The Wharton School is committed to providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in today’s competitive environment. To remain at the forefront of business education, the Wharton MBA Program for Executives is proud to announce two new concentrations: Healthcare Management and Business Analytics (BUAN). These concentrations were meticulously designed to guarantee students the ability to specialize in these areas beginning with the class of 2025.
Healthcare Management
The Healthcare Management concentration addresses the growing need for leaders who can navigate the complexities of the healthcare industry. With healthcare being one of the largest and most rapidly evolving sectors globally, there is an increasing demand for professionals with both business acumen and a deep understanding of healthcare systems and policies. Dr. Richard Waterman, Deputy Vice Dean for Academic Affairs in the Wharton Executive MBA Program, notes that this concentration is particularly beneficial for students with a background in healthcare or those looking to transition into the industry.
“We have a lot of physicians in this program who are interested in focusing on healthcare business,” he explains, “But historically, it has been hard for us to allocate enough credit units for them to obtain a major in this area. The Healthcare Management concentration addresses this challenge by requiring three additional credit units beyond the core curriculum, making it more accessible to students with niche interests.”
Courses in the concentration will be taught by members of the renowned Wharton Health Care Management Department.
Business Analytics (BUAN)
Wharton’s Business Analytics concentration responds to the increasing importance of data-driven decision-making in today’s business world. With vast amounts of data being generated daily, organizations require leaders who can effectively analyze and interpret this information to drive strategic initiatives and gain a competitive edge.
“Business analytics is one of the more popular majors in the full-time MBA program,” shares Dr. Waterman. “This concentration will provide Executive MBA students with the opportunity to develop a strong expertise in business analytics, a rapidly evolving skill set and one of Wharton’s core strengths.”
In addition, the curriculum for the BUAN concentration draws from a diverse range of disciplines, including accounting, finance, management, marketing, operations, and statistics. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that students receive a well-rounded education that prepares them to tackle the complex challenges of their chosen field.
Benefits of Concentrations
Concentrations offer several advantages over traditional majors. While majors typically require four additional credit units beyond the core curriculum, concentrations require three, making them more feasible for students with specific interests or career goals. Concentrations also appear on official transcripts, enabling students to signal their expertise in a particular area without committing as much time and resources as a major would require.
“About 70% of Executive MBA students pursue a major,” notes Dr. Waterman. “Some choose to obtain more than one major. These new concentrations allow students to further demonstrate their aptitude in multiple disciplines of business.”
In addition, many existing courses, even Global Modular Courses such as “Customer Centricity in Sweden” and “Health Systems of Ghana and Romania,” can count toward the requirements of the concentrations, providing students with flexibility and customization in their academic journey. Students also have the option of substituting a 0.5 credit unit Independent Study Project towards the concentration.
– Kendra King
Posted: March 28, 2024
