Curriculum

Learn Business Alongside UC Berkeley Students

You will take 9–11 units of Berkeley Haas Business courses from the course offerings below and 3 units from the UC Berkeley course catalog for a total of 12–15 units per semester.

Overview

  • Haas Core Courses (4 in the fall, 3 in the spring)
  • Two Haas electives (4–6 units) in the following subject areas: marketing, leadership, entrepreneurship and/or finance
  • An additional elective outside of business from the main UC Berkeley course catalog

Any student who has completed an undergraduate course of study (earned a degree) will be placed in the graduate track.

Students will receive a certificate of completion accordingly for 1 semester and 2 semesters of study. Read more about certificate and diploma requirements.

Note: Not all courses will be offered each semester and are subject to change. If you have specific questions about any of the courses, please email us at bhgap@berkeley.edu.

Transfer Courses!

Earn units that can transfer to your home university.

Units earned in this program can be transferred back to your home university, or help prepare you for graduate and professional schools. Learn more about transfer credits.

What do the letters and numbers mean in a course title? How will this help me transfer units? Read about our course letters and numbers.


Spring 2024

Undergraduate Track

Core Courses

Thriving at Haas and Beyond

BUS ADM 419.7 (1 unit)

This course is a combination of class time, one-on-one coaching sessions and company site visits. Class time focuses on three aspects of your learning: excelling as a Haas student; identifying your professional path forward; and enhancing your personal and professional development. One-on-one coaching provides highly individualized support to discuss your own topics of interest, ranging from applying to graduate school, to clarifying how to bring together your strengths and interests to launch or enhance your career.

Faculty: To be announced

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

UGBA XB152 (3 units)

Understand the theory and processes of negotiation so that you can negotiate successfully in a variety of settings. You'll learn about a broad spectrum of negotiation problems that are faced by managers and professionals in order to get their solutions accepted and implemented. Throughout the course, you will develop these skills experientially and place negotiation in useful analytical frameworks.


Details

You take this course in the fall and/or spring term. The course lasts 15 weeks and comprises 2–4 hours of lecture per week. You take a final exam to earn a letter grade.

Faculty: Holly Schroth, Ph.D.

Choose At Least 1:

Introduction to Entrepreneurship

UGBA XB196 (3 units)

Explore the structure and framework of entrepreneurial endeavors—both inside and outside of the business world. Learn the answers to such questions as: What is entrepreneurship? What is opportunity recognition and selection? How can you create and define competitive advantage? At the end of the course, you will understand the entrepreneurial business process and how you can become involved in those processes in your future career.

Faculty: Aaron McDaniel

Business Models for Sustainability

UGBA XB196SA (3 units)

In this course, you will learn a range of topics that cover the principal elements of how business is affected by sustainability issues—in particular climate change—and how business practices can improve (or worsen) the outlook.

The course focuses on matters related to climate change, specifically how business sustainability depends both on mitigating impacts to our environment and on adaptation to ongoing climate change and other elements of sustainability. Examine a range of approaches to developing business models in the context of sustainability, the actions that business can take to improve the environmental outlook and the emergence of a sustainability-aware economy.

This course is intended for students with an interest in how business, social and environmental sustainability are intertwined. Students considering a career in sustainability will benefit from the deep understanding of the business issues that this course will cover.

Faculty: Andrew Isaacs

Elective

Equitable and Inclusive Leadership

XMBA XB257.4 (2 units)

Explore and take risks regarding your own identity and what you disclose to others, and how this and your own biases, power and privilege may impact your ability to be a more inclusive leader. Learn from lectures, discussions, in-class practice exercises, guest speakers, and the crafting and presentation of your personal inclusive leadership commitment and development plan. Readings will help you uncover new perspectives, encourage exploration and apply learnings to create more inclusive workplaces and spaces. Identify key inclusive leadership competencies and practice them.

