GSBC Builds Community Bank Leaders
GSBC’s curriculum transforms community bankers into community bank leaders by:
- Providing the essentials from which a solid education is built
- Building leaders who make differences in their banks and communities
- Fostering readiness by providing the tools to think critically and act innovatively
Curriculum by Career Track
After taking core classes in year one, students can customize their educational experience by choosing* electives that fall under four academic tracks:
- Financial Management & Strategy
- Innovation & Engagement
- Leadership & Culture
- Lending
*Students are not required to select a track; the below track list serves as a guide for how one might focus their area of study when they choose their electives. Students must complete required core coursework and are free to choose any electives offered, regardless of which track they choose to emphasize.
Track 1: Financial Management & Strategy
Core Courses
- Asset & Liability Management
- Bank Management Simulation
- Driving Financial Performance
- The Economy & Interest Rate Risk
- Planning Using Institutional Risk Assessments
Elective Courses
- The Bank Investment Portfolio: A Key to Balance Sheet Success
- Growing Your Bank the Right Way
- High Performance Banking
- M&A Mechanics
Track 2: Innovation & Engagement
Core Courses
- Bank Management Simulation
- Business Development & Sales Training
- Business Law in Financial Institutions
- Effective Use of Technology
- Using Scenarios in Strategic Planning
- Leading Innovation
- Persuasion & Negotiation
Elective Courses
- Becoming a Change Agent For the Customer Experience
- Cybersecurity & Real-World Community Banking Security
- Data Analytics and Banking: It’s Time to Get Started
- Enhancing Shareholder Value
- Leading Regulatory Risks
- A Strategic Approach to FinTech
Track 3: Leadership & Culture
Core Courses
- Aligning Your Bank’s Culture for Strategic Success
- Bank Management Simulation
- Fundamentals of Leadership
- Managing Diverse Teams
Elective Courses
Track 4: Lending
Core Courses
- Bank Management Simulation
- Lending Essentials or Evaluating Loan Deals Through Culture, Judgement & Creativity
- Loan Portfolio Management
Elective Courses
- Banking Small Business: Now & in the Future
- Fundamentals of or Advanced Commercial Real Estate Lending
- International Economics, Energy & the Agriculture Industry
- Loan Workouts
After taking a set of foundational core classes in year one, students may begin customizing their educational experience by choosing among an array of electives organized by four academic tracks. Intersession research projects and evening presentations focus on current issues affecting community banks and will provide direct takeaways to enhance organizational performance. Curriculum is subject to change.
Curriculum by Student Year
First Year – Core Courses Only
Week 1, Monday-Friday Mornings – Each First Year Student Will Take:
Week 1, Monday-Friday Afternoons – Each First Year Student Will Take:
Week 2, Monday-Friday Mornings – Each First Year Student Will Take:
Week 2, Monday-Thursday Afternoons – Each First Year Student Will Take (no classes Week 2 Friday afternoon):
- Lending Essentials or Evaluating Loan Deals Through Culture, Judgement & Creativity
- The Economy & Interest Rate Risk
Second Year – Core & Elective Courses
Core Courses
Week 1, Monday-Friday Mornings – Each Second Year Student Will Take:
Elective Courses
Week 1, Monday-Friday Afternoons – Each Second Year Student Chooses 2:
- Data Analytics and Banking: It’s Time to Get Started
- Fundamentals of or Advanced Commercial Real Estate Lending
- M&A Mechanics
- Social & Emotional Intelligence
Core & Elective Courses
Week 2, Monday-Friday Mornings – Each Second Year Student Will Take 1 Core Course and Choose 1 Elective:
- Loan Portfolio Management (core)
- Banking Small Business: Now & in the Future (elective) or Leading Regulatory Risks (elective)
Week 2, Monday-Wednesday Afternoons – Each Second Year Student Chooses 2:
- The Bank Investment Portfolio: A Key to Balance Sheet Success
- Becoming a Change Agent For the Customer Experience
- Cybersecurity & Real-World Community Banking Security
- Growing Your Bank the Right Way
- High Performance Banking
- Loan Workouts
- A Strategic Approach to FinTech
Week 2, Thursday Afternoon – Each Second Year Student Will Take:
Third Year – Core & Elective Courses
Core Courses
Week 1, Monday-Friday Mornings – Each Third Year Student Will Take:
Elective Courses
Week 1, Monday-Friday Afternoons – Each Third Year Student Chooses 2:
- International Economics, Energy & the Agriculture Industry
- Enhancing Shareholder Value
- People Influence RT3: Right Talent, Right Team, Right Time
- Persuasion & Negotiation
Core Courses
Week 2, Monday-Thursday Mornings – Each Third Year Student Will Take:
Week 2, Monday-Wednesday Afternoons – Each Third Year Student Will Take GSBCx:
- Using Scenarios in Strategic Planning
- Leading Innovation
- Managing Diverse Teams
Week 2, Friday – No Classes for Third Year Students
2023 Special Presentations
In addition to regularly scheduled courses, students learn from influential leaders and industry experts in keynote addresses and special presentations:
- Tuesday, July 17 Faculty Panel with guest Tom Siems, Chief Economist, Conference of State Bank Supervisors – Perry Haralson, Michelle Hodge, Steven Gonzalo, Tim Ohlde and Greyson Tuck
- Tuesday, July 25 Keynote: Lamont Black, Ph.D.