MBA Capstone Course
The MBA Capstone Course is the final academic experience of the MBA program and a defining opportunity for students to apply their learning in a real-world context. Working in teams, students partner with external organizations to address strategic challenges identified by the organization itself.
Capstone projects bring learning to life, requiring students to integrate knowledge across disciplines such as strategy, finance, marketing, operations and organizational management while developing professional skills essential to business leadership.
What students do
In the classroom, the course covers the fundamentals of developing strategy, executing strategy, and some unconventional topics such as divestiture as a strategy and AI and its impact on strategy. There is a heavy emphasis on the illustration of these topics to real-world examples beyond the usual 'giants of industry' examples, drawing on the industry experience of a faculty member.
Student teams work closely with their client organization to:
- Identify key strategic issues and/or opportunities
- Conduct industry, market, and domain-specific research to help determine a strategic path and outcome
- Develop strategic recommendations and/or a strategic plan to address issues or opportunities that align with objectives
- Develop an actionable operating plan as a subset of the larger strategic plan
real consulting experience
Led by an experienced faculty member, the course mirrors a professional consulting engagement. Students manage timelines, communicate with clients and deliver actionable insights, while receiving academic credit and structured guidance throughout the process.
Beyond technical analysis, students strengthen skills in client communication, teamwork, problem-solving and project management; capabilities that are critical in today’s business environment.
Who It’s For
This is a Capstone Course in your MBA program. As such, it is intended to synthesize academic learning, professional experience, and the global perspectives that students at the School of Business bring into the classroom. With the focus of the course being a team project, you can expect enriched team member perspectives that will contribute to well-rounded, creative, and justified recommendations.