Signature Experiences
Where Purpose Meets Practice
At the Mendoza College of Business, the undergraduate experience is defined by the moments where theory meets practice. Signature Experiences are designed to take students beyond the textbook, offering unique opportunities to apply ethical leadership and analytical rigor to real-world challenges. Whether through global competitions, hands-on research, or immersive treks, these programs empower students to discover their purpose and prepare for careers of meaningful impact.
Competitions & Events
Case competitions and events at Mendoza serve as simulations of the high-pressure environments found in top-tier global firms. Students are challenged to analyze complex data sets, develop strategic recommendations, and present findings to panels of industry experts. These events foster a culture of resilience and creative problem-solving, providing a platform for students to voice their ideas to leaders from influential companies.
The A4S International Case Competition (A4SICC) is a unique opportunity for students across the globe to help shape a future where sustainable business is business as usual. This is the chance for your ideas to be seen and heard by leaders from some of the world’s largest and most influential companies.
Students with creative and critical mindsets, who are action-oriented and resilient problem-solvers, are invited to come together and design the next generation of sustainable business models.
This event is part of an international competition. Participation from the Mendoza College of Business is presented by the Center for Accounting Research and Education (CARE) and the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership (NDDCEL).
For more information, contact Professor Claire Donovan (cdonovan1@nd.edu)
Open to: All years
The Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation Annual Real Estate Challenge is a highly rigorous competition, bringing together 25 top graduate and undergraduate teams from across the country to tackle a complex, high-profile real-world redevelopment project, with a distinguished panel of industry leaders judging the final proposals.
Open to: All years
The Deloitte Case Competition challenges students to examine a business case, consisting of a business challenge, and give a presentation of solutions that demonstrate and showcase problem-solving competencies for practical social impact challenges.
Open to: Freshmen and Sophomores only
The Grow the Good in Business™ Case Competition challenges students to find creative solutions to real-life cases through the power of business – revealing new pathways to address issues that impact daily life, including pay equity, representation in leadership, individual biases, and institutional barriers to career advancement.
Through shared learning, the competition builds greater awareness and understanding of how respect for human dignity is foundational to a flourishing society.
Open to: all years
This competition is hosted by NDIGI and the Investments Club. It is designed to bring in some of the country’s top undergraduate business students to argue for their vision of the future of a publicly traded stock. Mendoza students are invited to attend this event, but cannot enroll in the competition.
Open to: All years
Hosted by the Notre Dame Institute for Global Investing (NDIGI), this event is designed for all students interested in exploring a career in financial services. It is especially geared toward underclassmen and non-business majors who want to learn more about the industry in an accessible and engaging environment.
Open to: All years
This two-day summit is a marquee event for NDIGI’s inclusion initiative to promote diversity within asset management. By convening female investment professionals to address a diverse student population on important investment themes and challenges, we hope to educate and inspire students to pursue careers in investment management.
Open to: All years
Project-Based Learning
Project-based learning at Mendoza serves as the bridge between rigorous academic theory and real-world execution. These opportunities challenge students to step outside the classroom and engage with complex, live business scenarios across global and local markets. By tackling these high-stakes projects, students develop the critical thinking and professional agility required to lead in an ever-changing economic landscape.
This 6-CH course provides an opportunity for students to blend the theory of investments with the practical demands of investment management. The course objectives include an understanding of the process of establishing a portfolio strategy with a real portfolio, gaining knowledge of the mechanics of trading, principles of equity valuation, and technical analysis. Students actively manage a multi-million dollar portfolio throughout the semester.
Open to: Seniors only
Applied Private Equity Projects is an advanced course that will provide an opportunity for students to practice private equity in a setting as close to real as possible. The course will combine lectures that introduce core concepts with investment projects that emphasize practical application. Through the project work, students will have the opportunity to work directly with private equity firms on a feasible yet challenging investment assignment. Class sessions will include several guest lecturers who address a variety of PE topics, including but not limited to investing fundamentals, deal sourcing, portfolio company operations, fundraising and monetization, and the importance of private equity in the global economy. The class is designed to allow a more natural business interaction that mimics as closely as possible the partner/associate relationship.
