Fuqua’s customizable curriculum allows us to design our own MBA experience with more than 100 elective options. Navigating which courses to take can be overwhelming, especially when your interests might differ from your closest friends and classmates.

We collaborated on this guide outlining our must-take courses to highlight the possibilities.

Frannie Gurzenda, a Daytime MBA student at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, jumps in the air with trekking poles firmly planted on grass near a trail. A flowing river and trees are in the background.

Frannie Gurzenda

  1. Negotiations with Professor Grainne Fitzsimons: Take this course before signing your first offer! Its teachings are essential for every MBA.
  2. Global Academic Travel Experience (GATE) with various professors: Offered in the spring, GATE courses invite students to learn about a region’s history, culture, economy and geopolitical influences. Classes start at Fuqua then the class travels to the region for an immersive learning trip. I traveled to Denmark and Norway, learning about sustainability and business in the Nordic countries with Professor Dan Vermeer. Highlights included going into the underbelly of Norway’s sovereign wealth fund and visiting a sustainable fishery in the Arctic Circle.
  3. CASEi3 – Initiative on Impact Investing with Professor Cathy Clark: Offered by the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE), this course matches students with impact investing projects. It’s an amazing opportunity to work on a real-world consulting project with a top-tier impact investing firm. I learned not only about return on investment but also return on impact!
Izzy Scribano, a student in the Daytime MBA program at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, wearing snow gear, including tinted ski goggles on a mountain

Izzy Scribano

  1. Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Strategy with Professor David Ridley: Dr. Ridley is a highly respected professor at Fuqua, renowned for his expertise as an economist in the life sciences industry. He has published two papers that have become law and shaped health policy, particularly in aligning incentives with innovation and quality in healthcare. His deep knowledge and ability to articulate strategy in the pharmaceutical sector make his lectures both intellectually stimulating and impactful.
  2. Corporate Restructuring with Professor John Buley: Professor Buley is a highly esteemed figure at Fuqua, known for his unparalleled experience in the banking industry. The course explores restructuring from the perspectives of financial and operational managers, bankers, advisors, consultants, and investors. Professor Buley’s extensive knowledge complemented by his engaging narratives and real-world anecdotes from his time at J.P. Morgan, brings a practical and relevant dimension to every discussion.
  3. Detecting Earnings Management with Professor Bill Mayew: Professor Mayew specializes in analyzing management communication and the potential misrepresentation of financial reports. The course delves into both quantitative and qualitative aspects of earnings reports, offering a comprehensive understanding of how financial results can be managed or misrepresented. His expertise provides valuable insights into detecting and interpreting these nuances in financial reporting.
Mikhala Nelson, a student in the Daytime MBA program, stands along a half-wall on a bridge overlooking an iconic building in South Africa

Mikhala Nelson

  1. Operations Strategy with Professor Robert Swinney: This class is an exciting, discussion and project-based class that explores how some of the world’s biggest companies, like Amazon and Nike, make strategic choices about their operations that give them their competitive advantage.
  2. Global Academic Travel Experience (GATE) with various professors: As Frannie highlighted above, GATE is an immersive course that starts in the classroom then goes abroad. My GATE course took a deep dive into all things South Africa with Professor Kelsey Zavelo. We explored the region’s rich history, growing economy, and diverse cultures and languages. The incredible experience was capped off with an 11-day trip to Johannesburg and Cape Town with 30 classmates.
  3. Entrepreneurial Execution & Planning with Professor Jon Fjeld: If the “How I Built This” podcast by Guy Raz was a course, it would be this. It explores how startups grow from just an idea or concept into mature, established businesses and studies the strategic choices or tradeoffs required in every phase of entrepreneurship.
Seamus Connelly, a Daytime MBA student at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, stands to the right of his baby daughter and wife

Seamus Connelly

  1. Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Strategy with Professor David Ridley: Dr. Ridley is both brilliant and as engaging as any professor I’ve ever had.
  2. Negotiations with Professor Grainne Fitzsimons: Professor Fitzsimons is a master facilitator of tough conversations and excellent at getting students out of their comfort zones to grow.
  3. The Art & Application of Game Theory with Professor David McAdams: Professor McAdams makes game theory absurdly fun and provides students with a framework for any role they’ll play in the future.
  4. Corporate Restructuring with Professor John Buley: Professor Buley is a Fuqua legend but never lets on about his success in banking. He breaks down layered concepts with ease and is an ally to all.