Return to: Darden Graduate School of Business Administration: Programs/Courses
Admission
Office of Admissions
Darden School of Business
100 Darden Boulevard
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 6550
Charlottesville, VA 22906-6550
(434) 924-7281
(800) UVA-MBA-1
darden@virginia.edu
www.darden.virginia.edu/mba/admissions/
Application
Candidates are encouraged to visit the Darden admissions website to obtain detailed information on admission criteria and requirements, request more information, or apply online. Candidates can also sign up for class visits and open houses at Darden or register for upcoming recruitment events around the U.S. and abroad. Visits are scheduled between September and April when classes are in session, and the majority of recruitment events outside of Darden take place in the fall and winter.
The Darden School seeks to admit people whose academic ability, leadership potential and experience and personal qualities indicate that they can contribute to, and benefit from, the program. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, age, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Financial Assistance
The Darden Graduate School of Business Administration’s financial aid program assists students in meeting the cost of earning an MBA through a combination of school-based scholarships, federal loans and third-party loans. No financial assistance will be offered in the form of employment, and students should not plan to work during the school year. Loans and scholarships are used to complement each other.
U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens seeking federal financial aid through the University must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the University of Financial Aid Application. The required FAFSA and University financial aid forms can be obtained via the Darden web site at www.darden.virginia.edu/web/MBA/Financial-Aid.
The Darden School of Business and the Darden School Foundation offer a loan option for qualified international and domestic students who do not have a cosigner through Discover Bank. Details regarding the Custom Graduate Loan through Discover can be obtained via the Darden web site at http://www.darden.virginia.edu/web/MBA/Financial-Aid/Loan-Programs/.
Although students may finance the full cost of attendance using federal student loans, students may research alternative student loan options through private lenders. The Darden School of Business neither encourages nor discourages students from researching and applying for private student loans. While Federal loans typically offer safety nets not found with private loans, we encourage students to carefully research and consider all available loan options.
Financial aid decisions are made and admitted students notified of merit awards close to their offer of admission. In order to receive timely award notification, applicants who wish to be considered for loan assistance should apply by May 15.
Applicants will not be considered for financial assistance until they have been admitted to the Darden School and submitted other required documents. The admissions decision is made without regard to an applicant’s financial situation.
Scholarships
At some point throughout the two year program nearly 30 percent of all Darden students receive a merit scholarship from the school in amounts ranging from $1000 to full tuition and stipend. The sources of scholarship are unrestricted funds of the school, gifts, and bequests of alumni and friends and special contributions from business concerns and persons interested in encouraging business education and supporting the Darden School.
Merit Scholarships
A current list of named fellowships and scholarships offered by the Darden School may be found in the Darden information section of the Graduate Record. The availability, addition, or deletion of individual scholarships may vary. There are additional unrestricted scholarships available each year. First year merit scholarships, contingent upon satisfactory academic performance of a “B” average (3.0), are automatically carried over to the student’s second year at Darden, unless superseded by a higher valued scholarship.
Academic Regulations
Students of the University are subject to two sets of regulations, those of the University as a whole and those of the respective schools. Listed below are rules that apply within the Darden School. Appropriate excerpts from the University regulations are set forth in the next section.
Performance in the School
In addition to (1) following the University standards of conduct, (2) abiding by the obligations of the Honor System, and (3) meeting the standards of the Darden School for scholastic achievement, a Darden School student is expected to (4) perform in a manner that is consistent with the academic good order and educational processes of both the individual courses and the Darden School in general. This latter requirement is important in a learning experience that encourages responsible competition and cooperation. Disruption of the learning experience can deprive others of the educational benefits for which they came to the Darden School.
The faculty has provided a process for the review of the conduct of a student whose behavior is disruptive of the administrative and academic good order or educational process of other students, of individual courses or the Darden School in general.
Proceedings brought before the Honor Committee or the Judiciary Committee of the University or the Academic Standards Committee of the Darden School and falling solely within their single or collective jurisdiction shall take precedence over action under this review procedure.
