Georgetown McDonough MBAs. Courtesy photo
Starting this fall, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business will be rolling out a redesign of its full‑ and part‑time MBA programs.
“Overall, this curriculum shift happened because the environment for business education is changing very fast,” Senior Associate Dean of MBA Programs Sudipta Dasmohapatra says. “This is driven by AI, geopolitics, and the uncertain job environment.”
AI LITERACY IN THE CURRICULUM
Leadership at McDonough surveyed alumni, employers, students, peer institutions, and the broader community, Dasmohapatra says, to get a strong understanding of which skills matter most to employers right now.
Senior Associate Dean of MBA programs Sudipta Dasmohapatra: “Our focus is making sure that every student is data and AI literate, and that’s why we don’t have an AI specialization at this time in the program”
“Industry leaders’ message to us was: ‘Don’t just teach the students what the business is, teach them how to do business in today’s environment,’” she says.
Their insights were extremely valuable and heavily influenced this residency.The MBA program now front-loads the “power skills” that define effective leadership like communication, critical thinking, ethical judgment, and professional confidence.
“Employers of course value their employees knowing fundamentals like strategy, finance, accounting, and leadership – but they also want graduates who can operate faster, communicate better, adapt to the changing world very quickly, and work confidently with technology.”
As soon as MBAs arrive on campus, they dive into leadership development training, career preparation, and a tech‑forward curriculum that sets the tone for their whole MBA experience.
There’s also a new overarching emphasis on AI, data, and digital fluency in the program.
“If you think about what’s happening in the business world, skills are expiring really fast – especially AI and technology skills,” shares Dasmohapatra.
In the opening term, regardless of their background, every student will partake in McDonough’s brand-new AI bootcamp.
RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP AROUND AI
Among specializations offered, McDonough is actually not offering one in AI. That’s because AI is embedded everywhere in their program.
“Our focus is making sure that every student is data and AI literate, and that’s why we don’t have an AI specialization at this time in the program,” says Dasmohapatra.
Ethics is an inseparable topic when it comes to teaching technology and AI. “Students must know the bias that comes with making decisions using generative AI,” she says. “Ethics is the basis of all AI conversations.”
To keep ahead of the curve, McDonough is introducing a required core course called Applied AI and Experiential Learning, where their MBAs will complete hands-on projects that mirror real business challenges.
The opening term includes a new ethical leadership course which holds an ethical leadership project that spans the entirety of the program. MBAs receive seed funding of anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500 to partner with an organization and create meaningful impact.
“MBAs receive seed funding of anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500 and they partner with an outside organization,” explains Dasmohapatra. “Then, like a true leader, they work to turn that money into much more while creating a positive impact.”
Georgetown McDonough MBA Class of 2027. Courtesy photo
CAREER READINESS AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
Career preparation for MBAs begins even before the opening term, with a career course that helps students refine resumes, craft cover letters, build their personal brand, and start mapping out potential paths.
“Our big focus is career readiness, and we weave this in throughout the entire curriculum,” Dasmohapatra explains.
The opening term now has professional confidence skills, leadership development, communication skills, and networking as core components.
“The hiring market has become very competitive, and it’s very skills‑focused,” Dasmohapatra says. “Employers want candidates who can hit the ground running on the very first day.”
Alumni engagement is another part of what students can expect from this program.
As part of the revamp, the Leadership Communications course, which has historically been one of the program’s most beloved experiences, has been moved from the end of the first year to the start of the program. Past MBAs had said that this experience would be even more valuable if started early on.
The Leadership Development course wraps up in a simulation where students will present real business cases to more than 120 alumni acting as senior executives in front of hundreds of people.
“In this experience, the MBAs are challenged by leaders and they really have to think on their feet,” Dasmohapatra says.
Inside the classroom at McDonough. Courtesy photo
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES
Experiential learning extends far beyond the opening term.
McDonough’s signature Global Business Experience remains a cornerstone of the MBA program. This is where students work on consulting projects with international partners, travel to meet clients, and present their recommendations on‑site.
Customization is another hallmark of the redesign. Students take foundational core courses, and they’ll also have access to a “custom core” that’s designed especially for their own career goals.
“Our focus in the new curriculum is to get the studeFnts career ready, but to also uphold the Georgetown values,” Dasmohapatra says.
When they graduate, she hopes they leave having learned all of the tools and knowledge to set them up for success.
“Our goal is that our students graduate with judgment, confidence, and knowledge,” Dasmohapatra says, “feeling ready to go into their jobs from day one.”
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