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The 5 Best US Business Schools For Blockchain Courses

US Business Schools are tapping into Blockchain's potential, incorporating it into their MBA curriculum

Wed Feb 14 2018

BusinessBecause
After last year's drastic surge, the value of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other similar assets has proven to be volatile in early 2018. Both because, and in spite of this, the emerging cryptocurrency market remains a controversial and exciting topic.

For the uninitiated, blockchain—cryptocurrency's underlying distributed ledger architecture—may still be regarded as esoteric, but it's certainly acquired a strong foothold within leading MBA curricula.

Here are the five best US business schools for blockchain courses:


1. NYU’s Stern School of Business

Stern was an institutional early adopter, providing the first major university course devoted to cryptocurrency and blockchains—a joint offering between Stern and NYU Law.

Professor David Yermack, who taught this fledgling course with Geoffrey Miller of NYU Law, has witnessed the dramatic increase in academic interest for this field firsthand over the last two years. Their original course now boasts an enrollment of roughly 200 students with enough momentum to...

nto a robust FinTech MBA specialization.

For David, Stern's strength is also in its proximity: “Much of the industry is located in Silicon Alley, which is the neighborhood just south of our Greenwich Village campus,” he notes.

Citing preeminent nearby firms such as Union Square Ventures, IBM Blockchain Garage, the Digital Currency Group, he adds that “the main financial markets of the world and many of the important regulators are also in New York. It would be inexcusable for us not to tap into all the expertise and innovation that is occurring on our doorstep.”

nyu-stern


2. Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley

For professor Gregory LaBlanc of Haas, the best way to respond to the myriad questions posed by cryptocurrency is with a chorus of voices from across a spectrum of different expertise. The spring 2018 course, Blockchain, CryptoEconomics, and the Future Directions of Technology, Business, and Law (for which he is one of three instructors) is cross-listed between business, engineering, and law faculties to spark integrated and multi-faceted conversations.

“Berkeley offers an opportunity for students to be truly interdisciplinary [...] not only in the classroom, but also in clubs, meet-ups, and startups,” Gregory enthuses.

“In my view, there are a lot of projects and startups, especially in the blockchain space, that will struggle because the founding team has inadequate breadth. By bringing all three groups together, we hope to increase lateral learning, accelerate the development of new ideas and increase the likelihood of success.”

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3. MIT Sloan School of Management

MIT's legacy looms large in the tech world, so it should come as no surprise that it has been a blockchain leader since 2013, when it launched the MIT Digital Currency Research Study.

Christian Catalini, who co-designed the Study with Catherine Tucker, has since offered a number of three-day intensives on cryptocurrency—the last of which, he says, captured an attendance of over 100 MBA students. This year, the school is unveiling a new interdisciplinary Cryptoeconomics research lab which will synthesize research in economics, business, and computer science.

mit-sloan


4. UCLA Anderson School of Management

Anderson was also swift to jump aboard the blockchain bandwagon. Its particular outlook is shaped by professor Bhagwan Chowdhry, a leading FinTech figure with an intriguing read on blockchain's versatility.

“Our focus is to understand how blockchain can be used in business,” he says, “in industries such as finance, law, supply chain, identity management, and even social impact.”

This final element is key to Bhagwan's innovative vision. “I am on the board of Stellar.org which is trying to bring financial inclusion to the poorest people around the world. I am also working on developing an Oceancoin, the goal of which is to create a system of incentives that will reward businesses that commit to cleaning the oceans without the use of government and other centralized institutions.”

ucla-anderson


5. Fuqua School of Business, Duke University

With five years of blockchain instruction under its belt, Duke is already a stalwart given FinTech's newness as an academic stream. Professor Campbell Harvey is quick to point out that Fuqua doesn't relegate blockchain to some “boutique course.” Rather, it's a cornerstone of the curriculum. The proof? According to him, over half of its graduating class this year will have taken his blockchain course.