Faculty: Stephanie Fujii

Graduate Track

Core Courses

Thriving at Haas and Beyond

BUS ADM 419.7 (1 unit)

This course is a combination of class time, one-on-one coaching sessions and company site visits. Class time focuses on three aspects of your learning: excelling as a Haas student; identifying your professional path forward; and enhancing your personal and professional development. One-on-one coaching provides highly individualized support to discuss your own topics of interest, ranging from applying to graduate school, to clarifying how to bring together your strengths and interests to launch or enhance your career.

Faculty: To be announced

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

EWMBA XB252 (3 units)

Understand the theory and processes of negotiation so that you can negotiate successfully in a variety of settings. You'll learn about a broad spectrum of negotiation problems that are faced by managers and professionals in order to get their solutions accepted and implemented. Throughout the course, you will develop these skills experientially and place negotiation in useful analytical frameworks.


Details

You take this course in the fall and/or spring term. The course lasts 15 weeks and comprises 2–4 hours of lecture per week. You take a final exam to earn a letter grade.

Faculty: Holly Schroth, Ph.D.

Choose At Least 1:

Entrepreneurship

MBA XB295 (3 units)

Learn how to lead an entrepreneurial venture, focusing on businesses that start small by design, and with hard work and good luck can be expected to develop into complex enterprises. Study the entrepreneurial journey, starting from initial ideation all the way M&A and IPO. The driving force behind startup ventures are entrepreneurs, those individuals who have the courage, insight, knowledge, intensity and luck to attempt to achieve great business results without resources remotely sufficient for the job—or so it seems at first. A key vehicle for the entrepreneur's effort is the basic tenets of a sound business: customer demand, attractive unit economics, large enough market opportunity, and the ability to attract talent and investors. This class will focus on all of these areas and more.

Faculty: Arman Zand

Changing Climate and Business Strategy

MBA XB292T (3 units)

Focus on 35 topics that cover many of the principal elements of how business is affected by climate change, and how changing business practices can improve (or worsen) the climate outlook.

Faculty: Andrew Isaacs, M.S.

Electives

Pricing

MBA XB269 (3 units)

Learn proven concepts, techniques and frameworks to assess and formulate pricing strategies. Develop the economics and behavioral foundations of pricing. Then, discuss several innovative pricing concepts including price customization, nonlinear pricing, price matching and product line pricing. Finally, you will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of several Internet-based, buyer-determined pricing models.

Faculty: Wasim Azhar

Data Science Applications in Finance

MBA XB296 (2 units)

The vast proliferation of data—combined with increasing technological advances and massive changes in regulation—is transforming the competitive landscape of various industries. Learn how these forces are driving changes in finance and accounting, and how to make sense of their future implications. Study how technology impacts finance and accounting, with an emphasis on data analytics. Begin by identifying critical business problems that need to be solved, and then work backward to see how finance and accounting analytics can help.


Details

You take this course in the fall and/or spring term. The course lasts 15 weeks and comprises three hours of lecture per week. You take a final exam to earn a letter grade.

Faculty: Donatella Taurasi, Ph.D.

The Business of AI

EWMBA XB267 (1 unit)

From self-driving cars to humanoid robots, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way we live, work and do business. In this class, get an introduction to AI technology and its many business applications. You will walk away with a foundational understanding of AI and its near- and long-term applications; explore the myths and realities surrounding the technology; and delve into the legal, social and policy implications of AI.

Faculty: Matthew Stepka


Fall 2024

Undergraduate Track

Core Courses

Thriving at Haas and Beyond

BUS ADM 419.7 (1 unit)

This course is a combination of class time, one-on-one coaching sessions and company site visits. Class time focuses on three aspects of your learning: excelling as a Haas student; identifying your professional path forward; and enhancing your personal and professional development. One-on-one coaching provides highly individualized support to discuss your own topics of interest, ranging from applying to graduate school, to clarifying how to bring together your strengths and interests to launch or enhance your career.

