MBA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Major

Beginning Academic Year 2023-2024

By investigating how social, psychological, and economic factors affect the performance of individuals, groups, and firms, the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion major prepares students to face the challenges involved in creating and maintaining organizations that are diverse, inclusive, and rooted in equity. As organizations attempt to harness the contributions of many stakeholders, students who pursue the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion concentration will not only be well prepared for DEI-focused careers, they will also be prepared to be leaders of change in any organizational role.

The DEI major draws from courses in Management and other Wharton departments, including Legal Studies & Business Ethics and Business, Economics & Public Policy. It requires four credit units beyond the required Wharton core. MGMT classes in the required Wharton core are non-waivable and include MGMT 6100 (Foundations of Teamwork and Leadership, 0.5 cu) as well as your choice of MGMT 6110 (Managing the Established Enterprise) or MGMT 6120 (Managing the Emerging Enterprise) or MGMT 6130 (Managing the Established Enterprise, WEMBA only). All credit units for the major must be taken for a letter grade.

At least 1.5 credit units must come from these foundational courses. The semester or quarter in which each class will tentatively be offered during the current academic year is shown in parentheses for planning purposes. Please consult the MBA course schedule to confirm:

  • BEPP 7650 – Business Economics and Discrimination (Spring)
  • LGST 6420 – Big Data, Big Responsibilities (0.5 cu, Fall)
  • MGMT 6240 – Leading Diversity in Organizations (0.5 cu, Fall Q2; Spring Q3)
  • MGMT 7720 – Power and Politics in Organizations (Opportunity Week in current academic year)
  • MGMT 7940 – Understanding Careers (0.5 cu, Spring Q4)

The remaining credit units may also be selected from these courses:

  • LGST 8080 – Law at Work
  • MGMT 6910 – Negotiations (cross-listed with LGST 8060 and OIDD 6910, Fall, Spring)
  • MGMT 7730 – Managing Organizational Change (0.5 cu, Spring Q4)
  • MGMT 7860 – Reforming Mass Incarceration and the Role of Business (0.5 cu, Fall Q2)
  • MGMT 7900 – WORKS Immersion (Spring)
  • MGMT 7930 – People Analytics (0.5 cu, cross-listed with OIDD 7930, Fall Q2)
  • OIDD 6900 – Managerial Decision Making (Fall and Spring)*
  • OIDD 6930 – Influence (0.5 cu, Spring)
  • With permission of Management Department faculty advisor, at most 1 cu total from a relevant Global Modular Course, Global Virtual Course, Advanced Study Program and/or Independent Study with significantly related content, or non-Wharton coursework focused broadly in the DEI space (e.g., anthropology, cultural/diaspora-related studies, gender, sexuality, and women’s studies, history, international relations, psychology, religious studies, sociology)

*Students may not double-count MGMT 6900: Managerial Decision Making for both the DEI major and the OIDD flexcore.


Advisor: Sara Jane McCaffrey (for current Wharton students only; prospective students should contact the Admissions office)
Telephone: 215.898.1149

For additional information or to apply visit the MBA website.