COURSE CURRICULUM

The CU Denver One Year MBA program is designed to equip students with essential business management skills through a rigorous, structured, and experiential curriculum that combines academic preparation, core coursework, electives, international exposure, and hands-on professional experience within a 45-credit-hour format. Before classes begin, students complete MBA Math, a self-paced preparatory module covering key foundational areas such as accounting, finance, economics, statistics, and Excel, ensuring all participants start the program with a strong baseline of knowledge or a refreshed understanding of core business concepts. The core curriculum spans critical areas of modern business leadership, including leading in organizations, data analysis for managers, legal and ethical environment of business, accounting interpretation, marketing management, information systems, strategy, applied economics, operations management, financial management, and strategic management, providing a comprehensive foundation for managerial decision-making. Students also complete electives that are updated annually to reflect evolving industry trends, with topics such as conflict management, advanced corporate finance, negotiations, digital marketing analytics, investments, personal branding, business model development, sustainability, and consulting practice, allowing for customization based on career goals. A distinctive feature of the program is the international course abroad, where students travel for 10–12 days to multiple global destinations, visit major companies, engage with executives, and experience cross-cultural business practices across regions such as Europe, Asia, Central America, and South America, including organizations like BMW, Airbus, IBM, DHL, and various international stock exchanges and universities. In addition, students gain real-world experience through consulting projects with organizations such as UCHealth, Whole Foods Market, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and JE Dunn, as well as competitive paid internships with major companies across industries including finance, aviation, consulting, and energy. Throughout the program, students also participate in a career and professional development course that focuses on career strategy, professional communication, networking, and relationship-building skills, ensuring continuous preparation for post-MBA success. Overall, the program blends academic rigor, global exposure, and applied business experience to prepare graduates for leadership roles in today’s competitive business environment.