The procedure supplements but does not abrogate an instructor’s rights and responsibilities for maintaining an effective and orderly learning atmosphere in class.
The process, in brief, provides for the establishment of an ad hoc committee of inquiry, which may include a student member, to hear the issue and, on behalf of the faculty, impose the penalty, if any, that it considers appropriate, up to and including enforced withdrawal from the Darden School.
The committee’s decision may be appealed to the school’s faculty.
Attendance Policy
Darden School students are expected to attend class in order to contribute as well as learn. Each course must have a written attendance policy that describes the consequences of missed classes. The course policy must be distributed to students before the end of the first week of classes. Whenever students miss class, they should, out of courtesy, inform their instructor as to the circumstances, in advance if possible
In accordance with the University’s Policy on Teaching Courses for Academic Credit (https://uvapolicy.virginia.edu/policy/PROV-008), Darden faculty will reasonably accommodate students so that they do not experience an adverse academic consequence when sincerely held religious beliefs or observances conflict with academic requirements. The University has provided guidance and examples to faculty in implementing this policy here: https://eocr.virginia.edu/accommodations-religious-observance.
Grading System
The school recognizes the following grade categories: Distinguished Performance (DP); High Performance (HP); Standard Performance (SP); Low Performance (LP); Unsatisfactory Performance (UP); Fail/No Credit (F). Only grades of UP and F have academic standards consequences.
Credit/No Credit Grades
Darden students may not take courses on CR/NC basis.
CLASS ORGANIZATION AND POLICIES
Rules in this section are not intended to abrogate an instructor’s rights and obligations to maintain an effective and orderly learning atmosphere in his or her class.
Eligibility to Take Courses for Credit
Elective courses are normally open to any student registered in a Darden School degree program, subject to such restrictions as the faculty may establish from time to time (e.g., limits on directed studies, seminars).
Where course registration is restricted, positions are not normally made available to students from other schools at the expense of Darden School students.
Graduate students enrolled in other schools of the University may take electives for credit with permission of the instructor.
Registration in required courses of the Darden School is normally restricted to candidates enrolled in the MBA and doctoral-degree programs. In order to enroll in a required Darden School course, graduate students enrolled in another school in the University must have the permission of the Chair of the appropriate MBA Program Committee, the course head, and the instructor.
Graduate students enrolled in another school in the University may take no more than one required course for credit in any semester.
Auditing Policy
An MBA candidate who is not under Academic Standards Committee jurisdiction may audit a Darden School elective with the permission of the instructor.
A doctoral candidate may audit a Darden School MBA course with the permission of the instructor if the major-field adviser and the Doctoral Operating Committee approve a program of study that indicates the desirability of the candidate’s taking that course on an audit basis.
Students enrolled in other schools of the University who are not candidates for the MBA or doctoral degree may not audit Darden School required courses but may audit Darden School electives with the permission of the instructor.
An audit grade (AU) may be listed on an official grade transcript if the instructor certifies that the candidate participated at a B− or better level in the work of the course with the exception of preparing written work and/or taking examinations.
Students auditing less than a full course will not be eligible to receive an AU designation for their work.
Withdrawals
The dean’s office may ask a student at any time to withdraw from a particular course or from the school because of unsatisfactory academic work or for other adequate reasons.
9000-Level Courses
The Darden School offers, on a selected basis, courses approved by the faculty that are pertinent to the students enrolled in its doctoral program. Courses differ each term, depending on the doctoral students in residence and their fields of concentration. Doctoral students, and other students for whom these offerings might be appropriate, should contact the director of the doctoral program for current course descriptions at +1-434-243-8423.
