Program Overview
The Graduate Communication Program offers multiple management communication courses as part of the Executive MBA core curriculum. We teach students in the Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Global cohorts. Our communication courses aim to prepare students for the communication challenges they will face as managers, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders in their industries. Students will learn how to articulate their ideas clearly and persuasively in various business contexts and become more effective communicators regardless of their skill level at the start of the course. Our courses are the only seminar-style courses in the required curriculum, with an average class size of 8 students per section.
The Executive MBA Communication requirement has two components that are completed consecutively in the first year:
WHCP 6140 Persuasive Strategies for Turning Ideas into Action (COURSE SYLLABUS)
In this first course of the Communication Requirement, students learn tools and strategies to drive organizational change. Students will develop and practice the main communication elements of idea realization – taking an idea, change, or new initiative from the initial proposal through management approval. Communication topics covered include fundamentals of persuasion, presentation structure and organization, data visualization, and delivery techniques. Through practice and individualized feedback from their instructor and peers, students will hone their speaking style and strengthen their confidence in public speaking.
WHCP 6190 Leadership Communication (COURSE SYLLABUS)
Building upon skills learned in WHCP 6140, this course will provide additional opportunities to practice communicating effectively as business leaders, focusing on broader, more far-reaching business contexts that affect multiple stakeholder groups. For example, a major crisis such as COVID-19 or a significant organizational change such as new leadership. The goal of this course is to give students practice communicating effectively in times of change within organizations where business leaders need to provide the vision and path forward. Students will learn advanced strategies for crafting and delivering persuasive messages in these high-stakes environments, including narrative/storytelling, metaphor, visualization, and responding to questions under pressure.
If you have questions about the Wharton Executive MBA communication courses, please contact Antionnette McDermott at mcdera@wharton.upenn.edu.