divided into two seven-week terms, which expands the magnitude of the content. The curriculum builds a foundation of critical business skills, with core courses accounting for 24 credits. In addition to Business Statistics, new courses include Analytics for Managers, Financial Models for Business Decisions, Data-Driven Strategic Management and When Data Lie.

Experiential learning and team-based approaches to problem solving are at their height in two immersive classes – Business Negotiations, and Lead for Success – a new intensive course offered with the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL).

The Global Leadership module has 7 credits of immersive international travel to Asia, Europe, and South America, offering hands-on experience working with senior executives from companies around the world. The remaining 30 credits are electives, allowing for degree customization.

Students can focus on up to two specializations offered in many concentration areas including entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial hospitality, real estate, strategic management & innovation and the new Finance and Business Analytics, Sustainability, and Strategy & Marketing concentrations. The B-School offers three more STEM-designated concentrations in analytics, energy, and finance.

There are many global opportunities in the new program, including the capstone course, where students connect with small businesses and nonprofits in New Orleans to work on semester-long environmental and social sustainability project. In the new ESG in a Dynamic Global World elective, students participate in an international trip to gain a firsthand understanding of ESG best practices in an international arena.

MBAs interested in entrepreneurship have access to the Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The Center has deep connections to the New Orleans entrepreneurial ecosystem and brings in industry experts to act as mentors. Many Freeman MBAs go on to develop and launch their own startups. Also, the school is incorporating a new presentation series that features prominent business leaders and highlight topics of interest to MBA students.

A.B. Freeman School of Business

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