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Definitions | Fixed and Flexible Core Courses | Fall and Spring Semester | Resources
What is the Core Curriculum?
The core curriculum serves as the academic backbone of your Wharton experience. Designed with both structure and flexibility, the Core Curriculum will provide you with the fundamental and analytical courses that set the stage for your education and a breadth of knowledge in management essentials, analytics and leadership.
What is the difference between the Fixed Core and the Flex Core?
Fixed Core
The shared experience of the Fixed Core is designed to you develop stronger relationships with your classmates. Fixed Core courses will be taken in the fall of first year, unless you waive out of one or more of the requirements. You will take your Fixed Core courses with your cohort and you will be registered for your courses based upon your cohort assignment.
The exception to the fall timeframe of the fixed core is the WHCP requirement which will be assigned by cohort to be taken in the Fall or Spring.
Flexible Core
Flexible core can be taken at any time during your MBA career. You will select courses that best fit your individual needs, backgrounds, and goals. There are eight subjects in which you are required to choose one or two options from a set of courses.
Fixed Core Courses
Management
All MBA students must take the following (see course description):
MGMT 6100: Foundations of Teamwork and Leadership (0.5 CU)
Marketing
All MBA students must take the following (see course description):
MKTG 6110: Marketing Management (0.5 CU)
Microeconomics
Both of the following (see course descriptions):
BEPP 6110: Microeconomics for Managers (0.5 CU)
BEPP 6120: Advanced Microeconomics for Managers (0.5 CU)
Statistics
One of the following (see course descriptions):
STAT 6130: Regression Analysis for Business (1.0 CU)
STAT 6210: Accelerated Regression Analysis for Business (0.5 CU)
Communication
One of the following (see course descriptions):
WHCP 6160: Management Communication (0.5 CU)
WHCP 6180: Entrepreneurial Communication (0.5 CU)
All students must also satisfy the Writing Requirement.
Flexible Core Courses
Accounting
Take one of the following (see course descriptions):
ACCT 6110: Fundamentals of Financial Accounting (1.0 CU)
ACCT 6130: Fundamentals of Financial and Managerial Accounting (1.0 CU)
Corporate Finance
Take one of the following* (see course descriptions):
FNCE 6110: Corporate Finance (1.0 CU)
FNCE 6210: Introduction to Corporate Finance (0.5 CU)
*Students cannot take both FNCE 6210 and FNCE 6230 (see Macroeconomics below) to fulfill the flexible core requirements. Finance majors cannot take FNCE 6210 or FNCE 6230.
Legal Studies & Business Ethics
Take one of the following (see course descriptions):
LGST 6110: Responsibility in Global Management (0.5 CU)
LGST 6120: Responsibility in Business (0.5 CU)
LGST 6130: Business, Social Responsibility and the Environment (0.5 CU)
Macroeconomics
Take one of the following* (see course descriptions):
FNCE 6130: Macroeconomics and the Global Economic Environment (1.0 CU)
FNCE 6230: Introduction to Macroeconomics and the Global Economic Environment (0.5 CU)
*Students cannot take both FNCE 6210 (see Corporate Finance) and FNCE 6230 to fulfill the flexible core requirements. Finance majors cannot take FNCE 6210 or FNCE 6230.
Management
Take one of the following (see course descriptions):
MGMT 6110: Managing the Established Enterprise (1.0 CU)
MGMT 6120: Managing the Emerging Enterprise (1.0 CU)
Marketing
Take one of the following (see course descriptions):
MKTG 6120: Dynamic Marketing Strategy (0.5 CU)
MKTG 6130: Strategic Marketing Simulation (0.5 CU)
Operations, Information & Decisions
Complete 1 credit unit from the following (see course descriptions):
OIDD 6110: Quality and Productivity (0.5 CU)
OIDD 6120: Business Analytics (0.5 CU)
OIDD 6130: Online Business Models & the Information-Based Firm (0.5 CU)
OIDD 6140: Innovation (0.5 CU)
OIDD 6150: Operations Strategy (0.5 CU)
OIDD 6620: Enabling Technologies (0.5 – 1.0 CU)
OIDD 6900: Managerial Decision Making (1.0 CU)
What does the Core Curriculum look like across the fall and spring semesters?
Resources
Course Match: Your personal scheduling agent, is used to register for flexible core courses and for most electives.
Syllabi@Wharton: Search a repository of syllabi for current and past Wharton courses.
MBA Course Recommendation Guide: Identify MBA courses that align with the specific job skills and competencies needed for your chosen career path.