My changes to the "Core"

A couple of nights ago about a dozen students from my class had the opportunity to attend a "feedback session" with members of the Owen administration over dinner.  I think it's been said many times before by many of the other bloggers, but Owen is unique among business schools in that it's one of the only one's you'll find that constantly pushes for improvement and advancement, and does this by whole-heartedly engaging the student body in the process.  Nearly everyone I know lists this quality as one of the top reasons we came to Owen in the first place. 

Over the course of dinner my classmates and I talked about the things we loved, the things we liked, and the things we didn't.  At some point during the night I made a somewhat serious comment that one thing I'd like to change would be to add Corporate Valuation to the Core (the Core are courses required of all students). A few other classmates pointed out courses that they thought were "indispensable, yet currently not mandatory" that they would like to see made part of the Core. While I realize it's not likely that all (or any..) of of Core changes will be made, I figured I'd share my opinions with you here on OwenBloggers.

Owen Courses I'd make required if I ruled the world...

• Corporate Valuation (Professor Craig Lewis).  This is the most important course I've taken at Owen.  This is the most important course I've ever taken, period.  Professor Lewis is the most effective instructor I've ever met/seen/heard of, period.  I made the joke at dinner that I'd take corporate val every mod for the entire two years of Owen if I could.  Shockingly, several other students at the table actually took my joke seriously and actually said they'd do the same thing if it were offered.  It's that good. When you're in class, you are so engaged you leave at the end of the period exhausted.  The course is by far the most challenging at Owen, but what you learn in a short 7 weeks is enough to fill years of real-world experience. His teaching methodology and grasp of the material are without peer.  My personal feeling is that if you come to business school and do not take this course, you have done yourself a massive disservice.
• Taxation of Business and Investment Transactions (Professor Henderson).  Ok, this one might not be for everyone as it's a fairly intense (ok, really intense), but it's one of those classes that will help pay for B-school.  Come again?  Yes, my feeling is that this course gives you and understanding of the tax code and its impact on business (and your personal finances) that will easily have a gross benefit of thousands of dollars in the course of your early career.  This course teaches me that I'll likely never want anyone by a CPA doing my taxes (business and/or personal), but the way i treat expenses and income will be dramatically affected by this course.
• Bottom of the Pyramid (-type) course.  Right now i'm taking the BOP course that focuses on the alleviation of global poverty through business efforts.  I think every MBA at Owen should be required to take two such courses that are more focused on discussion and practical knowledge than on pure academic learning.  Maybe open up the amazing courses at main Vanderbilt campus so we can expand our offerings to more than just grad-level finance and operations classes.   Classes that stretch the thinking and challenge the conventional wisdom are often the ones with the most long-term value, and i feel Owen could benefit by adding a few to the curriculum. 
• Game Theory (Mike Shor).  Wow.  This is without a doubt a course that should be made mandatory.  Professor Shor is a... um... what's the word i'm looking for?  Rockstar?  Yeah, that'll work.  Seriously, the course is incredible--- don’t leave Owen without it.
• Mandatory Capstone projects.  I think one of the missed opportunities here at Owen is a mandatory capstone requirement.  Right now, they are optional, and given the course load we are already saddled with, it's very hard for the average student to find time to dedicate to the project.  Perhaps a MOD where we only take 2-3 other courses (geared towards your specific capstone) along with dedicated time/resources for the project would work...