Open to: All years
The Early Bridges to Data Science (EBDS) program aims to bridge the gap between traditional classroom education and the evolving needs of the data science workforce.
For more information, contact Professor Fred Nwanganga (fnwangan@nd.edu)
This course, offered in the London program, will introduce students to emerging markets investing and provide them with both the conceptual framework and practical knowledge necessary to understand emerging economies. The course will include significant practitioner involvement, combining lectures that introduce core topics with case studies that emphasize practical application. Students will develop an understanding of the unique dynamics that make finance and investing in emerging markets so challenging. At the conclusion of the course, students will be prepared to analyze emerging market economies and economies in transition, taking into account critical characteristics and historical experiences.
Open to: Juniors only
The Irish in Business Scholars Program, as part of the Equity in Business Initiative, provides tailored support and training to a select cohort of first-year students and is designed for students from backgrounds that have faced challenges in entering business spaces or gaining exposure to the field.
Open to: Freshmen only
Career treks are an excellent opportunity for students to gain firsthand knowledge of career opportunities and can assist tremendously in their discernment processes. NDIGI treks are application-based. Students can expect to be notified regarding the application process and trek destinations after fall break, with treks typically occurringatn the beginning of January.
Open to: Freshmen and Sophomores only
FIRE Ignite is the Fitzgerald Institute for Real Estate’s accelerator for students pursuing real estate careers. Fire Ignite provides a pathway to successful placement in a full-time real estate role and was developed utilizing the generous input of multiple corporate partners.
Open to: All years
Maximizing Mendoza is a course designed to introduce students to curricular options and experiential opportunities that are offered to Notre Dame business students. You will explore self-awareness, academic pathways, business industry expectations, and ways for Mendoza students to make a value-added impact on their own lives, community, and world. In this class, emphasis will be placed on personal connection, building relationships, and exposure to Mendoza College leaders.
Open to: Freshmen only
The Powerful Means Initiative empowers students to transform their classroom knowledge into real-world solutions, using design thinking, impact consulting, and impact investing as tools for change. By grounding decisions in empathy and collaborative innovation, we ensure that our ideas don’t just remain concepts but become actionable solutions backed by strategic investment and measurable impact.
Open to: All years
The South Bend Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program (SBEAP) is a comprehensive 11-month initiative hosted by the McKenna Center at Notre Dame. It is designed specifically for South Bend residents facing economic hardships who want to launch or scale a business.
For more information or questions about the program, contact mckennacenter@nd.edu
Open to: All years
This program, hosted by the Accountancy department, provides free basic income tax return preparation services to low-income individuals and families in the South Bend community. In addition to University course work, students must pass rigorous IRS exams to be certified as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance participant. The technical training is supplemented with information covering ethics and the maintenance of the privacy and confidentiality of taxpayer information.
Open to: All years
Labs & Research
Labs and research initiatives at Mendoza provide a collaborative environment where academic theory is tested against real-world data. These spaces allow students to work alongside faculty experts to investigate complex business phenomena, from human behavior to global supply chain optimization. By engaging in rigorous inquiry, students develop the analytical depth and technical proficiency required to drive evidence-based solutions in their future careers.
Admission to this course is *by invitation only*. Students enrolled in this course will join a capstone team for the MSBR or MSBA-SA Specialized Master’s Programs. This course provides an intensive, integrative experience while working with industry partners. Students will be presented with a real business problem and have access to relevant data. They will need to develop a thorough understanding of the problem and the associated data, then develop and execute a project work plan that analyzes the data available, develops actionable recommendations, and provides insight into the basis for those recommendations. Skills developed include the ability to provide effective communication of analytics results and an understanding of key aspects of analytics solution deployment.
