Duke Fuqua
Executive Summary
Duke Fuqua emphasizes "collaborative AI leadership" and human-AI team orchestration through comprehensive curriculum integration. The school launched Fuqua.AI initiative and participates in Duke's university-wide AI strategic initiatives.
Key Metrics:
- AI integrated into 13 core MBA courses and 100+ electives
- 30+ faculty conducting AI research
- 85% placement within 3 months, $175K median salary + $30K signing bonus (2024)
- Partnerships: Microsoft (5-year, Aug 2023), OpenAI (MetaScience Initiative, Mar 2025), Amazon, Google, Coforge
- Faculty-developed Scientifiq.AI platform for AI-driven research commercialization assessment
Philosophy: Integration model (no separate AI track) - AI embedded across all business functions rather than siloed concentration.
1. AI Integration into MBA Curriculum
Core Curriculum
13 required core courses with AI integration. STEM designation for entire Daytime MBA (24-month OPT extension). Philosophy: Integration model (no separate AI track) — AI embedded across all business functions.
- Foundations of Business Analytics — Decision-making under uncertainty, probability foundations, machine learning integration.
- Decision Models — Decision trees, regression, optimization, ML for customer clustering.
AI Electives
- AI for Managers — Foundational AI concepts for business leaders.
- Data Science for Business — Supervised/unsupervised ML, classification, clustering, text mining.
- Modern Analytics: Data, Predictions & Deep Learning — Neural networks, transformer models, LLMs, diffusion models, NLP.
- AI Entrepreneurship — Building AI ventures, business models, commercialization strategy.
- Transforming Tech Analytics with Machine Intelligence — Advanced analytics transformation.
- AI in Decision-Making — AI applications for organizational decisions.
- ML & Causal Inference — Machine learning approaches to causal analysis.
- AI in MarketingTech — AI applications in marketing technology.
- People Analytics — Data-driven HR and workforce analysis.
- Detecting Earnings Management — AI/ML for financial statement analysis.
Pedagogy Innovation
Faculty use custom GPTs as virtual TAs, AI-moderated case discussions, automated personalized feedback, and AI-assisted case development.
2. Career Placement
2024 Employment Report (Class of 2024):
- 85% placement within 3 months of graduation
- Median compensation: $175,000 salary + $30,000 signing bonus
- Technology sector: 10-15% of placements (declined 6pp from 2023)
- Consulting sector: 33-40% (AI/tech practices at McKinsey, BCG, Bain)
Top Tech Employers: Amazon (11-27 annually), Microsoft (2-5+), Google (0-12, variable), Adobe, Meta, Netflix
Market context: 2024 saw reduced hiring in tech sector, yet Fuqua maintained strong overall placement and record compensation.
3. Centers and Labs
| Center | Description | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Fuqua.AI Initiative | School-wide initiative for AI research, curriculum integration, and industry partnerships | https://fuqua.ai/ |
| Scientifiq.AI Platform | Faculty-developed AI tool assessing commercial potential of scientific research (Cohen, Hasan, Masclans); published SMJ 2025 | https://scientifiq.ai/ |
| Duke AI at Duke | University-wide strategic initiative (research, education, ethics, applications) | https://ai.duke.edu/ |
| Society-Centered AI (SCAI) | Research on AI-human behavior co-evolution (includes Fuqua faculty Belloni) | https://scai.duke.edu/ |
| Duke AI Health | AI/ML research for healthcare applications | https://aihealth.duke.edu/ |
4. Key Faculty in AI/ML
| Faculty | Primary Focus | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandre Belloni (Decision Sciences) | ML, causal inference, predictive models | Amazon Scholar WW FBA; Co-lead Society-Centered AI Initiative |
| Jiaming Xu (Decision Sciences) | Federated learning, deep neural networks | NSF CAREER Award 2022-2027 |
| Sharique Hasan (Strategy) | AI entrepreneurship, innovation commercialization | Co-developer Scientifiq.AI; teaches AI Entrepreneurship |
| Wesley Cohen (Strategy) | R&D, science commercialization | Co-developer Scientifiq.AI; Faculty Director of Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation |
| Aaron "Ronnie" Chatterji (Strategy) | Innovation policy, entrepreneurship | OpenAI's first Chief Economist (Oct 2024); Co-lead Duke-OpenAI MetaScience Initiative |
| Bora Keskin (Operations) | Generative AI in value chain, demand prediction | Teaches electives on GenAI in operations |
| Carl Mela (Marketing) | Marketing tech, AI in martech | Chatbots, personalization, content generation |
| Jack Soll (Management) | Human-AI collaboration | Research on AI worker perception, trust, delegation |
| Ali Makhdoumi (Finance) | Data markets, AI policy, privacy | "When Big Data Enables Behavioral Manipulation" (AER 2023) |
Faculty Research Distinction: 30+ faculty conducting AI research across all business disciplines (decision sciences, operations, strategy, marketing, finance, management). Multiple NSF grants, Amazon Scholar appointments, top journal publications (AER, SMJ, IEEE Transactions).
