The Foster School Undergraduate programs emphasize hands-on experience in solving complex, real-world business challenges while helping companies from under-served communities achieve their goals. From week-long competitions to quarter long-intensive projects, the Programs are designed to teach the essentials skills for career advancement.
- 87% of students report that their experience helped them obtain their first job after graduation.
- 96% of students reported that their experience helped them perform better than their colleagues.
Business Management Consulting Program (MKTG/MGMT 445)
Offered in the Winter Quarter, our business consulting class (MKTG 445/MGMT 445) allows students to work in teams, manage projects, and solve complex business problems for real clients. This unique opportunity for hands-on experience in management consulting will help you gain valuable career skills and expand your professional network! Student consultants are guided by Accenture, Deloitte Consulting, Ernst & Young, and industry experts from firms such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing.
Why take MKTG 445/MGMT 445?
- Earn 4 academic credits (Foster elective)
- Fulfills “W” and DIV requirements
- Gain hands-on consulting experience with local Seattle companies
- Expand your professional network with guidance from industry leaders
- Develop career-boosting skills transferable to any industry
- Become eligible for paid internships with the Consulting and Business Development Center (CBDC) after completing the course
Who can register?
- Foster School students (all business majors): Prerequisite is MKTG 301
- Business minors and non-business UW undergrads: Prerequisite is MKTG 305
- Tip: If you haven’t taken MKTG 305 yet, register for it this Fall to be ready for Winter registration.
Dates when the course is offered: Winter Quarter 2026 (lasts 10 weeks). Classes start January 6, 2026
How to register
- Foster students: Register for MKTG 445 or MGMT 445 during Winter Quarter registration Period 1, which starts early November
- Business minors / Non-business students: Register for MKTG 445 or MGMT 445 during Winter Quarter registration Period 2, which starts mid-November
- Check the UW Academic Calendar for registration dates
Note: Registration for Winter 2026 opens in November 2025.
Fall Info Sessions (click here to see the flyer)
We’ll be hosting two Info Sessions this Fall, and we highly encourage you to attend one. It is a great opportunity to learn more about the course, the types of companies, and the consulting projects students work on. It’s also the perfect time to ask any questions you may have about this class/program.
- Dates for Info Sessions: October 28 or October 29 (choose one)
- Time: 12:30 – 1:20 PM
- Location: PACCAR Hall, Room 294
At the info session, you will learn about:
- Types of companies and consulting projects students work with
- Professional skills you will gain in the MKTG 445/MGMT 445 class
- The CBDC’s impact on the local business community
- How we source our professional advisors
- Paid internship opportunities
- Other ways to gain consulting experience
Be ready to Register Early
MKTG 445/MGMT 445 is only offered in Winter Quarter, and space fills quickly. Mark your calendar, complete your prerequisites, and be ready to register early to secure your spot in this career-launching course.
CONTACT
Gabriela Michan | [email protected] | (206) 543-9545
Business Technology Consulting Program (MGMT 440: Business Consulting for Diverse and Underserved Communities)
Undergraduate teams of 4-5 students, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) mentors, and professional advisors from the region’s leading technology and consulting firms work with businesses from underserved communities as part of this technical consulting class offered during the spring quarter.
This course fulfills (2) Basic Skills of the UW General Education Requirements: the Diversity requirement (DIV-course) and a Writing requirement (W-course).
This course is 4 credits. Students should expect to spend 8-10 hours a week outside of class on this course and prepare for an impactful experience like a part-time internship. Also, students earn an HPE Certificate after program completion, a great addition to a student’s resume!
Through this program, businesses will receive technology management assistance, HPE mentors, and Channel Partners mentoring, and access to cutting-edge business management techniques that solve challenges and capture growth opportunities. The program lasts approximately four months, beginning each February and running through June.
How to register
Register for MGMT 440 during the Spring quarter registration period. See the UW Academic Registration Calendar for Spring 2026.
Contact
Boni L. Thompson-Kurke | [email protected]
Summer Consulting Program
Each summer, the Consulting and Business Development Center hires 1-3 full-time (40 hours a week) Summer Consulting Interns who work as consultants to small businesses in under-served communities. Each student will work with 2-3 companies and provide, on average, 130 hours of consulting services to each firm during the summer. Examples of past consulting projects include:
- Completing marketing plans
- Financial or sustainable growth analysis
- Developing business plans
- Improving management systems
- Working on short and long-term financial projections
In addition to the Summer Consulting Internship, below are internships with specific application requirements.
NATE AND LESLIE MILES FAMILY ENDOWED SUMMER INTERNSHIP
The Nate and Leslie Miles Family Endowed Internship enables students pursuing a degree at the Foster School of Business to work with Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individually (SEDI)-owned businesses with a special emphasis on businesses located in communities with high unemployment.
AGGIE CLARK ENDOWED INTERNSHIP
This internship enables an undergraduate student to provide consulting work to a SEDI business. The applicant must show experience helping underserved businesses in their application.
LEARNING EXPERIENCE
- Participate in training sessions to improve skills and knowledge about business consulting.
- Develop consulting contracts and identify success measures for each assigned client.
- Work with a business mentor provided by the center.
- Deliver a final client presentation and report to each company.
QUALIFICATIONS
This internship is available to UW students only and is open to international students. A strong candidate for this internship would be a business major with an interest in or experience in business consulting.
SALARY AND START/END DATES
The intern will receive an hourly rate of $21/hr and work 40 hours per week (full-time). The program concludes in August 2026. Students will have one paid holiday (July 4). Stay tuned for more information.
APPLICATION
Next cycle opens April 2026.
To apply, submit a resume and cover letter (including which internship you are applying for) through Handshake.
Be sure to address your experience working in multicultural environments, your previous work with the Consulting & Business Development Center (if applicable), and your creating solutions.
CONTACT
Amadou Loum | [email protected]
Undergraduate Scholarships
In conjunction with the Undergraduate Program Office, the Center awards three annual scholarships.
ABBS (Association of Black Business Students) Endowed Scholarship
Provide assistance to undergraduate students at the Foster School of Business, with a preference for students who have had a deep cultural experience within the African American culture and affiliate with the Center to support the growth of African-American owned businesses.
Asian Pacific Islander Endowed Scholarship
Provide assistance to undergraduate students at the Foster School of Business, with a preference for students who have had a deep cultural experience within the Asian/Pacific American community who affiliate with the center to support API-owned businesses.
Thaddeus H. Spratlen Endowed Scholarship
Provide assistance to undergraduate students at the Foster School of Business, with a preference for students who have had a deep cultural experience within the African American culture and affiliate with the Center to support the growth of African-American owned businesses.