Dec 17, 2024  
2007-2008 Graduate Studies Bulletin 
    
2007-2008 Graduate Studies Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Executive Master of Business Administration, E.M.B.A.


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The Frank G. Zarb School of Business offers a 48 s.h. Executive M.B.A. program (E.M.B.A.) for those individuals who hold middle- to senior-level management positions in private industry, government and the not-for-profit sector. It is organized to allow working managers the opportunity to continue their professional commitments while simultaneously participating fully in a lockstep M.B.A. program that is twenty months in length. The program is designed so that students will attend classes between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on alternating Fridays and Saturdays—four full days each month (two Fridays and two Saturdays). Students participate in the E.M.B.A. degree program with the consent of their company or organization because of the required released time necessary to attend Friday classes and participate in the program’s two-day initial residency and its international management practicum.

Transfer between the regular M.B.A. program and the E.M.B.A. program is not permitted because they are separate and distinct programs.

Possession of a notebook or desktop computer and appropriate hardware and software is a required part of the E.M.B.A. program, and students are provided with specific information about these requirements upon admission to the program.

Objectives of the Executive M.B.A. Program


  • Provide a graduate management education leading to the M.B.A. degree for those qualified students who possess at least seven years of managerial (or equivalent) experience and for whom a more appropriate venue for pursuit of the M.B.A. would be the structure and environment of the executive mode of delivery.
  • Provide an appropriate professional perspective, broad exposure to the functional areas of business, specialized instruction in the leadership aspects of business, integrative capstone courses and an international residency component to foster global skills.
  • Serve the particular needs of E.M.B.A. students through a lockstep program that encourages interaction among students.

Admission Criteria



Applicants for admission to the Executive M.B.A. program (E.M.B.A.) must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. No particular course of undergraduate study is required for admission to the E.M.B.A. program nor are other prerequisites required prior to admission. Applicants should provide documentation of a minimum of seven years of full-time professional work experience, at least half of which should be in a managerial capacity. Criteria that are evaluated in the context of the E.M.B.A. admission process include  undergraduate and/or previous graduate course work, essays, two letters of recommendation, a professional resume and/or summary of accomplishments, and a required personal evaluative interview.

The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) will not normally be required for the E.M.B.A. program unless the Admissions Committee desires additional input.

Statute of Limitation


The E.M.B.A. program is structured as a lockstep program wherein students begin in the late summer and graduate 20 months from the date of their enrollment. Under extenuating circumstances, students may be granted a leave of absence from the program and be permitted to resume study at a later date. This may be done only upon documentation of the extenuating circumstances leading to the request for a leave and then only with the written approval of the Graduate Programs Office. In no case will an E.M.B.A. student be permitted to complete the degree in excess of five years.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 48



The course of study in the E.M.B.A. program includes representation from all of the functional areas of business, as well as specific residencies geared toward working executives and professionals. This structure is as follows:

  • Component I    Initial Executive M.B.A. Residency, 1 s.h.
  • Component II   The E.M.B.A. Core, 31 s.h.
  • Component III  International Management Practicum, 6 s.h.
  • Component IV  The Executive Cluster, 10 s.h.

NOTE: All 400-level courses are open only to matriculated Zarb School of Business E.M.B.A. students.

Component I: The E.M.B.A. Residency - Semester Hours: 1


Component II: The E.M.B.A. Core - Semester Hours: 31


The core of the E.M.B.A. program provides managers with a strong foundation in the major functional areas of business and an overview of the importance of the integration of these functions across organizational structures.

Component III: The E.M.B.A. Practicum - Semester Hours: 6


Component IV: The Executive Cluster - Semester Hours: 10


This cluster represents an applied executive focus stressing the importance of communications, ethics, leadership and decision-making skills in managing contemporary global organizations. The knowledge base developed in the E.M.B.A. Core and real-world experiences of resident managers and executives are fully integrated into the discussions within the Executive Cluster. The case study method and use of the computer as a management tool are employed extensively.

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