The Global Consulting Practicum (MKTG 890) is the first and only 1.5 credit unit course at Wharton, offering a cross-functional learning experience in Quarters 2, 3, and 4 to first year students and serves as a capstone course for second year students.  GCP is open to full-time MBA students and Executive MBA (East and West) students alike.

The teams are supported by faculty and teaching assistants from management consulting and broader industries.  The teams also tap into Wharton alumni and GCP friends at major consulting firms and brand-leading companies.  Together, they consult for senior managers of international companies who want to enter or improve their position in the North American market.

Throughout the course, students research, analyze and develop detailed strategic and tactical plans to meet their clients’ goals. Each student travels to their client’s home country, at no cost to the student, for one week over Winter Break to work with the client and partner team.  Students collaborate with senior managers to determine the scope of the  work to be done.

GCP is the only Wharton course that does not use the auction method; students apply to get into the course.  We highly encourage students to apply as part of a pre-formed 5 person team.  Individuals may also apply.  In 2008-2009, twelve of the fourteen projects were pre-formed teams.

This is a demanding program, but a rewarding one for those committed to diversifying their education experiences beyond the classroom.

The Wharton Global Consulting Practicum provides MBA students with the following:

• A reality education experience in which students apply concepts, methods, and paradigms they have learned in the classroom Client Development and Agreements
• An international virtual team experience which allows students to build horizontal self-managed team capabilities
• An opportunity to develop the ability to be a trusted advisor in any field: consulting, brand management, international project management, etc.
• Entrance into a international professional and academic network of resources
• Have a lot of fun and make great friends around the world
• Travel to partner country with expenses paid by client
• Get full course credit (1.5) in Marketing, Operations and other majors that readily accept the GCP for credit (or arranged on a case-by-case basis)

To view a four page summary about GCP click here.

To see a quick comparison of other Wharton MBA International Options vs. the GCP click here.

To view the Introductory Power Point presentation for full-time MBA students (1st & 2nd years) Academic Year 2009-2010 click here.

To view the Introductory Power Point presentation for EAST MBA for Executives  (1st & 2nd years) Academic Year 2009-2010 click here.

To view the Introductory Power Point presentation for WEST MBA for Executives (1st & 2nd years) Academic Year 2009-2010 click here.

GCP on YouTube!  GCP Project 2007 Wharton & Instituto de Empresa, Spain