Integrated Core Experience (Fall Term)
An Integrated Core Experience (ICE) is one of the McIntire School of Commerce’s signature innovations. The opportunity to learn fundamentals through an enterprise-wide view of business, rather than separate core courses, means that students are better prepared to deal with complexities they will encounter in the workplace. In addition to course content, integrative projects and cases help students understand real-world business problems and opportunities.
Examples of ICE course content includes:
- Financial Accounting
- Financial Management
- Global Strategy & Systems
- Marketing & Quantitative Analysis
- Organizational Behavior
- Strategic Cost Management
ICE Broken Down
Students engage in a coherent series of four integrative topics: global strategy and systems, marketing and quantitative analysis, organizational behavior, and financial analysis.
Students learn by working in small teams to solve actual business problems and by presenting and defending their solutions to classmates, faculty and, in some cases, corporate leaders.
Professors team-teach and interact with one another and with students in a rigorous yet informal seminar atmosphere. Course material is presented in a cross-functional manner that provides students with a working knowledge of how different subject areas relate to one another.
Because course material is presented in a cross-functional manner, students find it easier to apply their learning to complex business problems in the classroom—and in the real world.
Most importantly, the Integrated Core Experience prepares McIntire students to “hit the ground running.”
Management & Leadership Development Seminar
During the fall term, students begin the first part of a two-semester Management & Leadership Development Seminar (3 credit hours) designed to help students better understand and further develop their unique management and leadership styles. Through readings, debates, and discussions with key executives, students examine the communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving styles of leaders who have effected positive change. In addition, students participate in reflective exercises and personal journaling to help them synthesize lessons learned and how they might relate to their own strengths and career aspirations.
Introduction to a Specialty Track
Near the end of the fall term, students take a one-credit-hour course—either Introduction to Financial Services or Introduction to Marketing Research—which will provide them with the fundamental concepts needed to begin intense study of their chosen area of concentration for the remainder of the program.
Questions?
Get answers to all of your MS Commerce program questions by joining us for an online chat or class visit.
