GSBC CURRICULUM

Designed for Community Bankers

Since opening its doors in 1950, the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC) has become the school of choice for community banking professionals. Why? It's not just the fresh air and scenery. Each year we refine our school to provide the best educational experience possible. We focus on the needs o

f community bank managers by ensuring that class discussions, cases examples and intersession projects are targeted at issues faced by senior managers of community banks. We keep it challenging, interesting, fun, and accessible. We provide you with the information and skills to improve your firm's performance and enhance your personal growth.

The GSBC curriculum is targeted at enhancing the analytical and leadership skills of community bankers to prepare them for senior management positions within the bank. First and second year students will complete intersession projects in the months between the school session. Third year students will participate in Bank Management Simulation, a realistic simulation of an actual banking environment that ties together concepts learned throughout the program.

The curriculum is conceptually divided into four tracks: financial management, lending, general management, and leadership & human resource management. Courses are designed so that the student makes a natural progression from core classes within each track to more advanced topics that build on the analysis and discussion from the core classes. Students are not formally required to follow one track, but are free to use the tracks as a guide to select elective classes within any track after completing the core classes.

Students will take all core courses, select eight to ten electives during years two and three, and attend midday and evening presentations on current issues in banking. Students may select any electives offered and need not focus solely on one track. Courses are updated each year to reflect current hot topics and best practices in community banking. For detailed course descriptions, click here.

At GSBC you will:

Develop strategies to take advantage of the challenges and opportunities within your institution and the financial services industry.

Receive practical training to apply to your day-to-day responsibilities.

Establish an irreplaceable network of banking professionals with whom you can share ideas and information across the nation.

Develop critical analytical, management, and leadership skills.

Receive a comprehensive set of materials that will serve as an important reference manual.

Discover information on the most current, best practices in community banking from world-class faculty who are experts in their fields.

Specifically, you will:

Examine how the challenging economic climate presents opportunities for community banks to attract and retain new deposits.
Learn how to develop a contingency funding plan for the bank.
Identify key strategies for loan modifications and loan workouts.
Identify ways to increase non-interest income.
Examine pricing and balance sheet strategies to take advantage of the current interest rate environment.
Evaluate leverage strategies with fixed-income securities and capital plans.
Examine approaches to community bank enterprise risk management.
Learn how to respond to the changing regulatory environment.
Discover best practices for identifying and retaining the best talent for your bank.
Evaluate leadership strategies from experts in the industry to advance your person al growth and management opportunities within the bank.
Create an invaluable network of peers from across the U.S.