MBA Hoya Values 

McDonough MBA Program Ethos Statement

Georgetown University McDonough School of Business is proud to educate and develop global minded, principled leaders who strive to make a difference in the world by exhibiting the highest standards of excellence and ethics. Guided by Georgetown University’s values, we emphasize the dignity and worth of every person and pursue truth in every encounter. Whether on campus, in the community, or in the workplace, we are committed to honoring the following guiding principles:



The Spirit of Georgetown

Community in Diversity

The Georgetown community affirms and promotes a rich and growing diversity of faith traditions; racial, ethnic, and gender identities; and the varieties of cultural heritages represented by our students, faculty, and staff. Aware of our place and responsibility in an increasingly interconnected world, we walk in solidarity with others, embracing the value and dignity of every member of our community.  Jesuit higher education “involves recognizing diversity as a constitutive dimension of a full human life.” Georgetown lives out this institutional commitment through a variety of resources and programs across our campuses.

Academic Excellence

Academic Excellence – Academic excellence describes the great importance that Jesuits have placed on the life of the mind as a means for uncovering truth and discovering meaning. Georgetown’s emphasis on academic excellence is reflected in the careful selection of faculty and students, the quality of teaching and the importance of research across our campuses, and it has led to our recognition as one of the top universities in the United States.


Cura Personalis

One of the central tenets that animates the Georgetown approach to education is cura personalis, a Latin phrase meaning “care of the whole person.” The idea of cura personalis, rooted in the Jesuit tradition, is borne out in all aspects of the Georgetown University MBA experience. What does that mean? It means that the university is committed not just to your academic achievement, but also your mental and physical health, your development as a citizen of the world and your intellectual, artistic, social and spiritual growth. Georgetown commits to integrating the virtuous life into academic experiences, co-curricular life on campus, immersion trips, living-learning communities, religious and humanistic engagement, and all the shared experiences of our community life.

People for Others

Georgetown encouraged all students to be engaged in the struggle for justice to protect the needs of the most vulnerable. This spirit is evidenced in Georgetown’s promotion of community-based learning courses; our local, national and international service projects; justice immersion programs; and over forty student-led service and justice organizations.


Hoya Saxa!

What exactly is a Hoya?

Many years ago, when all Georgetown students were required to study Greek and Latin, the University’s teams were nicknamed “The Stonewalls.” It is suggested that a student, using Greek and Latin terms, started to cheer “Hoya Saxa,” which translated into “What Rocks.” The name proved popular and the term “Hoyas” was eventually adopted for all Georgetown teams.

Our mascot, Jack the Bulldog (pictured left), is a beloved campus figure often seen skateboarding across the court during basketball games.