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Business Leader Development Program

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The Business Leader Development (BLD) Program prepares students to advance their career readiness and community connections by challenging them to become forward-thinking and inclusive business leaders. This sequence of four courses is designed to enhance your education and preparation for your career by supporting your personal and professional development and building a lasting community within GWSB.

BLD Program Learning Pillars

  1. Community Connections
  2. Pursuit of Academic Excellence
  3. Personal & Professional Identity
  4. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  5. Career Readiness

Course Information

BADM 1001 & 1002: Business Leader Foundations 1 & 2

First-year students are required to complete the BADM 1001 / 1002 sequence as the first step in the GWSB Business Leader Development Program.

Learn About BADM 1001 & 1002

The first semester, BADM 1001, focuses on self-assessment and vision-setting. In this semester, students explore their strengths, values, and begin to set goals for their development at GW and beyond. Students will also begin to familiarize themselves with the contemporary business landscape and conduct research on potential industries of interest. By developing a greater understanding of themselves, their interests, and the options available to them, students will lay the groundwork for deeper exploration and professional development.

The second semester, BADM 1002, builds on the self-assessment and vision-setting activities from BADM 1001 and focuses specifically on advancing a student's personal brand through business communication and inclusive leadership. Students will begin to explore the concepts of their personal brand as it relates to their future business career, leadership identity in the workplace, and the critical importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, students will review the differences between community, network, and networking and will practice using informational interviewing and other networking practices to deepen and broaden their connections. The semester will conclude with a unique capstone experience in the format of a case competition. The case competition will allow students to exercise critical thinking skills while applying what they have learned about communication, leadership, and teamwork into practice while analyzing a real-world business case.

The first semester, BADM 1001, focuses on self-assessment and vision-setting. In this semester, students explore their strengths, values, and begin to set goals for their development at GW and beyond. Students will also begin to familiarize themselves with the contemporary business landscape and conduct research on potential industries of interest. By developing a greater understanding of themselves, their interests, and the options available to them, students will lay the groundwork for deeper exploration and professional development.

The second semester, BADM 1002, builds on the self-assessment and vision-setting activities from BADM 1001 and focuses specifically on advancing a student's personal brand through business communication and inclusive leadership. Students will begin to explore the concepts of their personal brand as it relates to their future business career, leadership identity in the workplace, and the critical importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, students will review the differences between community, network, and networking and will practice using informational interviewing and other networking practices to deepen and broaden their connections. The semester will conclude with a unique capstone experience in the format of a case competition. The case competition will allow students to exercise critical thinking skills while applying what they have learned about communication, leadership, and teamwork into practice while analyzing a real-world business case.

BADM 1003: Business Leader Foundations for Transfer Students

The Business Leader Foundations for Transfer Students course helps students transition into the School of Business and succeed in and out of the classroom.

Learn About BADM 1003 for Transfer Students

Students learn about resources at GW and GWSB and work to better understand their strengths, values, passions and create academic and career goals. Students also develop career-based knowledge, begin preparation for business careers, learn about the importance of civility and integrity in business discourse, and develop as leaders. BADM 1003 is required for all internal/external transfer GWSB students.

Students learn about resources at GW and GWSB and work to better understand their strengths, values, passions and create academic and career goals. Students also develop career-based knowledge, begin preparation for business careers, learn about the importance of civility and integrity in business discourse, and develop as leaders. BADM 1003 is required for all internal/external transfer GWSB students.

BADM 3001: Business Leader Career Strategy

BADM 3001 builds on the self-assessment and vision-setting that students explored in the Business Leader Foundations (BADM 1001/2/3) courses.

Learn About BADM 3001

In the Business Leader Career Strategy course, students will develop an individual Career Action Plan, which includes researching business-related industries as related to their own interests, skills, motivators, values, and career goals. Additionally, students will expand their network to include GWSB alumni and industry professionals. They will also learn how to enhance their personal brand as well as develop knowledge and skills that will increase their competitive advantage in the job search process. Lastly, students will learn about the benefits of graduate school and the potential opportunities that continued education provides for various career paths.

BADM 3001 is required for GWSB students in the Bachelor of Science degree program. Completion of BADM 1001 & 1002: Business Leader Foundations 1 & 2 or BADM 1003: Business Leader Foundations for Transfer Students is required in order to enroll in this course.

In the Business Leader Career Strategy course, students will develop an individual Career Action Plan, which includes researching business-related industries as related to their own interests, skills, motivators, values, and career goals. Additionally, students will expand their network to include GWSB alumni and industry professionals. They will also learn how to enhance their personal brand as well as develop knowledge and skills that will increase their competitive advantage in the job search process. Lastly, students will learn about the benefits of graduate school and the potential opportunities that continued education provides for various career paths.

BADM 3001 is required for GWSB students in the Bachelor of Science degree program. Completion of BADM 1001 & 1002: Business Leader Foundations 1 & 2 or BADM 1003: Business Leader Foundations for Transfer Students is required in order to enroll in this course.

BADM 4001: Business Leader Launch

BADM 4001 Business Leader Launch is an experiential learning course that is designed to enhance your education and preparation for your career. This experiential course focuses on synthesizing the knowledge you gained in the previous courses in the Business Leader Development (BLD) Program and in your other courses at GW into one culminating experience: whether it is an approved internship, undergraduate research, community engaged scholarship, or selected student leadership positions at GWSB.

