The Washington Campus Consortium Seminar, “Understanding Washington: Business and the Public Policy Process for MBA Students,” is a week-long intensive seminar that addresses the intersection between political economy and business strategy.

The Washington Campus is a consortium of the McCombs School at UT Austin and 16 other nationally prominent business schools in a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization committed to educating business executives on the public policy process. All lecturers are guest speakers drawn from the highest ranks of government (such as members of Congress and current and former executive branch officials), the media, business and academia.

Each fall and spring, students from member schools are selected to attend one of the consortium seminars. Students come away with valuable political insights and knowledge about the inner workings of the public policy process. The curriculum consists of topics such as: “Policy Development in the Executive Branch,” “Congress and the Legislative Process,” “The Formation of Economic Policy,” “Government Regulation,” and “Business Strategy and Comparative Political Studies.” Classes meet Sunday through Friday and consist of lectures, class discussion and guest speakers. There are also field trips to Capitol Hill and executive branch departments and agencies.

Prerequisites

Current enrollment in the Texas MBA Program and successful completion of the first MBA year (30 hours). Participants must be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative UT MBA GPA of 3.0.

How to Apply

Complete and submit the UT application. Applications are available in the MBA Program Office, CBA 2.502. Please note that each seminar has its own UT application deadline (see below). Selection is based on three essays, UT MBA academic performance and resume. If you are selected by UT, you will then be provided with Washington Campus payment and registration information. Please note that the January seminar is restricted to current second-year MBA students. May and June seminars are only available to first-year MBA students.

UT Application Deadlines

Applications for the January and March seminars will be available in early October 2012 (note: the January session is restricted to 2nd year students)

Program Expenses

$1350 tuition + $350 activities fee. Tuition and fees are payable to the Washington Campus. Housing, meals and transportation costs are not included in the tuition fee. Students are responsible for making their own accommodation arrangements once they are selected for the Washington Campus Program. Students do not incur any costs to The University of Texas at Austin.

Course Credit

Three hours of “waived elective credit” will be awarded upon successful completion of the program, which is defined as a B average across the program, as demonstrated on the required project and final examination given at the close of the program. 

2013 Program Dates

January 7-11
March 11-15 
May 13-17 
June 10-14

For more information, contact Chris Johnson via email or phone at 512-471-7608.