The Degree
The MBA curriculum at Columbia Business School balances the cross-disciplinary skills and strategies that enhance any career with in-depth, specialized topics relevant to students’ specific interests.
Much of the first year of study is devoted to the core curriculum, courses designed to offer students a holistic and in-depth understanding of the practice of business across industries from the perspective of senior leadership. Students take core classes with the same cluster of 60 to 70 students, and complete most assignments with their learning teams — five- to six-person groups with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise.
The second year consists mainly of electives, which give students the opportunity to drill deeper into the specific areas that interest them most, studying closely with faculty members whose scholarly research and real-world experience has tangible impact on their fields.
Depending on their program, students are required to complete 22 courses (11 core and 11 electives) totaling 60 credits over either five or six consecutive terms.
