Wharton School Launches New Course, Delivered Remotely, on the Impact and Implications of Coronavirus/COVID-19

Starting March 25 renowned Wharton faculty will examine real-time challenges facing companies, financial markets and political systems

PHILADELPHIA, March 11, 2020 — As the world grapples with the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania has developed a new course, conducted remotely, to address in real time how global business and financial uncertainty can be managed in the wake of such dramatic events. The course is available to all Penn degree-seeking students.

The six-week, half-credit course is titled “Epidemics, Natural Disasters, and Geopolitics: Managing Global Business and Financial Uncertainty.” It begins March 25, 2020 after an extended spring break resulting from the University’s recent announcement that courses will move to remote instruction to limit the effects of the coronavirus. Students will join the course via livestream. Over 450 students from across the University have already expressed interest and pre-registered.

“There are significant business lessons to be learned from the global response to the coronavirus outbreak, and Wharton is at the forefront of sharing valuable insights and creating a community to exchange ideas,” said Wharton Dean Geoff Garrett. “This is a teachable moment for the global academic community, and this course is just one example of how Wharton is coming together to provide support during a time of heightened anxiety and ambiguity.”

Course lesson titles include “Leading amid Unpredictable Rapidly Changing Events with Contested Facts,” “Financial Market Reactions to the Coronavirus and Disaster Risk,” “Emotional Contagion and Epidemics,” “U.S.-China Relations after the Trade Wars and the Coronavirus” and more.

The course has been developed by Management Professor Mauro Guillen, who will join other distinguished Wharton faculty including Sigal Barsade, Mohamed El-Erian, Zeke Emanuel, Geoff Garrett, Martine Haas, Sarah Light, Carolyn Kousky, Howard Kunreuther, John Paul MacDuffie, Barbara Mellers, Katy Milkman, Jeremy Siegel, Beth Simmons and Kent Smetters as course lecturers.

“We are proud to launch this course as it draws directly from the current geopolitical climate and will offer students insights into this crisis and all types of high-risk events,” said Prof. Guillen. “I’m thrilled to take part in this course which was developed very quickly and through the generous support of professors and staff who understand the urgency.”

For more information on how the University of Pennsylvania is responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, visit the Penn Coronavirus website.

About the Wharton School

Founded in 1881 as the world’s first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With a faculty of more than 235 renowned professors, Wharton has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education’s individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 99,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. For more information, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.

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