Overview
Each semester you are able to choose from some 20-25 different elective courses in the Evening & Weekend MBA program. We recognize that the task of choosing which courses to take can be daunting. This section is designed to give you some advice on the courses that are considered to give you the best preparation for a specific career field. The list is compiled with input from the faculty, career advisors, current students and alumni.
By no means are these lists intended to be anything more than advice that you can choose to follow or reject. The lists have courses ordered numerically, not in order of importance. Hence, you should consider your own strengths, weaknesses, experiences, and interests in deciding which electives are more important for you to take. We know that some students have successfully gained employment in a career field having taken only a few of the recommended courses while others have taken most of the courses and have not been successful in their career search. However, some recruiters want to know which electives you are taking and view your answer as evidence of your career focus and preparation efforts.
While the EWMBA core is designed to provide you an overview of the various disciplines of business, the coverage is, by design, broad. The expectation is that you will pursue more advanced courses in those disciplines that you believe will best serve you in your professional career. We strongly recommend that you not restrict your choice of electives to just one or two disciplines since the most important things that you learn here will not be specific, discipline-based tools or techniques but the ability to analyze and solve problems. Most problems are not discipline-specific but require you to bring into play a variety of concepts and tools that you have learned in all of the courses taken while an EWMBA student.
Courses
The following career overviews were provided by WetFeet.com. Click on “Research” in CareerNet to access more detailed information from WebFeet and Vault to help you gain insight into various industries and functions.
The Career Mangement Group can assist you with your career development. Resources include workshops, job fairs, one-on-one career advising, self-assessment, and CareerNet, our career intranet. To learn more about these services or to make an appointment with a career advisor you can e-mail [email protected].
Please note that these courses are not necessarily offered every semester or every year. The Program Office will release a schedule of available electives prior to registration and enrollment for the semester. Refer to the Registration Timeline for when the schedule will be released.
Useful Courses for Every Career Path
While we advise you of useful courses for specific career paths, we also realize there are courses that are helpful to every EWMBA student. The list below gives you a variety of courses that would be useful, no matter which career you choose. We encourage you to take a few of these courses to give breadth to your MBA studies.
- EWMBA 211 Game Theory
- EWMBA 224A Managerial Accounting
- EWMBA 231 Corporate Finance
- EWMBA 252 Negotiations
- EWMBA 254 Power & Politics
- EWMBA 290I Managing Innovation and Change
- EWMBA 291C Active Communicating
- EWMBA 296 Improvisation and Leadership
- EWMBA 299B Global Strategy and Multinational Enterprise
Consulting – Management or Strategy
Career Overview: Depending on the assignment, conduct objective research and analysis on behalf of the client company making strategic, financial, operations, systems, and HR recommendations.
Competencies: Ability to travel and be on client site for extended periods of time. Strong skills in financial modeling, communication, facilitation, negotiation, sales, customer relationship management, problem solving and analysis, and presentation. Must have the ability to prioritize, attend to details, be creative, understand corporate politics, and work in a fast-paced collegial team environment.
Useful Courses:
- EWMBA 210 Strategy, Structure, & Incentives
- EWMBA 222 Financial Information Analysis
- EWMBA 224A Managerial Accounting
- EWMBA 231 Corporate Finance
- EWMBA 252 Negotiations
- EWMBA 290I Managing Innovation and Change
- EWMBA 291C Active Communicating
- EWMBA 299B Global Strategy and Multinational Enterprise
Please note that these courses are not necessarily offered every semester or every year.
Useful Extracurricular Activities:
- Joining the Haas Consulting Club
- Taking leadership positions in student club activities
- Volunteering in community activities
- Practicing case interviews
Entrepreneurship
Career Overview: Entrepreneurs work individually or with professionals in venture capital, banking, accounting, law, executive search, and consulting across myriad specialties including issues of technology, service, marketing, and communications.