MBA Academics
The Darden School’s Master of Business Administration program prepares students to be leaders in the world of practical affairs— leaders who understand all facets of business and who are ready to act analytically, intuitively, ethically and decisively, in any environment. The academic experience centers around a general management curriculum taught through the case method, which engages students in active, content-rich discussions about real business problems and solutions. The Darden approach to case studies reveals how all aspects of business tie together and develops in students a bias for action, an ability to make decisions in the face of ambiguity and exceptional communication skills.
The Darden required curriculum in the First Year is designed to provide you with an integrated perspective on general management. All core courses are crafted from a series of cases designed to build your leadership, communication and decision-making skills. Beginning in the final quarter of your First Year, the curriculum allows for some customization of your coursework including some choice among specified electives. For example, you may choose from a diverse selection of courses, ranging from traditional options such as “Corporate Finance,” “Leading Strategic Change” and “System Dynamics,” to courses focused on areas such as entrepreneurship, sustainability and managing teams.
You will also have the option to take courses from other schools at the University of Virginia, participate in numerous overseas exchange programs and Darden Worldwide courses,and show further specialization by concentrating in one of eleven areas.
The Student Body
The Darden School matriculates approximately 320 highly qualified individuals yearly. New students come from around the world and virtually every profession. These students are then organized into learning teams of five to six students and sections of 65 students. Each learning team and each section are designed to have a diversity of functional skills, demographics, and international background. Darden students quickly learn that one of the most important assets of their education is the network of relationships built among classmates from all over the world. The first year sections are shuffled at the beginning of the second semester in January to provide maximum opportunity to meet, learn from, and form long-term relationships with a wide range of classmates.
The Case Method
At Darden, we believe that the best training for a business leader is to put you in the shoes of current and past executives at real companies. Given a specific business challenge, what would you do, why would you do it and how would you defend your position?
Rather than lecture, our professors engage students in lively discussions using the case method. Over the course of the two-year MBA program, you will study over 500 real-life business cases. Each case presents a series of decisions to be made, and you — as the decision maker — must analyze the situation and express what you would do.
With the help of your learning team — a group of five to six students with whom you will study — and the skillful guidance of Darden’s faculty, you will strengthen your communication and leadership skills. You will learn to reconcile differing viewpoints, make difficult decisions in the face of ambiguity, and challenge, persuade and inspire others.
The case method involves a four-step learning process:
- Read and consider each case on your own
- Share your ideas with your learning team
- Discuss the case in class and explore the input of everyone in your section
- Reflect on how your initial ideas changed as a result of the input from your learning team, class and professors
While the case method is the predominant method of instruction at Darden, other variations of the case method are also used, including interactive simulations, company visits, live cases, guest speakers and experiential field work.
Statement of Standards for a Darden School MBA Degree
The Darden School requires minimum performance standards for its students to graduate with an MBA degree. If a student does not meet these minimum performance standards, an automatic dismissal from the Darden School results and the student must petition for readmission. All performance standards are determined by the faculty and are based on ASC points.
Academic Standards Committee (ASC) Points
All minimum performance standards are evaluated and enforced on the basis of ASC points. Students receive ASC points when they earn a UP or F as a grade of record in a course. ASC points are computed by multiplying the credit hours of the course by the weight assigned to the grade. A UP has a weight of 1 while an F has a weight of 2. For example, ASC points by course credit hours are as follows:
|
|
0.5 credit hours
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1.5 credit hours
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3.0 credit hours
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Unsatisfactory Performance
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0.5 ASC points
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1.5 ASC points
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3.0 ASC points
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Fail
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1.0 ASC points
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3.0 ASC points
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6.0 ASC points
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Mid-Degree Requirement
The Darden School has a mid-degree minimum performance standard that is evaluated by the ASC upon completion of each grading period prior to and including the grading period closest to 50% of the total credit hours required for graduation. The minimum mid-degree performance standard is not met when the student’s ASC points are 15% or more of the total credit hours required for graduation. For example, if a student accumulates 9 or more ASC points (15% * 60 credit hours) prior to completion of 30 credit hours in the program, they are in violation of the mid-degree requirements.
