Academic Experience
As an Executive MBA student, you will embark on a rigorous course of study that will help you build critical skills in strategy, finance, accounting, and leadership. You will develop a deep understanding of best practices and cutting-edge theories. The curriculum has been designed for the experienced professional, like you, to shape students to be more effective as they continue to progress in their careers. Your first year includes a comprehensive study of business fundamentals and tools used by successful leaders with one topical elective of your choice shared with second-year students in the Executive MBA Program. In the second year, you’ll develop the skills that every thriving leader needs. You’ll examine complex management challenges with a truly global focus—including a nine-day study abroad experience and the Global Team Project, where you’ll bring everything together with students from the Carlson Global Executive MBA Programs in Vienna, Austria and Guangzhou, China.
I didn’t understand the true value of the cohort until I was here and my classmates and I were going through the program together.
Schedule and Timeline
Each class moves through the program together as a cohort, following set schedules. Current students and alumni routinely cite the cohort model of moving together through the program as one of the most valuable aspects of their experience.
From orientation to graduation, it takes about 20 months to complete the program. Classes are held Fridays and Saturdays, typically on alternate weekends, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and do not meet during the summer. On a normal class day, you'll have class from 7:30-11:30 a.m., take an hour lunch break, and participate in a second class period from 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Sample Class Weekend
| FRI | SAT |
|---|---|
| Ethics | Leadership |
| LUNCH | LUNCH |
| International Bus. | Managerial Acct |
New Student Orientation
At orientation, you'll get to pick up your laptop, course materials for the semester, take your official student photo, and get all of the important information you need to start the year off. You'll also, finally, meet all of your classmates in person! The day culminates in a networking happy hour with your new cohort and the second year cohort of students, with a few alumni in the mix, as well.
Immersion Week
Held at the start of both years of the program, Immersion Week is an intense 4-5 day, live-in experience that kicks off the academic year with classes, workshops, and social events. During the first year immersion week, you'll focus on team processes and leadership as you adjust to being back in school. During the second year immersion week, you'll reconnect with classmates, get to know new first-year students, and dive back into academics.
By the Numbers
2
World's Best Business School Professors (Aks Zaheer & Myles Shaver) - Poets & Quants
#1
Management Research Productivity Ranked by Texas A&M University
#3
U.S. Public University Business Faculty for intellectual contributions