Competencies: Independently develop new products, services, and opportunity areas. Refine and evaluate ideas for potential development. Manage cross-functional teams through product development/commercialization phase. Design and coordinate execution of in-market testing. Analyze market research and test market data for critical insights and opportunities. Strong track record of innovation, strategic leadership, and results. Disciplined self-starter with broad range of talents including leadership, finance, sales, marketing, human resources, and management. Outstanding strategic and critical thinking skills. Skillful leader with a talent for communication and relationship building.
Useful Courses:
- EWMBA 210 Strategy, Structure, & Incentives
- EWMBA 222 Financial Information Analysis
- EWMBA 252 Negotiations
- EWMBA 262 Strategic Brand Management
- EWMBA 269 Pricing
- EWMBA 295A Entrepreneurship
- EWMBA 295B Venture Capital and Private Equity
- EWMBA 295I Entrepreneurship Workshop for Start-ups
- EWMBA295M Business Model Innovation & Entrepreneurial Strategy
Please note that these courses are not necessarily offered every semester or every year.
Useful Extracurricular Activities:
- Joining the Haas Entrepreneur’s Association
- Participating in the Lester Center activities
- Participating in the Berkeley Business Plan Competition, Global Social Venture Competition, and/or other case competitions
Finance – Corporate Financial Analysis
Career Overview: These individuals provide financial and operational analysis within a company. The operations groups that they support may include product lines, manufacturing facilities, sales and marketing groups, or corporate staff functions (finance, human resources, legal, facilities, etc.). This role could also encompass a broader scope, such as financial planning and budgeting for the company at large. Responsibilities may include revenue and expense analysis and forecasting; product cost and margin analysis; new product projections; property, plant & equipment evaluation; etc. They may help management set up profit objectives, analyze current unit results, provide financial and operational recommendations based on analytical results, and forecast and drive future financial performance.
Competencies: Strong understanding of fundamental financial and accounting concepts. Provide insightful quantitative analysis and qualitative evaluation of business situations. Ability to clearly communicate financial results in written, verbal and visual modes. Strong decision making and problem solving skills. Ability to work with non-financial colleagues (engineering, marketing, production, and all levels of management).
Useful Courses:
- EWMBA 222 Financial Information Analysis
- EWMBA 223 Corporate Financial Reporting
- EWMBA 224A Managerial Accounting
- EWMBA 231 Corporate Financial Management
- EWMBA 233 Asset Management
- EWMBA 236G Designing Financial Models that Work
- EWMBA 237 Financial Statement Modeling
- EWMBA 252 Negotiations
- EWMBA 290I Managing Innovation and Change
- EWMBA 291C Active Communicating
Please note that these courses are not necessarily offered every semester or every year.
Useful Extracurricular Activities:
- Joining the Haas Finance Club
- Networking with others (students, alumni, guest speakers, etc.) to really understand the industry
Finance – Investment Banking
Career Overview: Investment Banking is an umbrella term for a range of activities: underwriting, selling, and trading securities (stocks and bonds); providing financial advisory services, such as mergers and acquisition advice; and managing assets.
Competencies: Excellent financial and analytical ability including demonstrated knowledge of negotiation strategies, financial modeling, conducting due diligence, SWOT analysis, and valuation techniques and practices (including cash-flow analysis). Well-developed organizational skills, interpersonal skills, and presentation skills. Ability to develop and maintain productive client relationships, and respond to shifting priorities on several simultaneous projects. Willingness to work long hours, as well as personal flexibility and adaptability, in order to meet client requirements.
Useful Courses:
- EWMBA 211 Game Theory
- EWMBA 222 Financial Information Analysis
- EWMBA 223 Corporate Financial Reporting
- EWMBA 231 Corporate Financial Management
- EWMBA 232 Money Markets and Financial Institutions
- EWMBA 233 Asset Management
- EWMBA 236E Mergers and Acquisitions
- EWMBA 236F Behavioral Finance
- EWMBA 236G Designing Financial Models that Work
- EWMBA 237 Financial Statement Modeling
- EWMBA 254 Power & Politics
- EWMBA 252 Negotiations
- EWMBA 262 Strategic Brand Management
- EWMBA 269 Pricing
- EWMBA 283 Real Estate Financing
- EWMBA 295B Venture Capital and Private Equity
Please note that these courses are not necessarily offered every semester or every year.
