The FYIC curriculum builds a strong foundation for Farmer School students. Business is searching for new hires who can think critically, creatively, and conceptually, can understand coding and computational work, and can thrive in a constantly changing environment. Employers believe that college graduates are not adequately prepared in:
Ethical Decision-Making
Analytical and Research Skills
Written and Oral Communication
Adaptability
Working with Diverse Groups
We reviewed academic and practitioner literature and talked with our valued business partners. Then we researched the other top 50 business schools to see how they were helping students develop these key skills within their curriculum.
We learned that while some schools might work with students on an “as-needed” basis, no other school has an integrated core curriculum in the first year that is specifically designed to build the skills needed for student success in the workplace.
The eight credit-hour integrated core, which consists of four courses - Foundations of Business; Foundations of Business Communication; Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and Introduction to Computational Thinking for Business - is required for all Farmer School first-year students. Students move through these classes in teams, working together from the beginning of the semester to the end, culminating with a final client project.
The integrated core allows students to individually build critical skills and to work collaboratively for a real client while working with real data. Students learn skills, apply knowledge, and present their creative, computational, and analytic findings to senior executives.
What Student Organizations are in the Farmer School of Business?
Define your Farmer experience! Today’s global and competitive job market demands that schools of business prepare their students to be dynamic leaders, great communicators, skilled collaborators, and bold visionaries. Active and engaged learning starts in the classroom but students must continuously sharpen and practice these skills.
In the Farmer School, student organizations provide the perfect place where students can lead teams, communicate with members, and problem-solve. FSB challenges our students to actively participate in one of our 25 organizations and 5 honorary societies. Employers expect students to be actively engaged in student organizations and extra-curricular activities. In fact, many organizations host employer functions and activities specifically for and with our clubs!
We believe that we gain valuable life skills learning, living, and working with people with different cultures, viewpoints, and lifestyles. As our students graduate and join an increasingly global workforce, this appreciation for individuals as individuals will better equip them to succeed and will create new communities that celebrate diversity.
How are Farmer Students Equipped to Engage in a Diverse Workforce?
The Farmer School of Business is committed to ensuring its graduates are “BEYOND READY” for their lives and careers. The world is becoming increasingly diverse and complex. Within this environment, effective use of diversity within the workforce has proven to impact positively on both organizational and individual performance. According to the latest McKinsey report on Diversity and Inclusion. embracing different cultures and viewpoints drives innovation, improves decision-making, increases employee productivity and retention, and leads to higher profitability.
However, when working in culturally diverse organizations, most people struggle to communicate and work effectively. The key to being BEYOND READY to adapt to rapidly-changing and diverse environments is Cultural Intelligence [CQ].
The Farmer School of Business is developing students who are BEYOND READY for the complex business environment that awaits them in the workplace, marketplace, and society. The BEYOND READY CQ program is designed to provide students with a unified strategy and skill set for how to relate and work across cultural differences at home and abroad. All components of the program will be available as curricular offerings to Farmer School of Business students.
Can I Study Abroad and Graduate on Time as an FSB Student?
Want to study abroad? We will help make it happen! Over 65% of students in the Farmer School of Business study abroad!FSB Global Studies offers semester, winter, and summer term programs specifically designed for students studying in the Farmer School of Business. These programs offer business courses and professional development experiences specifically designed to help students prepare for the global marketplace. Current programs are offered in a variety of countries, including:
Australia
Barcelona
Budapest
London
Luxembourg
Maastricht
Students work with the academic advisor to review program application logistics, scholarship opportunities, course equivalency options, and more.
FSB students also have the option to take advantage of study abroad programs outside of FSB and are encouraged to collaborate with the appropriate office:
Miami Education Abroad / Away offers hundreds of global opportunities for students to earn academic credit during a transformative experience. Students have the opportunity to participate in programs in other parts of the U.S. and in 90 countries around the world.
