Overview

Each year, Executive MBA Programs attract a diverse range of experienced professionals. Programs vary, but share many characteristics. Here’s a closer look at the basics of Executive MBA Programs.

What makes Executive MBA Programs distinctive?
Executive MBA Programs developed to meet the educational needs of managers, executives, and other business leaders. They allow professionals to earn an MBA or another business-related graduate degree in two years or less while continuing to work full time. Students enter the program, complete classes, and graduate with the same group of students.

Programs have grown quickly in numbers and expanded throughout the world. Now more than 210 universities and colleges in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, Asia, the South Pacific, and Africa offer Executive MBA Programs.

Who attends programs?
Participants come from all types of organizations – profit, non-profit, or government-related – and all sizes – from large to small and in-between. They represent nearly every industry, including banking, health care, manufacturing, and technology, to name only a few.

Most students enter programs with 10 or more years of professional or managerial experience. While each program sets its own admission requirements, most evaluate applicants on the following criteria:

• Professional performance
• Academic records
• GMAT test scores
• Professional recommendations
• Demonstrated ability to accomplish graduate-level business course work
• Work experience
• Career goals

According to the results of the 2007 survey, administered by the Executive MBA Council, the average age of Executive MBA students is 36.3 years. They come to the program with an average 12.7 years of work experience.

What is the investment of time?
The programs require a commitment of some 15-25 hours per week plus class time for group work, assignments, and exercises. Executive MBA Programs include a service component, taking care of administrative details so students can focus their time on work and study.

According to the latest Executive MBA Council survey, it takes on average 20.4 months to complete a program.

What is the financial investment?
Costs for programs reflect the high level of quality that the programs deliver and the support services that reduce the hassle of attending college for busy professionals. According to the latest Executive MBA Council survey, the average total program cost is $57,954. Check with programs for their fees.

As a general practice, most organizations sponsor students by paying their tuition and allowing them to attend classes because they recognize the benefits of the degree to the organization. Students who are not sponsored by their organizations often qualify for loans, scholarship, and other forms of financial support.

What happens in the classroom?
Programs offer students a challenging, stimulating learning experience that maximizes the return on their investment of time and resources.

Students often work in teams during the program, strengthening their networking and broadening their perspectives and business and problem solving. Students benefit from the extensive collective professional experience of other students in their class.

What course work does the curriculum include?
The curriculum typically covers functional areas of business and the integration of those functional areas. As a result, students gain an understanding of the enterprise as a whole, as well as the ways in which all parts of the business fit together.

In general, experienced faculty members lead courses. Many serve as consultants to industry, and they often are recipients of teaching awards. Courses cover much of the same areas as in traditional MBA programs: accounting, finance, statistics, management, marketing, and information systems. After satisfactorily completing course work, students receive a master of business administration degree.