Graduate business students engage with a stock trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, surrounded by monitors displaying stock information.

Graduate professional development

Hands-on opportunities for the graduate business student 

There’s nothing like taking your learning out of the classroom and applying it to true-to-life experiences you will soon encounter as you enter the workforce.

These experiential learning opportunities enhance your Warrington academic experience and are tailored to your academic program. Whether you’re in an MBA program or one of our speciality master’s programs, there are professional development opportunities designed to help you get the most out of your degree.

Global immersion trips

The Global Immersion Experience meets in person or online over the course of a semester and includes a seven to ten day experience abroad.

Strengthen your understanding of global business by meeting with business executives from various industries. Learn the inner-workings of international companies in the country where they operate. Meet with scholars who study the region’s economy and political climate of the country. Experience cultural highlights of the area, such as the Great Wall of China and mosques of the United Arab Emirates. Recent Global Immersion Experience locations include: Argentina, Brazil, China, Ireland, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates. 

Available to students enrolled in MBA programs, as well as masters of International Business, Marketing, Real Estate, and Management. For some, these trips are required and part of the curriculum, for others elective credit may be used to participate. Additional fees may apply, refer to your program administration for more information.

MBA experiences

Students in the Full-time MBA, Online MBA, Weekend Part-Time formats must complete one required professional development course, or elective. Some are mandatory depending on your MBA program. Contact MBA Student Experience Team for details.

Domestic immersion

These trips are industry specific and consider industry growth within a U.S.-based market. Students work with a company on a short-term consulting project and visit other organizations while in the city.

Impact Skills Series

Short, digestible training sessions on power/soft skill topics are led by subject matter experts. The virtual, synchronous sessions are held in the evening several times per semester and focus on training and skill development. The sprints may build upon one another or students can pick and choose the content that is relative to them.

Residential course

These week-long topical courses provide students with an in-depth, fast-paced learning environment. Past themes have focused on Python, fintech applications, leadership, and change management. 

Summit Series

An experience where students attend skills-based workshops and industry insights sessions, while networking with current students and alumni. The summits are thematically based, shaping the workshop sessions and industry visits to align with the learning objectives and goals of that location. Summit Series events are held across the country.

Campus Residency

A Gainesville-based residency that invites students to campus for traditional Gator Nation events while providing them with tangible take aways. These two-day events provide students with content that will complement their academic experience, focused on themes like communication, leadership and innovation.

Insights

A conference-based series held across the country. Students, alumni and Warrington stakeholders meet for sessions that support learning and growth around a common business theme.

Rise to Leadership program

An immersive learning program designed specifically for Full-time MBA students to master the essential skills for success in leadership. Participation in all sessions is required.

Business student in a suit participates in a boardroom discussion, gesturing as he speaks while others listen attentively around the table.

Leadership Presence and Communication

Face on-the-spot individual conversations, group meetings, and boardroom discussions. Effectively engage and lead your team through complex business issues and handle difficult questions/conversations.

A business student in a suit presents with a microphone while another student stands attentively in the background.

Storytelling to Inspire and Influence

Create a compelling narrative that communicates business scenarios using stories that inspire action and drive change. Build confidence and self-compassion as you move into a leadership mindset.

A business student in a suit delivers a presentation at the front of a classroom while four teammates stand ready in the background.

Impactful Presentations

Create and deliver impactful presentations, focusing on audience engagement, compelling storytelling, and effective communication techniques. Emphasizes how to resonate with the audience,inspire action, and leave a lasting impression.

Four students sit together at a round table, actively discussing and taking notes as they collaborate on a project in a classroom setting.

High-Stakes Business Decision Making

Work in teams to develop a solution to a real-world business challenge with an industry partner. Learn how to approach a challenging engagement to solve problems, manage time, delegate tasks, and mitigate risks.

Students in business attire sit around a large conference table, collaborating with laptops and notebooks, while a presentation titled "TD Securities Investment Banking" is displayed on a screen behind them.

Rise to Leadership Challenge

Work as management consultants to an industry partner, providing data-driven and actionable solutions the company can implement immediately. Utilize leadership skills in strategic thinking, problem solving, effective communication/teaming, and adaptability/flexibility.

MBA student events

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Washington, D.C. experience

The Washington Campus is a non-profit, non-partisan, higher education consortium based in Washington, D.C. Students from the MBA program can enroll in The Washington Campus’ certificate graduate courses throughout the year and receive academic credits toward their MBA.

Courses focus on how specific organizations and industries are affected by public policy. Students learn face-to-face from policy makers and executives.

Donna Brazile, Founder and Managing Director of Brazile & Associates, speaks to a group of students at The Washington Campus, standing in front of a large blue screen displaying her name and credentials.