Useful Extracurricular Activities:
- Joining the Haas Finance Club
- Networking with others (students, alumni, guest speakers, etc.) to really understand the industry
General Management
Career Overview: General managers control how an organization operates. They develop corporate structures and policies, direct and coordinate employee activities, find and develop alliances with suitable business partners, and make systematic changes to keep businesses profitable.
Competencies: Customer-focused; solutions-oriented; a blend of technical, conceptual and analytical skills. Ability to work independently, be a strong leader, manage a project team, plan strategically, manage profit/loss and budgets, solve problems, and interact and negotiate with all levels in an organization.
Useful Courses:
- EWMBA 210 Strategy, Structure, & Incentives
- EWMBA 211 Game Theory
- EWMBA 222 Financial Information Analysis
- EWMBA 224A Managerial Accounting
- EWMBA 231 Corporate Finance
- EWMBA 252 Negotiations
- EWMBA 254 Power & Politics
- EWMBA 262 Strategic Brand Management
- EWMBA 290I Managing Innovation and Change
Please note that these courses are not necessarily offered every semester or every year.
Useful Extracurricular Activities:
- Taking leadership positions in EWMBAA and student club activities
- Volunteering in community activities
Human Resources Management
Career Overview: HR includes hiring and firing employees, shaping corporate culture, managing employee communications, settling employee disputes, creating benefits programs, navigating government regulations, dealing with legal issues and occupational safety, setting up policies and procedures, designing programs, and measuring performance, compensation, and training needs.
Competencies: Ability to create and analyze human resource related reports and compensation surveys. Manage training for all levels on a variety of topics. Excellent skills in conflict resolution, oral and written communications, handling details. Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and multi-task in a fast-paced, ever-changing work environment.
Useful Courses:
- EWMBA 210 Strategy, Structure, & Incentives
- EWMBA 224A Managerial Accounting
- EWMBA 252 Negotiations
- EWMBA 254 Power & Politics
Please note that these courses are not necessarily offered every semester or every year.
Useful Extracurricular Activities:
- Taking leadership positions in EWMBAA and student club activities
- Volunteering in community activities
Marketing – Consumer Marketing and Brand Management
Career Overview: Companies that design and sell mass-appeal products or services to consumers rely heavily on their marketing or brand management teams to ensure their products are consumer-relevant and effectively marketed to their target consumers. In traditional consumer products companies, employees are often organized into “brand teams” that operate almost as separate companies within the organization. The brand team is responsible for getting every element of the brand proposition right and for delivering the annual sales and profit goals for the product line. Some of the key activities that brand managers and marketers often lead and perform include advertising and promotion planning, brand and package design, sales and distribution forecasting, consumer research/market research, new product development, pricing and analysis, and development and execution of the annual brand plan. Successful marketers and brand managers often go on to roles as general managers of strategic business units or Chief Marketing Officer positions.
Competencies: Strong skills in project management, strategic thinking and analysis, leadership, creative problem solving, salesmanship, and communications (written, verbal, and presentation skills).
Useful Courses:
- EWMBA 224A Managerial Accounting
- EWMBA 231 Corporate Finance
- EWMBA 252 Negotiations
- EWMBA 261 Marketing Research
- EWMBA 262 Strategic Brand Management
- EWMBA 268B International Marketing
- EWMBA 269 Pricing
- EWMBA 290I Managing Innovation and Change
- EWMBA 299M Marketing Strategy
Please note that these courses are not necessarily offered every semester or every year.
Useful Extracurricular Activities:
- Joining the Haas Marketing Club
- Participating in marketing competitions
- Attending Marketing Firm Night
Marketing – Technology Marketing & Product Management
Career Overview: The tech marketing and product management industry is fast paced. Products are more complex. As a result, tech companies tend to break the umbrella “marketing” function into two groups: “product management” and “marketing/marketing communications”.
