The MBA Program
Course Number: |
BUAD899 |
Course Title: |
Business Consulting Practicum |
Credit Hours: |
3 credits; can be taken twice for up to 6 credits. |
Course Description: |
Designed to assist students gain an integrative, practical and applied industry experience by solving a real life industry problem in a group setting. Projects may be set up in different functional areas and/or concentrations, e.g., New Venture Creation, Marketing, Operations Management, MIS, etc. |
Meeting time: |
The first three classes meet at scheduled class times as determined by the faculty mentor. After these classes, project groups will meet independently and with their faculty mentor. Additional meetings of the full class may be scheduled if needed, but usually are not. May be taught as on-line course. |
The Business Consulting Practicum course is intended for students to put into practice the skills and knowledge they have learned through out the MBA core and required courses. For this reason you should have finished or be concurrently finishing the core and required courses in the first and second tier of the MBA program.
The course is operated on a team basis. There are no lecture class meetings except for the first orientation and background classes, which organize teams, provide fundamental tools, and review expectations. Groups must first meet with the client to formulate the project and prepare a proposal. Groups coordinate their work and keep faculty informed of progress by forming electronic groups, by filing regular progress reports, and meeting with faculty on a periodic basis. A final report is due at the conclusion of the project, along with a presentation to the client and faculty (usually at the client's premises).
Business consulting projects can be in any area of business and can be applied to most of the MBA concentrations or a specialization. Students applying the Business Consulting Project to a concentration should pursue a project related to that concentration. Students who are currently working or have access to a company sponsor are encouraged to propose their own project for the Business Consulting Project. Additionally, students in the New Venture Creation concentration may propose their own new venture to work on for the project course. Students who do not have their own access to projects may enroll and will be matched with other students on a project team if additional projects are available.
BUAD899 is a limited enrollment course. Students will be admitted to the course to the extent that clients and students have made sufficient projects of an appropriate scope of work available to the course. Students may be required to apply to the course by completing an application for the course (either online or by e-mail).
Course Syllabus and Materials for Business Consulting Students