Monday, August 9* – Friday, August 20
Your journey officially begins with Opening Term: The Hoya Way, a two-week immersive experience designed to introduce you our mission, values, and the three pillars of the MBA experience:
Curriculum & Academics
Career Preparation & Professional Development
Community & Relationship Building
During this dynamic and fast-paced period, you will participate in programming led by the MBA Program Office and the McDonough Career Center; hear from guest speakers, current students, and alumni; and engage in community-building and networking opportunities. You will also complete your first foundational core MBA course: Ethics, Policy, and Global Engagement (1.5 credits).
Opening Term serves as both your formal orientation to the program and the start of your MBA curriculum, grounding you in Georgetown’s values-driven approach to global business.
A key feature of the Georgetown McDonough MBA student experience is our cohort system, and this will be your first opportunity to really connect with your cohort. Besides taking your academic course together, you’ll also have the opportunity to develop cohort norms and a unique cohort identity, all while engaging in friendly competition against the other cohorts. Throughout the program, you’ll continue taking your foundational core courses with your cohort. Your cohort interactions will help you develop relationships and networks outside of the classroom that will last long after you graduate.
Please note that the Opening Term is in-person and full-time (typically 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.), including some Saturday sessions and select evenings. Expect a detailed schedule in late July.
Mon, Aug 9: Opening Term begins*
Sat, Aug 14: Programming until afternoon
Fri, Aug 20: Closing Celebration (evening)
Mon, Aug 23: Optional Service Day
Late-August Office of Global Services Immigration Session (required of all F-1 and J-1 students)
Following Opening Term, module 1 of the Fall semester begins on Wednesday, August 25.
*International Student Orientation will take place on Friday, August 6 (all day) and is required for international students. Sessions will focus on acclimating students to Georgetown McDonough and providing support related to academics, careers, immigration, and networking.
You will receive more information and a detailed schedule from your MBA Program Office advisor in late July.
BADM 5400: Ethics, Policy, and Global Engagement examines how firms make decisions within ethical, policy, and global business environments. The course introduces frameworks and tools for analyzing how ethics, public policy, stakeholder dynamics, and cross-border markets shape business strategy and managerial decision-making. Students explore how laws, regulations, institutions, and societal expectations influence business behavior, as well as how global markets, cultural contexts, and international competition affect firms’ opportunities and constraints. Emphasizing Georgetown McDonough’s commitment to principled leadership, the course equips students to evaluate complex business challenges and make responsible and strategically sound decisions in an interconnected world.
Please note that some courses may require you to purchase additional materials through a custom coursepack or other materials available online; instructions on how to purchase those items will be delivered by your faculty. Faculty will post course materials shortly before their classes begin. If needed, textbooks can be purchased either in the bookstore or from online sources.
We recommend that you purchase a Texas Instrument BA-II Plus or HP 12C financial calculator. These models were chosen because they are the only calculators allowed for the CFA exams. Other types of calculators may not be approved by your faculty.