New Georgetown MBA Curriculum Emphasizes AI, Ethics, and Career Readiness

Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business has reimagined its MBA curriculum to align with evolving demands in global business, focusing on AI and digital literacy, ethics, and career readiness, as well as expanding opportunities for personalization across core and elective courses. 

Informed by input from alumni, employers, and the broader McDonough community, the new curriculum emphasizes essential “power skills” such as leadership, communication, and decision-making while integrating AI and digital literacy into the core coursework. Students can also personalize elements of their degree to align with their professional goals.

Starting in fall 2026, full-time and part-time MBA students will enter into a revamped opening term to connect as a cohort, build early career and leadership power skills, and understand the culture and principles that define the Georgetown experience – including the school’s values-based approach to business, whole-person development, and global mindset. 

As part of the opening term, students will kick off their MBA experience with a course focused on ethical principles, global mindset, and policy-driven business decision-making to ensure they have the foundational frameworks needed to thrive in the program. This course is then layered with a new immersive AI bootcamp, which uses industry-relevant tools to build future-ready data and analytics skills from the very start of the program. 

“AI and analytics are transforming business processes at every level, and professionals need to learn the practical application of these tools while also understanding the ethical implications of such technologies,” said Dasmohapatra. “We are incorporating a core AI foundations course and embedding AI-related content across the curriculum to ensure every graduate is truly data and AI literate. Rooted in our values-based approach to business, Georgetown has a distinct advantage in teaching responsible AI practices within the broader context of global business, policy, and ethics.”

After the opening term, students will have opportunities to tailor elements of their academic journey by selecting the timing and focus of certain core and elective courses that align with their professional interests. This structure enables earlier exposure to career-relevant concepts, supporting students as they engage in recruiting and professional exploration. Complementing the core, across all MBA formats, students also select from a broad portfolio of electives in high-growth and emerging fields such as AI, sustainability, global health, entrepreneurship and innovation, and international business.

The curriculum is supported by robust career services through the McDonough Career Center, which provides personal branding, career exploration, alumni teaching and mentoring, and individualized advising with dedicated career coaches. Before starting their MBA, students enroll in a summer career course to define their career plan, shape their personal brand story, and develop a roadmap for the career search process. Students also have access to exclusive career events, professional networking opportunities, and the ability to connect with a worldwide network of alumni for mentorship and career advice.

“Our goal is to ensure every student begins the Georgetown MBA with a clear career strategy, the confidence to tell their story, and the connections to make their professional ambitions a reality,” said Christy Murray, associate dean and managing director of the McDonough Career Center. “Through our early emphasis on career development and personalized support from our career coaches, we ensure every student lays the foundation for career success.”

To bolster students’ career readiness, the program’s “peak moments” provide an opportunity to practice leadership concepts with real-world application. Through the Ethical Leadership course, students participate in the “Ethics Project” – an open-ended, year-long group project with a simple prompt to think of something good to do, and do it. They also immerse themselves in a day-long role-play case competition with alumni for the final exam of their Leadership Communications course, known as the Executive Challenge. The MBA experience culminates in a weeklong trip to countries around the world, where they present research findings to clients as part of their signature Global Business Experience consulting course. 

Full-time and Flex MBA students have the opportunity to supplement the curriculum with certificates in consumer analytics and insights, global real estate, business of healthcare, nonmarket strategy, and sustainable business. Students can also participate in a range of co-curricular experiences like the Small Business Corps, engagement with numerous faculty-led centers, initiatives, and institutes, and various leadership roles in student-run organizations. 

Community remains an integral part of the McDonough experience, with over 50 student clubs, events, and social activities to build camaraderie among MBA classmates and with the broader Georgetown ecosystem.

“The new curriculum was intentionally designed to meet the needs of each MBA format, whether they are full-time students or working professionals,” said Dasmohapatra. “The curriculum preserves Georgetown’s close-knit cohort experience, while the focused core and elective options create opportunities for deeper connections among our students as they explore topics with classmates who share their passions and professional interests.”

The Georgetown MBA recruits students from across the world, each with varied personal and professional backgrounds, to offer a truly global perspective. The fall 2025 full-time incoming class is 44% international and represents 40 different countries. 

Applications are open for the fall 2026 cohorts. Learn more about the Georgetown MBA programs at msb.georgetown.edu/mba.