Experience SMU Cox Immersions.

At SMU Cox, graduates of our Online MBA programs are poised to find creative solutions to business challenges from day one due to the experiential opportunities at the heart of our curriculum. No matter which Cox online program you choose, you will have an opportunity to experience global and domestic immersion trips with peers and professors. Our 4-day immersion trips are located in cities chosen for their strategic relevance to the business community. Over the course of an immersion, you’ll gain hands-on experience working in teams on a real-time project that will challenge you to overcome complex corporate obstacles in a fluid global market. You’ll explore leadership and analytics topics and hear from top corporate executives on their experiences.

In an era of business ambiguity and flux, immersions teach MBA candidates the skills to pivot and meet today’s evolving changes and challenges.

Colorado, June 2021

This summer, we challenged our Online MBA students to think outside of the boardroom. Program participants converged in Tabernash, Colorado for a 4-day immersion in the midst of the Rocky Mountains.

The immersion experience included:

  • A consultative project focused on building leadership skills
  • Team projects that integrate strategy and nature with the executive owner of Devil’s Thumb Ranch (DTR)
  • Opportunities to network and interact with SMU Cox program faculty
A group of people riding horses

Experience Details

Immersion highlights:

  • Welcome dinner and keynote address with Bob Fanch, successful telecom CEO and DTR owner
  • Team adventure games featuring ten physical and intellectual challenges across the 6,500 acre ranch, designed to develop leadership
  • Daily hikes and meditation time
  • Voluntary activities including horseback riding and fly fishing
  • Team dinners and s’mores around the campfire
Gate of a ranch with mountains in the background

Past Immersions

In-Person Immersions

London, December 2019

In the midst of political uncertainty surrounding Brexit, Online MBA students came together in London to apply complex problem solving skills and assess business, economic, and financial market implications in real-time. Online MBA students had the opportunity to hear from industry executives, collaborate to solve pressing organizational challenges, and explore London.

A group of people in front of Stonehenge

Immersion Highlights

The immersion experience included:

  • Presentations from industry giants, startups, and NGOs, including: Microsoft, Eversend mobile online bank, Monzo bank, and TACT fostering agency
  • Networking opportunities with peers, SMU Cox faculty, and global business leaders
  • Working as part of a collaborative team to serve as industry consultants in a cross-cultural environment
A proffesor teaching

The Abroad Experience

Alongside SMU Cox faculty and global business leaders, Online MBA students:

  • Explored the rich history and cultural landmarks of London, Bath, Windsor, and Stonehenge
  • Enjoyed a dinner cruise on the Thames River and private reception for SMU Cox at the Churchill War Rooms
A group of people in front of a castle

“We needed to bring strategic and tactical solutions in a short time, which represents the reality of every business. I love this type of work since part of my job is to help companies succeed using technology.”

Silvia Davis, Online MBA ‘21, Product and Solutions Marketing Strategist

Virtual Immersions

Virtual Immersions August

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the SMU Cox community to think creatively with an eye on transformation. Our virtual immersions brought students together to tackle current organizational challenges, reimagine business models, and hear from industry innovators on the importance of collaboration in a virtual world.

Hands working with a computer

Innovation Hackathon, August 2020

  • MBA student teams worked with 15 early stage companies from around the world to reimagine their businesses in the midst of a global pandemic
  • Students pitched innovative business solutions to judges representing leading early stage investors
  • Keynote addresses from Cox School of Business Dean Matt Myers, Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall, and Co-Founder and Managing Partner of the Billion Dollar Fund for Women Entrepreneurs Shelly Porges
  • Students gained first-hand experience and applied best practices on collaboration in a virtual business environment
Skyline of a city

“Battle for the Cloud” War Game, February 2021

  • Students participated in workshops teaching competitive intelligence, scenario planning, and war gaming
  • The three-round war game ended with a catastrophic scenario challenging student teams to recalibrate their strategies to survive and prosper
  • Judges included c-suite executives from the world’s leading cloud providers and their global clients
  • Jay Nakagawa, Director of Competitive Intelligence at Dell Technologies, delivered the keynote address
Skyline of a city

Want to learn more about your Online MBA options? Speak with an Advisor today.