Product management focuses on getting all the product features and functionality right. They do consumer research and direct the engineers/developers to design the product to meet the consumer’s needs. They do a lot of product testing, project planning, etc.
Marketing in a tech company is separate from product development and is more about developing the communications / advertising / promotion and product roll out plans for a new product. Marketing does not have P&L responsibility like it does in a traditional consumer products firm. They are often responsible for providing guidance to the corporate sales force regarding their products (pricing, product options, etc.) who interface directly with the customer.
Competencies: Similar to brand management, but they will want to see a strong interest/past experience in technology/internet, passion for technology, and other more tech-focused skills.
Useful Courses:
- EWMBA 224A Managerial Accounting
- EWMBA 231 Corporate Financial Management
- EWMBA 252 Negotiations
- EWMBA 260 Customer Insights
- EWMBA 261 Marketing Research
- EWMBA 262 Strategic Brand Management
- EWMBA 268B International Marketing
- EWMBA 269 Pricing
- EWMBA 290I Managing Innovation and Change
- EWMBA 299M Marketing Strategy
Please note that these courses are not necessarily offered every semester or every year.
Useful Extracurricular Activities:
- Joining the Haas Technology Club
- Participating in marketing competitions
- Attending Marketing Firm Night
- Practicing case interviews
- Attend the >play Digital Media Conference
Operations
Career Overview: Operations managers determine where an organization should be based and implement its employment policies, accounting practices, distribution channels, what its facilities will look like, and which vendors to use. Accountants and controllers watch the books. Administrators and managers supervise line employees. Sales reps and customer service agents ensure clients get what they’ve paid for. If a problem exists, operations personnel will be the first to hear about it.
Competencies: Planning and organizing multiple tasks to meet objectives and deadlines. Manage and support the marketing function and special initiatives to promote conservation and new sales opportunities. Effectively receives, interprets, and disseminates information. Experienced at conflict resolution and organizing, managing, and gaining the involvement of diverse workgroups to accomplish specific projects and goals. Must have knowledge of financial management; ability to navigate change; thorough understanding of policies, products and procedures; ability to network; and ability to be innovative.
Useful Courses:
- EWMBA 210 Strategy, Structure, & Incentives
- EWMBA 224A Managerial Accounting
- EWMBA 231 Corporate Financial Management
- EWMBA 252 Negotiations
- EWMBA 290I Managing Innovation and Change
Please note that these courses are not necessarily offered every semester or every year.
Useful Extracurricular Activities:
- Participate in an independent study with a Operations faculty
Real Estate
Career Overview: Property managers maintain investment property, overseeing everyday operations, whether it’s a commercial, industrial, or residential building. Developers and asset managers invest in and improve land to create a supply of real estate that they anticipate will meet the needs of a population’s commercial and residential endeavors.
Competencies: Analysis, underwriting, and due diligence of prospective land acquisitions. Manage development of projects from site proposal through construction to start date. Prepare and evaluate project timelines, pro-forma P&L, and investment analysis. Manage the entitlement process from budget approval through start of construction. Process all entitlements through the appropriate government agencies. Gain both internal and external agreement through effective verbal and written communication. Act as the primary point of client contact during project lifecycle. Strong organizational, visual, creative, and leadership skills. Ability to work on multiple projects at one time.
Useful Courses:
- EWMBA 222 Financial Information Analysis
- EWMBA 231 Corporate Finance
- EWMBA 233 Asset Management
- EWMBA 252 Negotiations
- EWMBA 280 Real Estate Investment and Market Analysis
- EWMBA 283 Real Estate Financing
- EWMBA 284 Real Estate Strategy
- EWMBA 287 Land Development and Investment
Please note that these courses are not necessarily offered every semester or every year.
Useful Extracurricular Activities:
- Joining the Berkeley Real Estate Club
- Participate in activities with the Fisher Center for Real Estate & Urban Economics
- Participating in real estate challenges and competitions
- Networking with others (students, alumni, guest speakers, etc.) to really understand the industry