If a student does not meet the mid-degree requirement of their MBA program, automatic dismissal from the Darden School results. A student seeking readmission must petition the ASC in writing. Dismissed students petitioning for readmission under this Section may continue in previously enrolled classes until their petition has been reviewed by the ASC.
Graduation Requirement
The Darden School requires a minimum performance standard for its students to graduate with an MBA degree (i.e., the graduation requirement). The minimum performance standard to graduate is not met when the ASC points are 25% or more of the total credit hours required for graduation.
If a student does not meet the graduation requirement of the Darden School at any point of their program, automatic dismissal from the Darden School results. A student seeking readmission must petition the faculty in writing. For example, if the total number of credit hours required for graduation is 60, then students with 15 or more ASC points (60 * 25%) will be automatically dismissed from the Darden School.
Consequences of an F Grade of Record
Each MBA format has a set of required courses. The designation as a required course by an MBA format determines whether a makeup assignment is required for receiving an F as a grade of record.
Required courses
If a student receives an F as a grade of record in a required course, the student must satisfactorily complete a written makeup assignment. Students must receive a grade of Low Performance (LP) or better on the written makeup assignment to receive the credit hours for the required course; however, the grade of F will remain on the transcript.
Students who do not receive a grade of LP or better will be dismissed from the program, and they must petition the faculty for readmission. Written makeup assignments will be given only for required courses.
The Academic Standards Committee (ASC) will formally notify the student of the need for a makeup assignment. All required course instructors must stand ready to administer a makeup assignment to any student receiving an F. The form and the date of the written makeup assignment is at the discretion of the Associate Dean for the respective program in conjunction with the course head. The assignment should cover material representative of the entire course for which the credit hours are attributable. This makeup requirement will be administered by the course head of the relevant course, who must inform the ASC and the Registrar of the outcome through written correspondence. If the course head advises the ASC that the makeup activity has been completed satisfactorily, the original F grade remains on the transcript, but the notation “Credit by Additional Work” is added to the transcript.
Non-required courses
Non-required courses are defined as any course that is not defined as a required course by the MBA programs. No makeup assignment is required for a student earning an F grade in a non-required course. Any exceptions are discussed below.
Exceptions to the Consequences of an F Grade of Record for Non-Required Courses
First Year Electives in the Full-Time Program
Students are required to earn 4.5 credits of First Year electives. Students who earn an F grade in a First Year elective course will be required to make up these credits in their second year by taking
- the First Year Program electives offered in the Second Year Program, or
- the First Year Program electives offered in the First Year Program during their second year.
Faculty permission is required for students to retake the First Year elective in which they received an F; however, the grade of F will remain on the transcript, but the notation “Credit by Additional Work” is added to the transcript.
Grading System Structural Elements and Descriptive Tables
The School recognizes that the following grading system as specified below in the Grading System Descriptive Tables will be followed in the MBA Program. The grade category distribution requirements are norms that have been accepted and endorsed by the faculty.
All faculty will be expected to adhere to this approach and the percentages shown below, unless they can explain and justify why this grading approach is inappropriate for their course. For example, such justification might pertain to pedagogy, course content, or class size. Faculty seeking an exception from the approach must obtain prior approval from the Dean’s Office.
Faculty with valid reasons for not adopting the Full Distribution system will be required to adopt the Top-End Distribution grading system as shown below.
The recommended percentages for the six grade categories and corresponding letter grades DP, HP, SP, LP, UP, and F are tailored for the core and non-core courses as specified in the Grading System Descriptive Tables and described in Section II-H-1.
Core courses are determined by the MBA Program Committees, subject to the approval of the faculty. Courses designated as core courses must meet the “Full Distribution” requirements. Non-core courses must meet “Top-End Distribution” requirements.
Grades in all courses that meet or exceed the minimum enrollment limit established by the Dean’s Office and are submitted to the Registrar must conform to the percentage values in the Grading System Descriptive Tables.
