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Executive MBA (EMBA) programs are geared toward
enhancing the careers of working executives, many of whom are company sponsored.
These programs are for professionals who are already specialists in a field or
industry and need to hone their general management skills to continue up the
corporate ladder.
- Enrollment is often tied to a new or anticipated promotion.
- Students' professional experience and expertise become part of the
fabric of the curriculum.
- Classes typically meet on Fridays and Saturdays, usually on alternate
weekends, over two academic years.
- EMBA programs offer full immersion, with learning outside the classroom
and extensive faculty and student/team interaction.
EMBA Programs Differ from Full-Time Programs
- Because they are fully employed, EMBA students do not hold internships
between their first and second years of school.
- University scholarships are generally not available for EMBA students,
but loan programs such as the Graduate Management Admission Council's MBA
LOANS are.
- There is limited or no opportunity to specialize. Students all take the
same general management curriculum at the same time, rather than core
courses one year and electives the next.
Executive MBA Advantages
EMBA programs have several advantages for executives who
need career-broadening management training:
- They feature a well-constructed curriculum of several courses in each of
the major business disciplines.
- They usually do not require permanent relocation, making them good for
those who can travel virtually anywhere on a regular basis.
- EMBAs earn their degree in two years or less, faster than their
part-time counterparts.
Executive MBA Limitations
EMBA programs require a high level of commitment from
the students, their families, and their employers.
- Most EMBA students put in 80 to 100 hours a week between job and school.
- Employers must agree to give EMBA students time off from work to attend
classes.
- Because classroom time can be squeezed into four days per month,
absences from class are not tolerated.
In addition, company-sponsored EMBA students generally
do not take part in career services activities to avoid a conflict of interest.
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