The latest in an ongoing series of reports from the MBA Program Office.

Now more than ever, HBS is bringing the world into the classroom - and vice versa - in the MBA Program's elective curriculum (EC). New course development, expanded field-based learning experiences, and more opportunities for MBA students to connect with HBS alumni are all part of the latest EC enhancements designed to address the changing needs and interests of MBA students.

Course Development

After completing the MBA Program's required courses, students design their elective curriculum from an extensive menu of 65 classroom courses and many field-based learning opportunities. "The EC courses offer both breadth and depth, allowing students to drill deep into functional areas to develop expertise," says Professor Malcolm S. Salter, faculty chair for the elective curriculum. Course formats also vary widely: in nearly half of all EC courses, part of the traditional thirty-session class structure is now used for group project work, field research, and the preparation of papers on "frontier" business issues.

New EC courses are continually being introduced to reflect the changing face of business. In the area of entrepreneurship, for example, nine courses will be offered this year, including four that are new or substantially revised: Starting New Ventures, Running and Growing a Small Business, Entrepreneurial Marketing, and Management of the Family Business. Existing courses, such as Entrepreneurial Management and Entrepreneurial Finance, continue to broaden their scope and impact on entrepreneurial studies at HBS.

The EC also now offers many small, innovative courses such as Professor Elon Kohlberg's Analytical Reasoning, Professor Gerald Zaltman's Customer Behavior Laboratory, Professor James K. Sebenius's Dealmaking: Financial and International Negotiations, and Professor Joseph L. Badaracco's seminar, The Moral Leader. "These and other small courses showcase the exciting areas that faculty are exploring," says Salter. "Many will no doubt emerge as 'signature' courses that define HBS at its finest."

Field-Based Learning

Expanded field-based learning opportunities now include more field studies, faculty-initiated research projects in which students may participate, and fieldwork within standard courses. About 40 percent of all MBA students participate in the Field Study Program, supervised by Assistant Professor Myra Hart. Working in self-selected teams, students may now spend up to a year on projects that explore organizational problem solving, industry or country analysis, or business plan development.

A new field study Web site includes a list of specific projects in nearly a dozen course areas and a "bulletin board" where students may share ideas and form teams. The site also allows companies to post project descriptions. For more information about the Field Study Program, contact Nancy Traccarella, field study administrator, at 617-495-6349 (e-mail ntraccarella@hbs.edu).

Networking Opportunities

HBS students have access to a network of more than 35,000 HBS alumni who have agreed to help them in their job searches on a year-round basis. MBA Career Services also works with Alumni Relations, Executive Education, and student clubs to sponsor industry fairs, receptions, and other networking events on campus during alumni reunions and Executive Education programs.

"Much of the energy and excitement generated by the EC comes directly from students," says Nancy Peck-Gray, elective curriculum program manager, who notes that students have initiated group trips to meet with high-growth companies in northern California, Japan, and the Boston area, for example. "They're seizing opportunities to innovate and customize their academic program, share their own experiences and learning, and contribute to the dynamic community at HBS."

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