Course heads of courses with multiple sections that meet in the same term must submit grade forms in which the total grade distribution for the course meets the guidelines stated in the Structural Elements and Descriptive Tables. Course heads are expected to ensure this compliance before submitting their grades.
Students have the option of reporting grades to recruiters.
The enforcement of the Darden School’s recommended grading system will be the responsibility of the Dean’s Office.
Grading System Descriptive Table for MBA Degrees*
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Grade Category
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University Letter Grade
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Core Course Grade Distribution
“Full Distribution”
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Non-Core Course Grade Distribution
“Top-End Distribution”
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University Letter Grade
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Cumulative Minimum
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Cumulative Maximum
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Cumulative Minimum
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Cumulative Maximum
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|
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Distinguished Performance
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DP
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0%
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15%
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0%
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25%
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DP
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|
High Performance
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HP
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20%
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40%
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20%
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60%
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HP
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Standard Performance
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SP
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40%
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90%
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Minimum of 40% required for these categories combined
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100%
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SP
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Low Performance
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LP
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Minimum of 10% required for these categories combined
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100%
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LP
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Unsatisfactory Performance
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UP
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UP
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Fail
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F
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F
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For courses graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U), U grades can represent 0%–15% and S grades can represent 85%–100% of the grades awarded.
*These standards apply to a minimum class size of 25. For core classes with enrollment of less than 25, the grading distribution will follow the Top-End Distribution standards.
The Readmission Procedure
Students, who are dismissed from the MBA Program because they do not meet the mid-degree requirement, may petition the Academic Standards Committee for readmission. Students, who are dismissed from the MBA Program because they do not meet the graduation requirement as stated in Section II-E-2 (i.e. an accumulation of ASC points equal to 25% of the total credit hours needed to earn an MBA degree), may only petition the faculty for readmission. Readmission will depend on the presence of extenuating circumstances and the ability of the student to complete the remainder of the program satisfactorily. Students who, based on grades received before the end of the program, have failed to meet the graduation standards of the Darden School may submit a petition for the consideration of the faculty at the time the grades are available or at the end of the program. Students who, based on grades received before the mid-degree evaluation, have failed to meet the mid-degree standards of the Darden School may submit a petition to the Academic Standards Committee for consideration at the time the grades are available or at the mid-degree evaluation of the program.
The Grade of Incomplete (IN)
The IN grade should be assigned and administered consistently with the following IN grade policy statement:
IN Grade Policy Statement
From time to time, occasions arise that necessitate assigning a student a grade that falls outside the standard range. An IN grade implies that, for reasons known to the individual faculty member, the enrolled student has not completed his or her work at the end of the specified academic period.
The IN grade can only be assigned by the instructor teaching the course, only after the student has informed the instructor of the problem area, and only after the instructor has specifically reviewed in writing with the student the provisions under which the IN grade is granted.
An IN grade for a Residential MBA program student not resolved within 60 days from the ASC notification of the IN grade will automatically convert to an F grade. An IN grade for an Executive MBA program student not resolved within 30 days from the ASC notification of the IN grade will automatically convert to an F grade. Extensions of these deadlines may be granted only by the ASC Committee.
An IN grade can only be cleared by a standard letter grade or a W (withdrawn), not by a second IN. An IN grade that is not cleared by the student within the prescribed period will automatically become an F grade.
Students who receive one or more IN grades will come under ASC jurisdiction and will remain under the ASC until the IN grade becomes a letter grade. At that point, normal rules regarding ASC jurisdiction will apply.
No student can enter the second year or receive an MBA with an IN grade.
THE FULL-TIME MBA FORMAT
First-Year Program of the Full-Time Format
The required curricula is the cornerstone and hallmark of the MBA Program. The FY Program is designed and delivered in accordance with the School’s mission of producing action-oriented graduates through the use of student-centered learning and an integrated and innovative curriculum. The purpose of the FY Program is to equip students with the foundational skills, judgment, and inspiration necessary to lead a global business. Each FY student will complete the FY Program with confidence that they have mastered the fundamentals of leading a successful global business. The Darden School’s FY Program will be recognized as occupying a permanent place among the top 10 core- curriculum programs in the world.