Specialty master’s experiences

Students enrolled in Warrington College of Business master’s programs have access to a variety of professional development opportunities that enhance their academic experience. Some programs are widely available, while others are limited to a specific degree program. Connect with program administration to learn more about each program.

Students collaborate around a table with laptops and notes, engaging in discussion and brainstorming for a business project.

The GatorNest

The GatorNest is a program designed in conjunction with local start-ups. Gain real-world experience by applying your business know-how to problem solve for their unique business scenarios.

Two men collaborate at a laptop in a colorful office, with a large Gator Hatchery logo on the wall behind them.

Gator Hatchery

The Gator Hatchery, a business incubator designed to grow your hatchling idea into a full-on gator business. Those admitted to the one-year residency enjoy exclusive access to a shared co-working space, alumni mentoring and support, coaching, and peer-to-peer networking.

A woman in a blue dress speaks on stage at TEDxUF, standing on the iconic red circle with large TEDxUF letters behind her.

TEDxUF

TEDxUF offers you full-on immersion in the latest of innovative thought surrounding entrepreneurship. True to the format of the TED conference, TEDxUF presenters give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes or less.

A large group of students and faculty pose in front of the Google headquarters sign, enthusiastically making the “Gator chomp” gesture.

Entrepreneurship trips

These unique immersion experiences take you to Silicon Valley’s Palo Alto, California or Austin, Texas’s booming tech hub, Silicon Hills. In years past students have visited companies like Dell Technologies.

Finance students work at computer terminals displaying financial data, with an instructor guiding them in a modern classroom equipped with digital market tickers and financial charts on the wall.

Capital IQ accounts

Available to Finance students, the accounts offer the highest quality information on both public and private capital markets along with powerful applications for desktop research, screening, real-time market data, backtesting, portfolio management, financial modeling, quantitative analysis, and more. This product suite empowers the world’s leading financial professionals to identify investment opportunities, draw unique insights, and increase returns.

Four finance professionals sit at the front of a classroom, participating in a panel discussion during a speaker series event, with an audience listening attentively.

Finance Professional Speaker Series

The Finance Professional Speaker Series (supported by James the G. Richardson Endowment and William R. Hough Finance Program) is a group of talks in a guest speaker’s individual area of expertise. 

Three graduate finance students in business attire stand together at the University of Georgia’s Stock Pitch Competition, one holding a trophy, with event signage and a presentation screen behind them.

Stock competitions

In navigating the waters of bull and bear markets these hands-on opportunities allow graduate finance students to gain a feel for true financial engagement. 

Three students work on laptops in a classroom, focused on real estate software training as part of their coursework.

Real estate software training

Software use is an integral part of the training we provide our Real Estate students. Students engage with software packages and market research tools, including advanced real estate applications of Excel, CCIM’s Site to do Business, CoStar, and discounted cash flow applications such as ARGUS Enterprise.

A professor and a graduate student review property cash flow data on a large digital screen during a real estate case studies class.

CoStar Group real estate grants

The Kelly A. Bergstrom Real Estate Center receives an annual grant from CoStar Group, a provider of commercial real estate transaction data and information in the US. The grant provides graduate students with access to CoStar’s comprehensive property information, sales data and analytic tools. The use of CoStar data is integrated into the Real Estate case studies class.

A group of graduate students sit around a U-shaped table, listening to a speaker in a modern classroom with presentation screens displaying a welcome message for a marketing consulting course.

Marketing Consulting Experience

Designed for marketing students, the course offers insight into the heart of South Florida’s business ecosystem, tailored for graduate business students with an eye on the Miami market’s vibrancy and diversity. This course goes beyond traditional learning, offering a deep dive into Miami’s market dynamics through hands-on problem-solving of actual marketing challenges faced by local businesses. This course is open to other graduate business students.

A classroom of students listens attentively as an instructor delivers an Excel seminar, teaching practical data skills for academic and professional success.

Excel seminars

Learn the ins and outs of Microsoft Excel through the Excel Seminar Series, taught virtually and open to International Business, Management, and Marketing students. Students learn how to be more effective and efficient when working with data in Microsoft Excel to support their academic and professional journeys. Topics covered help students pass the Microsoft Office Specialist Excel certification exam if they wish to pursue it and covers beginner, intermediate, and advanced content.

Master’s student events

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Graduate business students participate in a roundtable meeting, engaging in discussion with two professionals at the head of a large conference table.
Graduate students enhance their academic experience by participating in professional development sessions and interactive discussions with industry leaders.

Enhance your experience

Programs for graduate students differ by degree program. Contact your program for details.