5. Partnerships
| Partner | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Strategic (5-year, Aug 2023) | Duke Health AI Innovation Lab; Student FCCP projects on GenAI adoption in manufacturing |
| OpenAI | Research (Mar 2025) | Duke-OpenAI MetaScience Initiative (first academic AI metascience program); 4 funded projects; Chatterji as Chief Economist |
| Amazon | Faculty/Recruiting | Belloni as Amazon Scholar; consistent top tech employer; Energy consortium participation |
| Research/Recruiting | ML & Systems Awards to Duke CS; regular employer; Tech Trek visits | |
| Coforge | Consulting (Jun 2025) | FCCP partnership on GenAI adoption across wealth management, travel, customer service |
Tech Trek Program: Annual SF/Seattle visits to Meta, Netflix, Google, Adobe, PayPal, Microsoft, Amazon
6. AI Programs/Competitions/Clubs
Duke AI Hackathon (Annual)
- 250+ participants (2024), 48-hour in-person event
- Grand Prize: $1,500 OpenAI credits + pitch meeting with OpenAI + 1616Ventures interview
- Nov 7-9, 2025 at Duke campus
- Largest professional club at Fuqua
- Organizes Tech Trek, Pipeline Series for career transition
- Focus: AI, product management, strategy, tech consulting
Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum (FCCP)
- Real-world AI projects with Microsoft (GenAI in manufacturing), Coforge (GenAI adoption)
- 400+ companies engaged over 25 years
- Social impact consulting with AI applications
AI Series for Business Leaders
- Executive education on generative AI, agentic AI
Duke Machine Learning Summer School
- June 2-6, 2025; Topic: Generative AI
7. Competitive Context
Rankings:
- #11 globally (Financial Times MBA 2025)
- #12 in US (US News 2025)
Key Strengths:
- Integration Philosophy: AI embedded in all 13 core courses + 100+ electives (no separate concentration - universal literacy requirement)
- Faculty Depth: 30+ faculty across all business disciplines conducting AI research; strong funding (NSF, Amazon Scholar, industry partnerships)
- Real-World Innovation: Scientifiq.AI commercial platform; active industry consulting projects (Microsoft, Coforge)
- University Ecosystem: Cross-school collaboration (Pratt Engineering, Law, Medicine); university-wide AI at Duke initiative
- Industry Access: Verified partnerships with OpenAI, Microsoft, Amazon, Google; Tech Trek program; strong alumni network in tech
- Unique Positioning: "Collaborative AI leadership" and human-AI team orchestration vs. technical implementation focus
Approach Distinction: Integration model vs. concentration model - Fuqua describes AI literacy as mandatory for all students rather than optional track. Emphasis on leadership in AI-driven organizations over coding/implementation.