“MBAs want to be disruptors, not disruptees. I would say blockchain is the largest disruption to business that I have seen in my career—besides the Internet,” Campbell asserts. While the program prioritizes innovation, he aims to ground the lofty novelty around these technologies with a solid foundation encompassing longterm viability, implementation, and a firm technical grasp.

“It is the wild west right now,” he states. “Many want to be associated with a hot trend. I try to cut through the hype and deliver enough for my students to separate the people are truly skilled in this space from those just in it to make a quick buck.”

duke-fuqua

Student Reviews

Duke University Fuqua School of Business

Student

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31/10/2023

On Campus

Supportive atmosphere

The professors at Duke university exhibit exceptional commitment to the success and well-being of their students by ensuring their academic growth and fostering a supportive social atmosphere. Moreover, the entire community is recognized for its amicability and inclusiveness.

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30/03/2023

On Campus

Diversity

The people or the students are without a doubt Duke's greatest asset. While all students are driven to succeed, they are also enthusiastic about a variety of hobbies. You run across a huge lot of diversity. It is the ideal example of a school with well-rounded students and the ideal balance of campus life in a metropolis.

Anabelle

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27/02/2023

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Happy to school

All I could ever hope for is Duke University. That really epitomizes the "work hard, play hard" philosophy that elite colleges frequently pursue. Even though you'll have a lot of schooling to complete over the week, it's simple to keep focused because all of your friends are putting in similar amounts of effort. Many events taking place on and around campus on the weekends provide a great way to unwind. The combination of demanding academics and traditional college fun strikes the perfect balance.

Monica

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27/02/2023

On Campus

Good schooling

Living, eating, learning, and developing who you want to be as an adult are all fantastic at Duke. I participated in student athletics, and I couldn't have asked for a better interaction with the faculty and other students. I appreciate all of the help I get from the Duke community more than anything. Furthermore, the teachers take the time to get to know you, and the lectures are diverse and demanding (if you do the same). I'd give it a 10 out of 10.

Aline

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26/11/2022

On Campus

Beautiful School, Nice Classes

DU remains one the greatest and best universities that I have ever stepped in. The school is beautiful and neat. The classes are spacious and also very nice. I enjoyed attending my Lectures in those lecture halls. I also loved the Lecturers because of the good work they did. The university also has very good dorms that are given to students on first come first serve basis and they are affordable

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29/06/2022

Blended

Amazing experience

I received my B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Global Health with a minor in Chemistry from Duke University. I was able to grow as a student, scientist, and global health advocate with the help of my friends, professors, and other mentors I met along the way. A lot to learn if you look and ask, a great place to learn for those who want to learn.

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29/06/2022

Blended

whirlwind of growth and change

An amazing 2 years, with covid and everything else happening Duke has been a place of growth for me. The courses , classes were one of a kind, online and on campus. But the valuable lessons learned in the classes are irreplicable. The students are amazing here, so much diversity , I had no problem fitting in. The teachers are down right brilliant and so helpful. Don't be afraid to ask them anything. Graduated with my MBA with Duke and now my future awaits.

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29/06/2022

On Campus

One of the best for Business students

Graduated with an MBA. The classes were very insightful and engaging. The staff are very easy to deal with. The teachers and students, are truly amazing people. Grateful to all the people I've met along the way at Duke. I've learnt a great deal that will help me in my future endeavors. The campus itself is a marvel, it is beautiful.

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16/06/2022

On Campus

The university campus is awesome

I graduated with a masters degree in Religious Studies from Duke University. One thing I really liked about the university is its huge campus. It is spread in a large area with a lot of greenery and also have the facilities of reading rooms for single person also. My department building was very well taken care of. The library is immensely populated with books for all your needs. The faculty is very nice to students. The classes are equipped with latest technology to cater the needs of students. The University also provides room rentals for international students. They are very well maintained and priority is given to the International students for a comfortable stay there. There are weekly events conducted by the University as well as Student clubs for the entertainment of students. Anybody can take part in them and show their talents. I enjoyed my degree and I graduated in 2021 and was very happy that I had graduated from a reputed University.

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