Faculty: To be announced

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

UGBA XB152 (3 units)

Understand the theory and processes of negotiation so that you can negotiate successfully in a variety of settings. You'll learn about a broad spectrum of negotiation problems that are faced by managers and professionals in order to get their solutions accepted and implemented. Throughout the course, you will develop these skills experientially and place negotiation in useful analytical frameworks.


Details

You take this course in the fall and/or spring term. The course lasts 15 weeks and comprises 2–4 hours of lecture per week. You take a final exam to earn a letter grade.

Faculty: Holly Schroth, Ph.D.

Choose At Least 1:

Opportunity Recognition: Technology and Entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley

MBA XB295C (3 units)

Gain the core skills needed to identify opportunities that can lead to successful, entrepreneurial high-technology ventures, regardless of your "home" skill set (technical or managerial). Take an in-depth examination of the most successful approaches for entrepreneurial companies as a function of markets and technologies. Emphasis is placed on the special requirements for creating and executing strategy in a setting of rapid technological change and limited resources. This course is particularly suited for those who anticipate founding or operating technology companies.


Details

You take this course in the fall and/or spring term. The course lasts 15 weeks and comprises 3 hours of lecture per week. You take a final exam to earn a letter grade.

Faculty: Andrew Isaacs, M.S.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Sustainability

UGBA XB196B (3 units)

In this survey course, you will learn about the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in delivering sustainability. In particular, explore the differences between traditional innovation; entrepreneurship and sustainability; and social innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability.

Faculty: Darcelle Lahr

Electives

International Marketing

UGBA XB168B (3 units)

Understand the frameworks and sensitivities to formulate and implement marketing strategies in order to compete globally. Explore international marketing in regions such as the Americas, Europe, Japan, China, India, Russia, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Explore topics such as:

  • global versus local advertising
  • international pricing strategies
  • selecting and managing strategic international alliances and distribution channels
  • managing international brands and product lines through the product life cycle international retailing
  • international marketing organization and control

Details

You take this course in the fall and/or spring term. The course lasts 15 weeks and comprises three hours of lecture per week. You take a final exam to earn a letter grade.

Faculty: Wasim Azhar

Business Communication

UGBA XB100 (2 units)

To help meet the challenges that you will inevitably encounter on the job, this Business Communication class will introduce key principles, strategies and standard American business conventions for communicating in a business environment. By concentrating on audiences, purposes, forms and formats of professional communication, you will examine and practice a range of techniques to write and deliver effective, appropriate written and oral messages. Focus on real-world applications of effective communication so that you will feel confident communicating in any business environment.

Faculty: Janet Brady

Graduate Track

Core Courses

Thriving at Haas and Beyond

BUS ADM 419.7 (1 unit)

This course is a combination of class time, one-on-one coaching sessions and company site visits. Class time focuses on three aspects of your learning: excelling as a Haas student; identifying your professional path forward; and enhancing your personal and professional development. One-on-one coaching provides highly individualized support to discuss your own topics of interest, ranging from applying to graduate school, to clarifying how to bring together your strengths and interests to launch or enhance your career.

Faculty: To be announced

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

EWMBA XB252 (3 units)

Understand the theory and processes of negotiation so that you can negotiate successfully in a variety of settings. You'll learn about a broad spectrum of negotiation problems that are faced by managers and professionals in order to get their solutions accepted and implemented. Throughout the course, you will develop these skills experientially and place negotiation in useful analytical frameworks.


Details

You take this course in the fall and/or spring term. The course lasts 15 weeks and comprises 2–4 hours of lecture per week. You take a final exam to earn a letter grade.

Faculty: Holly Schroth, Ph.D.

Choose At Least 1:

Opportunity Recognition: Technology and Entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley

MBA XB295C (3 units)

Gain the core skills needed to identify opportunities that can lead to successful, entrepreneurial high-technology ventures, regardless of your "home" skill set (technical or managerial). Take an in-depth examination of the most successful approaches for entrepreneurial companies as a function of markets and technologies. Emphasis is placed on the special requirements for creating and executing strategy in a setting of rapid technological change and limited resources. This course is particularly suited for those who anticipate founding or operating technology companies.