Values
The FY Program endorses, employs, and seeks to model the core values of the School:
- Action orientation
- Global and enterprise perspectives
- Leadership imbued with integrity, vision, judgment, determination, and social responsibility
- Outstanding, current, student-centered teaching
- Integrated and innovative curriculum and course materials
- Supportive and equitable learning climate
- Mutually strengthening partnerships
Strategy
The FY Program seeks to accomplish its vision through excellence in its curriculum content, a collaborative learning environment, and unsurpassed teaching effectiveness.
Curriculum Content
- Focusing on the fundamentals of business management
- Valuing integration across disciplines
- Using contemporary issues, problems, and processes as the basis for classroom discussion
- Teaching the analytical frameworks and methods of analysis useful in reaching economically sound and socially responsible business decisions
- Emphasizing global, enterprise, and leadership perspectives and stressing effective written and oral communication skills throughout the curriculum
- Offering FY Program electives that extend learning in core required courses to include exposure to advanced skills necessary for summer-internship experiences
- Continuously reviewing and renewing the content of the curriculum for currency and exigency
- Assisting students in evaluating and selecting their individual career paths
Learning Environment
- Assigning all students to cross-section learning teams so they can become effective and valued team members
- Assigning students to sections that remain intact for at least two contiguous quarters
- Grading classroom contribution as a significant proportion of the final grade in all courses
- Requiring on-time attendance, preparation, and participation to develop professional maturity and decisiveness
- Emphasizing the quality of the section learning environment by assigning section faculty leaders
- Teaching Effectiveness
Permanent Class-Session Allocation and Credit Hours by Content Area
The FY Program requires 30 credit hours of coursework and has 10 content areas, with each normally permitted to offer a maximum of 42 classes comprising core-course classes and FY Program elective classes. Normally, the core-course allocation for each content area will be as follows:
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Core Course
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Class Sessions
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Credit Hours
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Accounting for Managers
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28
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3.0
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Global Economies and Markets
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28
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3.0
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Business Ethics
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14
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1.5
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Financial Management and Policies
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28
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3.0
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Leadership Communication
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14
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1.5
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Marketing
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28
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3.0
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Operations Management
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28
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3.0
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Leading Organizations
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14
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1.5
|
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Decision Analysis
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28
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3.0
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Strategic Thinking and Action
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14
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1.5
|
The MBA Program Committee is charged with the responsibility for planning and delivering the FY Program. Content areas may offer their allocation of classes in either one or more designated courses with the approval of the MBA Program Committee. Some content areas may be required to offer their allocation of classes in one or more courses in order to satisfy compelling program needs. The structure of the courses and grade distribution must be approved by the MBA Program Committee.
First-Year Leadership Requirement
All students are required to extend their understanding of the Leading Organizations core content area by taking one of a list of approved 1.5 credit hour courses in their first year. These courses are intended to extend and deepen students’ understanding of fundamental leadership concepts and practices. The courses must be approved as Program Electives or Directed Studies by the faculty and approved for the FY Leadership Requirement by the Leadership and Organizational Behavior (LOB) area.
First-Year Program Electives
First-Year Program Electives Requirements
Students will be required to complete 6 credit hours of FY electives as an FY Program requirement. A current list of approved courses is provided in the Registrar’s course directory. Of the 6 credit hours, 1.5 must satisfy the FY Leadership requirement identified in Section f above.
Second-Year Program of the Full-Time MBA Format
Objectives
The overarching objective of the SY electives curriculum of the MBA Full-Time Format is to reinforce the mission of the School as captured in its Mission Statement. In addition, specific objectives of the second year are to:
- Enable students to individualize their experience by providing opportunities to pursue chosen areas of interest in greater depth.