Learn About BADM 4001 & Register for the Course

Course Prerequisites

BADM 1001 and 1002 (or BADM 1003 for transfer students) are required as prerequisites for this course. BADM 3001 is not a prerequisite, but students are highly encouraged to complete it prior to BADM 4001 in order to maximize your experience in the course and the overall BLD Program.

Course Restrictions

BADM 4001 is required for GWSB students in the Bachelor of Science Program degree program if this course is listed as a required course in the School of Business Pre-Business Courses block on DegreeMap.

BADM 4001 can be repeated for credit up to 5 times for a maximum of 6 total credits. Repeating BADM 4001 is subject to prior instructor approval and is only available for select sections (Undergraduate Research, Community Engaged Scholarship, and Internship). Students are not permitted to repeat the GWSB Undergraduate BLD Program Mentors or GWSB Student Leadership sections.

Students can enroll in only one section of BADM 4001 in a given semester.

Review the BADM 4001 Section drop-down menus below for additional section-specific restrictions.

Registration Process

Registration into this course is facilitated by the Office of Undergraduate Programs (not through GWeb). Students must obtain instructor approval through the BADM 4001 Registration Request Form to be registered for the course - permission varies across sections; detailed information for each section is below. Please review the permission requirements listed below in the "BADM 4001 Section Information & Deadlines" drop-down menu for each section well in advance to help with your preparation for this course and ensure you have the information needed to request instructor approval for registration.

Enrolling in this course involves students taking initiative - it is the student’s responsibility to seek out opportunities to register for this course. Students should start early, utilize the available resources if help is needed, and not wait until their final semester at GW to take this course.

Note: If you register for BADM 4001 in the fall or spring semester, the fee is included in your tuition (up to 18 credit hours). However, when you register for BADM 4001 in the summer, you have to pay per credit hour, as determined by the university.

BADM 4001 Registration Request Form

Registration Enrollment Deadline

Registration requests must be submitted prior to the end of the first week of classes in order to meet the add/drop deadline for enrollment. It is important for students to begin their registration process at the start of course registration. Registration requests will not be accepted beyond the end of the first week of classes for a given semester (Fall, Spring, & Summer).

Students requiring CPT should start their registration process earlier due to processing timelines. International students should meet with their International Services Office advisor to discuss their eligibility and the process needed to secure CPT approval. Please see below for additional International Student Registration reminders and details.

International Student Registration Reminder

International students who are seeking to enroll in BADM 4001 should meet with an International Services Office (ISO) Advisor to discuss any pertinent employment and visa requirements. This is specifically important for the sections that include off-campus employment: Community Engaged Scholarship and Internship sections. International students with an F-1 visa should also review the ISO website with employment regulations to learn more eligibility requirements and impacts on areas such as Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

Course Prerequisites

BADM 1001 and 1002 (or BADM 1003 for transfer students) are required as prerequisites for this course. BADM 3001 is not a prerequisite, but students are highly encouraged to complete it prior to BADM 4001 in order to maximize your experience in the course and the overall BLD Program.

Course Restrictions

BADM 4001 is required for GWSB students in the Bachelor of Science Program degree program if this course is listed as a required course in the School of Business Pre-Business Courses block on DegreeMap.

BADM 4001 can be repeated for credit up to 5 times for a maximum of 6 total credits. Repeating BADM 4001 is subject to prior instructor approval and is only available for select sections (Undergraduate Research, Community Engaged Scholarship, and Internship). Students are not permitted to repeat the GWSB Undergraduate BLD Program Mentors or GWSB Student Leadership sections.

Students can enroll in only one section of BADM 4001 in a given semester.

Review the BADM 4001 Section drop-down menus below for additional section-specific restrictions.

Registration Process

Registration into this course is facilitated by the Office of Undergraduate Programs (not through GWeb). Students must obtain instructor approval through the BADM 4001 Registration Request Form to be registered for the course - permission varies across sections; detailed information for each section is below. Please review the permission requirements listed below in the "BADM 4001 Section Information & Deadlines" drop-down menu for each section well in advance to help with your preparation for this course and ensure you have the information needed to request instructor approval for registration.

Enrolling in this course involves students taking initiative - it is the student’s responsibility to seek out opportunities to register for this course. Students should start early, utilize the available resources if help is needed, and not wait until their final semester at GW to take this course.

Note: If you register for BADM 4001 in the fall or spring semester, the fee is included in your tuition (up to 18 credit hours). However, when you register for BADM 4001 in the summer, you have to pay per credit hour, as determined by the university.

BADM 4001 Registration Request Form

Registration Enrollment Deadline

Registration requests must be submitted prior to the end of the first week of classes in order to meet the add/drop deadline for enrollment. It is important for students to begin their registration process at the start of course registration. Registration requests will not be accepted beyond the end of the first week of classes for a given semester (Fall, Spring, & Summer).

Students requiring CPT should start their registration process earlier due to processing timelines. International students should meet with their International Services Office advisor to discuss their eligibility and the process needed to secure CPT approval. Please see below for additional International Student Registration reminders and details.

International Student Registration Reminder

International students who are seeking to enroll in BADM 4001 should meet with an International Services Office (ISO) Advisor to discuss any pertinent employment and visa requirements. This is specifically important for the sections that include off-campus employment: Community Engaged Scholarship and Internship sections. International students with an F-1 visa should also review the ISO website with employment regulations to learn more eligibility requirements and impacts on areas such as Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

BADM 4001 Section Information & Details