Curriculum Second Year
In your second year, through electives and seminars, you will broaden your experience and perspective, deepen your knowledge in a specific area, or simply pursue your areas of interest.
Electives
During your second year, you can take up to 18 electives to strengthen development areas, ensure a solid general management foundation, and reach beyond your comfort zone.
We add new electives or substantially revise existing topics every year to respond to changes in the business world, the social sector, and students' interests.
Broad Choice of Electives:
- Accounting
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Global Management
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
- Leadership
- Managerial Economics
- Marketing
- Operations
- Organizational Behavior
- Political Economics
- Public Management
- Strategic Management
Compressed Courses
In the autumn quarter of your second year, you will take a series of one- and two-week seminars, working closely with a faculty member to build deep knowledge in a variety of leading-edge business topics.
In the weeks you have elected not to take a compressed course, you will have afternoons free from class, giving you a concentrated period for your career development pursuits.
Other Classes at Stanford University
You also can take Stanford University classes outside the Business School and apply approximately 12 class units toward your MBA degree. You can apply these units toward a second graduate degree or pursue specific interests in areas such as biotech, design, education, foreign language, manufacturing, politics, and public policy.
The Bass Center is the intellectual and social hub for student activities at the Stanford GSB's Knight Management Center.
Rafael Lopez Espinosa had not realized that the new curriculum would propel him a quantum step beyond classic management education, but he found much to praise. "I really loved CAT" says Rafa, speaking of the Critical Analytical Thinking seminar that integrates high level management concepts. "It enlarged the scope and with one professor for 16 students, you learn so much. There’s lots of knowledge you can apply."
Rafa especially appreciated the contributions made by the other international students. "In addition to the professors’ lectures on global topics, the students gave us their own insights. For example, the Chinese students gave a panel on business in their country."
In general, Rafa finds his peers very impressive. "It's such a collaborative environment, with everyone willing to help. People are not just working on their own stuff or being competitive. And the professors are so receptive to our input. They keep asking for our opinions, they listen, and they act. We are all focused on making this the best program possible."
Rafael Lopez Espinosa, MBA 2009
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