Details

You take this course in the fall and/or spring term. The course lasts 15 weeks and comprises 3 hours of lecture per week. You take a final exam to earn a letter grade.

Faculty: Andrew Isaacs, M.S.

FinTech

MBA XB237 (3 units)

Changes in technology—such as universal Internet access, dramatic advances in cryptography and a mobile phone in every pocket—have changed how the financial industry operates. In this course, you will learn covers the basics of the payment system and how it is changing. You will examine how other stores of value embedded in mobile technology are used around the world, in both high-income and low-income countries. The course will also touch on changes in other financial sectors, including advice, banking and insurance. Finally, you will investigate the potential of cryptocurrencies and the possibilities for disruption inherent in an open, consensus ledger (such as Blockchain).

Faculty: Gregory La Blanc, J.D., LLM

International Trade

MBA XB296 (3 units)

In this course, you will develop models for understanding the economic causes and effects of international trade, investigate the effects of economic policies that inhibit trade and examine the political economy of trade. By integrating the findings of the latest theoretical and empirical research in international economics, you will learn how to explore the current political debates in the U.S. and elsewhere regarding the benefits and costs of international trade.

Faculty: Todd Fitch

Electives

International Marketing

UGBA XB168B (3 units)

Understand the frameworks and sensitivities to formulate and implement marketing strategies in order to compete globally. Explore international marketing in regions such as the Americas, Europe, Japan, China, India, Russia, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Explore topics such as:

  • global versus local advertising
  • international pricing strategies
  • selecting and managing strategic international alliances and distribution channels
  • managing international brands and product lines through the product life cycle international retailing
  • international marketing organization and control

Details

You take this course in the fall and/or spring term. The course lasts 15 weeks and comprises three hours of lecture per week. You take a final exam to earn a letter grade.

Faculty: Wasim Azhar

Product Management

MBA XB290T (3 units)

Go through the steps of product management: Start with problem discovery, then take the best concepts from product idea to customer needs-finding and analysis, plan a product via a concrete roadmap and define the product requirements. Through these steps, you will learn a variety of strategic frameworks and tactical methodologies that help product managers advance the development of their products or services every day. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the product development process in the context of cross-functional team management and stakeholder management.

The course is introductory in nature, aimed at those who have not experienced a full product-development cycle in the past, or those who have had some experience in product management and want to add context and tools to supplement their on-the-job learning. This course also aims to facilitate the formation of small teams for the development of their product or service ideas.

Faculty: Vince Law


Earning Your Certificate or Diploma

BHGAP Certificate Requirements (1 semester of study)

  • Enroll in at least 12 units of courses taken at UC Berkeley.
  • Complete a minimum of 9 units of BHGAP curriculum, including BHGAP Core Courses and BHGAP electives.
  • Complete a minimum of 1 unit of Concurrent Enrollment (CE) electives.

BHGAP Diploma Requirements (2 semesters of study); BHGAP-GETT Diploma Requirements

  • Complete all requirements for the certificate; see above.
  • During the two semesters:
    • Complete at least 18 units of BHGAP curriculum (Core Courses and Electives). Courses will not be counted twice for credit.
    • Complete a minimum of 1 unit through the Concurrent Enrollment system each semester enrolled in the program.
    • Complete a minimum of 24 units of courses taken at UC Berkeley.

Requirements for All Students

In addition, all students must:

  • Successfully complete all course requirements with a grade of C or better.
  • Earn a final program GPA of 2.5 or higher based on all courses taken at UC Berkeley. P/NP courses will not count toward your final GPA.

Add OPT Work Experience

Put your new education to use with paid work in the U.S.! Students who complete two semesters of BHGAP may also be eligible to apply for one year of work authorization in the United States. Learn more about Optional Practical Training.

Fall 2024 applications open Mar. 1, 2024.

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