Core Curriculum
The first 12 months of the program are comprised of core classes that provide students with a solid foundation in all of the major business disciplines through careful sequencing of courses from each functional area. The first year of core courses make up 30 units of the MBA.PM program’s 63 units. Following the core experience, all MBA.PM students take the GSBA-582, PM GLOBE class, a semester-long macroeconomics course enhanced by a 10-day international trip.
All students are required to attend a mandatory prep session, which kicks off the start of your experience as an MBA.PM student. Date/time for the incoming Class of 2026 will be announced later this year.
Your first course, GSBA-525, Introduction to Management and Strategy (aka "Pre-Fall"), is completed over two intensive weekends. Students should expect to be available during pre-fall weekends from approximately 8:30am-6pm. Dates/times for the incoming Class of 2026 will be announced later this year.
Schedule Overview
There may be modifications to the courses and schedule.
Total Units: 63
Core = 30 units
Elective = 30 units
Globe = 1.5 units
Macro = 1.5 units
YEAR 1 (Core Year)
Pre-fall (1 unit)
Intro to Mgmt and Strategy
Fall Term (7.5 units)
Acct. Concepts & Financial Reporting (510)
Economics (Micro) (511)
Analysis of Unstructured Problems (527)
Com. for Mgmt (523)
Winter Term
Part A (3.5 units)
Managerial Perspectives (522A)
Applied Managerial Statistics (506A)
ENTR (550A)
Winter Term
Part B (4.5 units)
Managerial Perspectives (522B)
Applied Managerial (506B)
ENTR (550B)
Spring Term (7.5 units)
Foundations of Prof. Value (541)
Marketing Mgmt. (528)
Corp Finance (548)
Summer Term (6 units)
Info. Mgmt. & Analytics (581)
Operations Mgmt (534)
Strategic Formulation for Competitive Advantage (519B)
YEAR 2 (Elective Year)
7.5 units
Elective 1
Elective 2
The Firm in the National Economy (Macro) (544)
7.5 units
Elective 3
Elective 4
Globe (582)
6 units
Elective 5
Elective 6
YEAR 3 (Elective Year)
6 units
Elective 7
Elective 8
6 units
Elective 9
Elective 10
Elective Classes
Students complete their MBA degree by enrolling in elective courses that allow them to meet their unique goals and career objectives. Students enroll in elective courses during the second and third year and also complete PM GLOBE during the second year. The entire MBA.PM program is completed in approximately 33 months. The remaining required units can be earned by:
- Taking elective coursework - Marshall offers close to 100 elective courses for MBA students in any given year;
- Designing an individualized program of study that cuts across several functional areas*;
- Completing an independent study project*; and/or
- Selecting courses from other graduate schools within the university*- students may take up to nine elective units at another USC graduate school
* Available to students who have completed all core curriculum and are in good standing (minimum 3.0 GPA)
Students are eligible to select from a wide range of graduate elective courses offered by the USC Marshall Academic Units which include:
- Accounting
- Finance & Business Economics
- Data Science & Operations
- Marketing
- Management and Organization
- Management Communication
- Entrepreneurship
View the University Catalogue for an overview of courses. The Marshall Graduate Elective Course Guide is a tool students can use to determine which electives align with their career path. Please note course offerings are not guaranteed and students should consult the Schedule of Classes for courses offered during any given term.
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“My favorite class so far has been Corporate Finance. Professor Plotts is absolutely brilliant and she is one of those people who have an innate ability to take you to the next level.” Michael Pinta |
