Gabelli's New Integrated Core

The Gabelli School of Business has introduced a new business core. The new core started with the class of 2013 and was voluntary for the classes of 2013 and 2014. Starting with the class of 2015, it becomes mandatory. What distinguishes the new core from the old core is the fact that it is “integrated.” So what does it mean for the students to be in the “integrated core?” Being one of the people of the class of 2014 that decided to do the integrated core, I am currently in my second semester of the core and can tell you a little about it. The first essential difference is that you have your junior and senior business core classes already in sophomore year. Through splitting them in 1,5 credit courses, you basically half of your business core classes during the fall semester of sophomore year. You can find details about the classes here.

The second big difference is the integrated project. Each semester, starting in sophomore year, you get assigned to a group of fellow students with whom you have to work on a project throughout the whole semester. The project deals with a real company you get assigned and you have to develop a consulting project that relates to the classes you are taking the respective semester. At the end of the semester you have to present your project to Fordham faculty. The best teams get to compete in a second round for the best idea and have to give another presentation in front of faculty and Gabelli alumni. Last semester's winner could take home $1000.

If you now think: “That sounds like a lot of work, why would I wanna do that,” you're right. It is a lot more work than the old core and you get challenged a lot, especially in your fall semester of sophomore year. But don't get scared by the challenge, the integrated project also offers a lot of advantages. First of all, you get exposed to all your business classes very early in sophomore year. That makes it easier to figure out your strengths and preferences for your choice of your major in spring. Second, although the project is a lot of work, you really get to understand the knowledge you learned in class differently by applying it right away. The question “what do I need this for anyway” certainly doesn't come up as often anymore. Third, through the group work and the interactive classes you get to know your fellow students really well. They are not only people you have one class out of 5 with, but you work together, meet new people, and find new friends. Overall, it is certainly a lot of work, but you also gain many valuable interpersonal and academic experiences. I hope I could give you a little more insight into what the integrated core actually is that the people at Gabelli are talking about.