LPPS 3440 – Introduction to Management Consulting & Strategic Decision Making
This Propel offering comes as an interactive, project-based, learning course is designed to help students navigate complex and ambiguous problems. Complex problems range from choosing a major or career path to solving world poverty and climate change. Students will learn strategic complex problem-solving methods commonly used in management consulting and grounded in research from behavioral science including social and cognitive psychology, behavioral economics, and sociology. Students will then apply these methods to case studies as well as real-world client challenges that range across multiple disciplines including business, technology, public service, healthcare, and more. Partnering with the UVA Career Center’s Propel Project-based learning program, students will work in teams with guidance from alumni project coaches to hone their skills and enhance their growth. The capstone event of the course is a final case competition where teams of students present their strategic analysis and recommendations to a group of alumni leaders. Overall, students will build problem-solving skills, teamwork skills, presentation skills, self-awareness, alumni mentoring relationships, and gain new insights about career interests and workstyle preferences that will set them up for success in their next steps beyond UVA.
Reflections from Former Students
I had the privilege of taking Professor Boler's Introduction to Management Consulting and Strategic Decision-Making course in the spring of my third year. I was initially vacillating between different pathways after graduation. I was interested in consulting but worried I would fail to integrate my interests as a public policy student. However, Professor Boler's course enlightened me to the myriad ways I could utilize my strengths as a Batten student in this field. Furthermore, Professor Boler instilled the analytical skills necessary to excel in interviews. From practice cases, insightful readings, to individualized attention, I can confidently say I secured my full-time position because of the knowledge I gained in this course. Professor Boler took the time to keep in touch and offer support even after his class ended. His care and innovative coursework allowed me to thrive in interviews. I strongly recommend students from all majors take LPPS 3440!
Ahana Rosha, Batten '23 (Starting full-time Accenture this upcoming Fall)
This course also provides great insight into the various avenues you can take within the broader consulting umbrella. I would highly recommend this class to anyone considering consulting or looking to apply, but also this class is of great value to anyone who has already decided on consulting. I took this course as I wanted to be well prepared for my upcoming internship, and I truly believe that Professor Boler and his course really enhanced my contributions throughout my summer at Bain. This course taught me how to effectively work with a team through various case projects, including a live final case presentation to a real client. The final client pitch largely mimicked a lot of work I did during my internship and I was able to hone my skills in a safe setting while drawing on mentorship from Prof. Boler and our team's graduate advisor. Throughout the course, Professor Boler makes a strong effort to get to know his students and help them along their career paths. He's an asset to have in your corner and has continued to meet with me after the class has ended, which I am incredibly thankful for! I would certainly recommend this course to anyone considering it.
Grey Atkinson, CLAS ’23 (Starting full-time at Bain next summer/fall)
I cannot recommend LPPS 3440 enough to anyone who is interested in consulting! I took the class during the spring of my second year with a slight idea that I might be interested in consulting. LPPS 3440 was integral to my understanding of consulting and allowed me to learn and develop applicable skills for any career: problem-solving, communication, and professionalism. I became comfortable with the basics of a case interview, which helped me so much during the recruiting process. This was by far the best class I've taken at UVA from a career perspective. I developed skills essential to success in the professional world, such as Excel, PowerPoint, networking, and working with a client. In addition, Professor Boler has been an amazing resource throughout my recruiting process, offering 1:1 mock interviews with me throughout the summer. I would strongly encourage anyone interested in consulting to take LPPS 3440!
Nicole Gresham (McIntire ’24, Interning this summer at PWC)
Propel Staff
Faculty Director, Integrated Career Education & Assistant Professor Public Policy
Director of Employer Relations and Experiential Education
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