Core Curriculum

Since I started my Open Master’s, I’ve taken many more classes and read many more books than I intended to when I set out. Some people have asked me for the Cliff’s Notes version. Below is my condensed list, for those who want to avoid my meandering exploration, or make space to add their own tangents.

Recommended Prerequisites, Timeline, and Concurrent Practice remain the same.

Courses

3 courses in each of the following 4 areas (12 total courses)

Leadership: Leading people and organizations

  • Inspiring Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence – Case Western Reserve University
  • Communication – Wharton Business School
  • Influence – Wharton Business School

Ways of Being: Mindfulness, Ethics, Philosophy, Religion

  • Buddhism and Modern Psychology – Princeton University
  • Ethical Leadership through Giving Voice to Values – University of Virginia
  • Effective Altruism – Princeton University

Science of the Mind: Psychology & Neuroscience

  • The Science of Well-Being – Yale University
  • Success – Wharton Business School
  • Psychological First Aid – Johns Hopkins University

Paths of Exploration: Electives exploring connections to other areas

  • Business Strategies for Social Impact – Wharton Business School
  • International Organizations Management – University of Geneva
  • Managing Social and Human Capital – Wharton Business School

Thesis

Do one. Make it meaningful to you. Don’t feel the need to share it with people outside your inner circle.

Additional Reading

Works that I recommend as part of any curriculum. Some other books were also excellent, but less universally applicable.

Leading

Leading While Being

Being

Science