COURSE NUMBER: MBA296-1

COURSE TITLE: An Introduction to Code for MBAs

UNITS OF CREDIT: 2

INSTRUCTOR: Joe Wadcan

E-MAIL ADDRESS: jwadcan@berkeley.edu

PREREQUISITE(S): None. The class is aimed at non-technical students with no prior coding experience who are interesting in communicating better in technical teams.

CLASS FORMAT: Classes will be a mixture of lecture and online tutorials, and in-class coding. We will follow a semi-flipped model, where some learning will happen outside of class, reinforced with in-class material.

REQUIRED READINGS:  There will be required readings and online tutorials distributed as links prior to class. There is no textbook to purchase or books to reserve.

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE:  Students will be graded on their comprehension of subject matter that is introduced in class demonstrated by assignments, tutorials, and quizzes. There is no final exam.

ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:  At its core, the Introduction to Code course helps MBA candidates communicate effectively with technical colleagues. Students are taught the industry-standard vocabulary, tools, and processes used by developers today.The class focuses on breadth instead of depth, which provides a strong value to any MBA student who wants to speak with confidence in technical companies. Topics include, programming tools, sharing code in teams, how data is stored and used, connecting software together, mobile app development, website analytics, and much more. We'll also spend time with Product Managers in industry as they share their story of working in technical teams. 

CAREER FIELD: Introduction to Code is most helpful for students looking to enter the technology industry or planning to work alongside technical teams. The coding topics are covered at a foundational level, so it's generally useful for all students, though it has been especially popular with students targeting Product Manager, Product Marketing, Partnerships, and Developer Relations roles. Of course it’s very useful for students looking to create their own startup as well.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Joe Wadcan currently is CEO and co-founder of Bevy Inc. a calendar startup in San Francisco. He is a Berkeley-Haas alumni (2012) and created this course specifically to help students gain an advantage in technical understanding. Joe had previously led Business Development at GitHub - the world's leading platform for software developers. In addition, he worked at Javelin Ventures and Citigroup, having learned to code himself.