Open to: Seniors only
Interdisciplinary labs aimed at solving a variety of issues through research and academic theory-turned-practice.
- Human-centered Analytics Lab
- Humanitarian Operations (HOPE) Lab
- Regenerating Ecologies and Economies for Livelihoods Lab (REEL)
- Gaming Analytics & Business Research (GAMA) Lab
- TAG Lab (in proposal stage)
- Behavioral Lab
Open to: All years
The Mendoza Research Honors Program (MRHP) at Mendoza College of Business is a college-wide program that provides opportunities for our ambitious undergraduate students to engage in business-related research in a collaborative and interdisciplinary way.
Open to: Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only
Leadership Programs
Leadership at Mendoza is viewed as a responsibility to serve the common good. These programs are designed to cultivate ethical influencers who lead with both competence and compassion. By engaging in cohort-based seminars and high-level colloquiums, students explore the moral foundations of business and develop the personal character necessary to guide organizations through complex global challenges.
The Art of Investing is an advanced, capstone course aimed at weaving together insights from senior members of the Notre Dame Investment Office, CEOs, Investors, and other leaders from various fields. The objective of the course is to present a broad perspective on security analysis that goes beyond valuation and models. The focus will be on analyzing investments from a more well-rounded perspective, incorporating aspects of sustainability, capital allocation, firm culture, and leadership into security analysis. Thus, the students will come from various backgrounds and majors and be expected to bring their insights to bear on case studies and readings for each class session. An important feature of this course is the willingness to participate in discussions and the ability to manage both detailed and broad discussion topics regarding specific companies, broader markets, and human behavior.
Open to: All years
Mendoza College of Business, in partnership with the College of Engineering at Notre Dame, offers a cutting-edge Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree with dual majors in Business and Computer Science.
Open to: Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only
The Business Ethics and Society Program (BESP) Fellows admits students from the Mendoza College of Business chosen in a competitive application process for a one-year experience beginning in the fall semester. BESP Fellows supplement the standard course of business studies with a deeper appreciation of the philosophical, theological, economic, and moral foundations of business careers and commercial society. This seminar-style, small-group program includes special guest lectures, catered dinners, and fascinating discussions.
Open to: All years
International Business Fellows participate in the 1.5 credit International Business Fellows Colloquium, which meets once a week and provides an opportunity for small-group discussion, close interaction with distinguished faculty and/or business leaders, as well as dinner. As a conclusion of this course, the participants of the Colloquium are given the opportunity to participate in an international immersion experience in Poland.
Open to: All years
The Business Honors Program is a rigorous, three-year, specialized course of study and programming within the Mendoza College of Business. It is our calling to develop talented and committed undergraduates into world-class leaders ready to be a force for good in the world.
Open to: Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only
Contact NDIGI for details.
Open to: All years
The Fitzgerald Institute for Real Estate is committed to delivering a first-rate education to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. By offering an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and an ethical focus, Notre Dame students are prepared for internships, full-time jobs, and leadership roles in the real estate industry.
Open to: All years
NDDCEL’s primary student-facing initiative is the NDDCEL Fellows in Ethical Leadership Colloquium, offered as a 1.5-credit course through the Department of Management & Organization. The course, listed as MGTO 30707, is a seminar-style course open to all students in good standing, with sixteen seats available each fall. Incorporating engagement with professional and MBA mentors, the colloquium allows students to examine best practices in decision making and action from business and academic research, with a focus on developing capacities for effective, ethical business leadership.
Open to: All years
Contact NDIGI for details.
Open to: Seniors only
The Sheedy Family Program in Economy, Enterprise, and Society is a robust intellectual community. Students, faculty, and industry leaders explore the intersections of business and the liberal arts through rigorous coursework, collaborative research, meaningful dialogue, and purpose-driven career discernment. Students pursuing academic programs in both the College of Arts and Letters and the Mendoza College of Business are eligible to apply for this selective, cohort-based program.
Open to: Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only