Business Economics & Public Policy, MBA

The Business Economics and Public Policy major equips future business leaders with the tools to analyze incentives and policies of firms, governments, and consumers. Whether a firm is engaged in real estate development, bringing new products to market, developing new technologies, exporting products, addressing environmental issues, or providing infrastructure services, it will need to be familiar with the incentives of competitors and the role of government so that it can understand which actions it can take, and how other actors will respond.

The major enables students to formulate policy with the best techniques offered by both private and public sector research. The tools will be useful across a range of careers, particularly those that involve developing economies or regulated industries. It helps future private managers to understand, react to, and help form the environment in which they will operate.

The department’s courses focus on understanding the implications for the business world of increased globalization; technological change, such as the internet and e-commerce; the increasing role of intellectual property rights; and the public demand for greater government efficiency. These new developments have resulted in privatization, deregulation, and changes in health, antitrust, and environmental policy — all of which critically affect business interests.

Curriculum

A minimum of 19 course units is required for graduation.

Major electives taken on a pass/fail basis cannot be counted toward the Business Economics & Public Policy major.

BEPP Major Requirements
Select four course units, with at least three from the following: 14.0
Behavioral Economics, Markets and Public Policy
Housing Markets
Risk Analysis and Environmental Management
Energy Markets & Policy
Public Finance and Policy
Urban Fiscal Policy
Economic Globalization: Policy, History and Contemporary Issues
Risk Management
Advanced Study Projects
Urban Fiscal Policy
Electives
Select 5.5 course units of electives5.5
MBA Core Requirements9.5
Total Course Units19
1

Students may seek approval to have one of the four course units be from other departments of The Wharton School or in other schools of the University.

MBA Core Requirements

Accounting
Select one of the following:0.5-1
Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
Fundamentals of Financial and Managerial Accounting
Finance 1
Corporate Finance
Select one of the following:0.5-1
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance (Half CU)
Macroeconomics
Select one of the following:0.5-1
Macroeconomics and the Global Economic Environment
Macroeconomics and The Global Economic Environment (Half CU)
Legal Studies
LGST 6110Responsibility in Global Management0.5
or LGST 6120 Responsibility in Business
or LGST 6130 Business, Social Responsibility, and the Environment
Microeconomics
MGEC 6110Microeconomics for Managers: Foundations0.5
MGEC 6120Microeconomics for Managers: Advanced Applications0.5
Management
MGMT 6100Foundations of Teamwork and Leadership0.5
MGMT 6110Managing Established Enterprises1
or MGMT 6120 Management of Emerging Enterprises
Marketing
MKTG 6110Marketing Management0.5
MKTG 6120Dynamic Marketing Strategy0.5
or MKTG 6130 Strategic Marketing Simulation
OIDD
Select one unit of the following:0.5-1
Quality and Productivity
Business Analytics
Online Business Models and the Information-Based Firm
Innovation
Operations Strategy
Enabling Technologies
Managerial Decision Making
Statistics
STAT 6130Regression Analysis for Business 21
or STAT 6210 Accelerated Regression Analysis for Business
Management Communication
WHCP 6110Management Communication0.25
Select one of the following:0.25
Advanced Persuasive Speaking
Communication Challenges for Entrepreneurs:
Persuasive Writing for Business Leaders
Total Course Units9.5
1

Students cannot enroll in both FNCE 6210 and FNCE 6230.

2

STAT 6210 is by placement only.


The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2023 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.