- Offer an innovative and relevant leading-edge MBA elective curriculum.
- Provide the further opportunity to explore global business issues.
- Develop further leadership capabilities in students.
- Support and encourage activities outside the classroom that serve to enhance the Darden School community, develop individual relationships, and foster a sense of social responsibility.
- Support and facilitate the transition of students from the academic to the business community.
- Foster the exploration of ideas, concepts, and themes that prepare students for lifelong learning and continued professional development.
Second-Year Program Course Requirements
The second year requires 30 credit hours of coursework. No more than 4.5 credit hours of independent studies will count toward this requirement.
Students under Academic Standards Committee jurisdiction must have their final course selection sheets approved by the chair of that committee or their designee.
Required Course
Second-Year Leadership Requirement
Consistent with the mission of the School, all students are required to have a leadership- learning experience of at least 1.5 credit hours while attending the Darden School in order to graduate. Students may choose from a list of faculty-approved SY electives to fulfill this requirement. To be included on the list of electives that satisfy the SY Leadership Requirement, electives must have among their learning objectives an exposure to a variety of leadership styles and approaches, an examination of the roles and responsibilities of leadership, an opportunity to reflect on one’s leadership in the past, and the development of a personal definition of leadership for the future. The list of electives offered for this purpose may vary from year to year.
Management Science Specialization
Students have an option to declare a specialization in management science. To earn this credential, a student needs to complete eight electives (12 credits) from an approved list of electives. This listing will be updated annually to reflect changes in the overall offerings.
Internship Requirement
In addition to the knowledge acquired through formal coursework, the MBA requires students to have an opportunity to apply the insights gained through completion of the core curriculum. Students are required to have an internship or other experience that allows them to demonstrate this ability. Generally, students will complete this experience at the end of the first year.
Upon completion of this experience, students will submit an internship experience assignment to the Career Center. This will provide a mechanism for students to reflect on the internship experience and the effect of their coursework on their performance.
In some circumstances, students can request the opportunity to complete a special project in place of an internship. Examples of these situations include students who are unable to obtain an internship, students who are sponsored by a company, or students who are starting a venture. As appropriate, the Associate Dean for MBA Programs will approve projects and other experiences that can fulfil this requirement.
MBA ELECTIVES
Categories of Electives
There are three types of electives that can be offered in the Full-Time and Executive Format Programs: Program Electives, Directed Studies, and Independent Studies. Program electives represent the most enduring and essential offerings and are open to all students through the bidding process. Directed Studies and Independent Studies provide opportunities for students to obtain more customized and specialized learning experiences in more intimate settings.The SY electives and their descriptions are maintained by the Darden School Registrar and can be found online at the course directory.
Program Electives
Program electives constitute the core of the School’s elective offerings. They are expected to be offered on a regular basis and are open to all students through the bidding process.
Directed Studies
Directed Studies offer learning opportunities that are not available as Program Electives. The objectives of these courses will normally include one or more specific learning themes: exposing students to emerging issues, exploring current issues, or extending studies beyond the MBA courses regularly offered in a field. Directed Studies are not approved on a permanent basis.
Directed Studies provide faculty with an opportunity to design courses with smaller enrollments. These courses might take place in a seminar setting or require intensive field-based experiences. Grades are expected to be significantly based on written evidence of student accomplishment.
Independent Studies
Independent Studies provide an opportunity for a faculty member to offer a one-time learning experience for an individual student or a small group of students. Electives in this category allow the student(s) to focus deeply on a specialized topic, address a specific challenge facing a firm, or learn from developing a venture.
Independent Studies are not part of the standard bidding and registration process. A broad set of experiences qualify as an Independent Study, including:
- Case Development
- Research Projects
- Consulting Projects
- Venturing Projects
The relevant program committee will define acceptable standards for each of type of Independent Study. It will also make examples of good projects available to students and faculty.
