What Is Experiential Learning
Whether it is a simulation, a consultative experience, or a real-life business case, in experiential learning scenarios, you will be thrust into an environment where the challenges facing the business are ambiguous and unstructured, and the outcomes are based upon real circumstances.
You will work across disciplines and tools to understand the nature of the challenge, and how to respond to either protect the company, exploit the opportunity, enhance the strategy, learn from a mistake and iterate, or recover from failure.
Most scenarios will be approached in teams, which will help you gain additional insight and enhanced soft skills that will be critical to your personal future success.
How We Integrate Experiential Learning
Each course is designed to integrate experiential learning into the curriculum. Hands on opportunities build leadership and teamwork skills, and put analytic knowledge to practice. Students gain hands-on experience through case-based coursework, consultative projects with corporate partners, high-intensity virtual simulations, and global immersion trips.
Global Immersion
To thrive and lead in today’s rapidly globalizing world, you need a nuanced understanding of international business and culture. The Cox School's relationships with corporate leaders around the world run deep — as a result you'll gain experience in the global marketplace through classroom study, high-intensity live simulations, executive speaker engagements, and immersive short-term global travel. Grow your global perspective through courses like International Entrepreneurship or Global M&A. Experience interactive, live simulations with war-gaming. Experience one of the hallmarks of the SMU Cox MBA — our optional global immersion program.
2019 Shanghai, China
In 2019, Cox MBA students traveled to Shanghai to work with corporate partner Li & Fung, a $2 billion dollar company with over 1,100 employees around the world. Cox MBAs gained exposure to global business practices, applied methodologies to solving real supply chain business problems, and delivered actionable recommendations for retailers such as: Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, Home Depot, Ross, Kroger, Action, Officeworks, Dunelm, John Lewis, Michaels, and Jo-Ann Stores. Students developed their ability to solve complex problems, hone communication and presentation skills, and gain insight and leadership perspective on global business.
Centers And Institutes
SMU Cox is home to numerous Centers and Institutes, serving as resources to the University, the community and the world. Many also offer opportunities for scholarly research and writing, conferences, periodic lectures and symposia. The expansive range of focus includes entrepreneurship, leadership, energy, real estate, customer engagement, financial studies, economic freedom, and more.
Learn all about Cox Centers and Institutes
One of the most utilized centers by Professional MBA students is the Business Leadership Center which offers specialized training in leadership and communication — critical skills necessary for success as an executive. The BLC offers skill-building experiential learning seminars, executive speaker series, experiential learning programs and coaching. More than 90 experiential learning seminars are offered, 4 per week on average, that build your strengths in communication, interpersonal relations, management, and leadership.
Experiential learning programs through the BLC give you a chance to study with experts and apply your newly acquired skills. One of the favorites is the five-day program “Leading and Sustaining a Service Culture” held at the Disney Institute in Orlando, Florida. SMU Cox is the only graduate school to offer this customized program on-site at the Disney Institute.
Students with the desire to give back to the community can do so through the Nonprofit Consulting Program. Students work in groups on projects that address real-life challenges faced by various local nonprofits.
Learn more about the Business Leadership Center
