Executive MBA Curriculum
20-Month Executive MBA Program: A transformative experience
The Carlson School's Executive MBA program is a 20-month journey that deepens and broadens your business knowledge, cultivates your leadership skills, and establishes a lifelong peer network – all while minimizing disruptions to your work. Starting in September, the program includes a summer break without any classes.
Class Schedule
Fridays & Saturday;
7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
(every other weekend)
Duration
20 months
Format
In-person or synchronously online
Total Credits
52.5
What you'll learn
With a total of 52.5 credits, the Carlson Executive MBA curriculum was tailored specifically for experienced professionals to give them the knowledge and skills needed to lead. Courses are focused in the following areas: Foundation Competencies, Core Function of the Organization, Leading Through People, The Executive Experience, and Experiential Learning, which includes our unique Global Team Project in conjunction with our Global EMBA Partner programs in Europe and Asia.
- Year 1: Complete a comprehensive study of core courses that cover the basic functions and tools of business.
- Year 2: Explore a broader business context, develop the ability to deal with complex management challenges, and gain a deeper global perspective.
Get all the program logistics sorted and get to know your cohort during orientation. You’ll learn about the services available and receive all the essential information you need to start the year, such as picking up your laptop and first-semester course materials.
- DEI Workshop - Year 1 & 2
- Financial Accounting Prep - Year 1
- Statistics Prep - Year 1
- Carlson Business Career Center Orientation - Year 1
Kick-off each new academic year with 4 days of classes, workshops, and social events while lodging near campus with your classmates and truly immersing yourself in the program.
- Managing Across Cultures Workshop - Year 1
- Executive Perspectives Session - Year 1 & 2
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMBA 5838 | Financial Accounting | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5844 | Organizational Behavior | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5839 | Management of Teams | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5842 | Marketing Management | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5843 | Data Driven Decision Making | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5845 | Executive Perspectives | Required | 0.375 |
| CMBA 5846 | Executive Leadership Insights | Required | 0.75 |
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMBA 5847 | Strategic Management | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5848 | Financial Management | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5849 | Supply Chain & Operations | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5851 | Economics | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5852 | Human Capital Management | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5845 | Executive Perspectives | Required | 0.375 |
| CMBA 5846 | Executive Leadership Insights | Required | 0.75 |
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMBA 5856 | Ethics & Corporate Responsibility | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5853 | Negotiation Strategies | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5854 | Managerial Accounting | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5855 | Competing Globally | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5861 | Customer Centric Marketing | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5845 | Executive Perspectives | Required | 0.375 |
| CMBA 5846 | Executive Leadership Insights | Required | 0.75 |
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMBA 5857 | Corporate Strategy | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5862 | Competing in the Digital Age | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5863 | Entrepreneurship & Innovation | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5864 | Power & Influence | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5865 | Business Law | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5845 | Executive Perspectives | Required | 0.375 |
| CMBA 5846 | Executive Leadership Insights | Required | 0.75 |
| CMBA 5866 | International Residency | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5867 | Global Team Project (GTP) | Required | 1.5 |
Get all the program logistics sorted and get to know your cohort during orientation. You’ll learn about the services available and receive all the essential information you need to start the year, such as picking up your laptop and first-semester course materials.
- DEI Workshop - Year 1 & 2
- Financial Accounting Prep - Year 1
- Statistics Prep - Year 1
- Carlson Business Career Center Orientation - Year 1
Kick-off each new academic year with 4 days of classes, workshops, and social events while lodging near campus with your classmates and truly immersing yourself in the program.
- Managing Across Cultures Workshop - Year 1
- Executive Perspectives Session - Year 1 & 2
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMBA 5838 | Financial Accounting | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5844 | Organizational Behavior | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5839 | Management of Teams | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5842 | Marketing Management | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5843 | Data Driven Decision Making | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5845 | Executive Perspectives | Required | 0.375 |
| CMBA 5846 | Executive Leadership Insights | Required | 0.75 |
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMBA 5847 | Strategic Management | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5848 | Financial Management | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5849 | Supply Chain & Operations | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5851 | Economics | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5852 | Human Capital Management | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5845 | Executive Perspectives | Required | 0.375 |
| CMBA 5846 | Executive Leadership Insights | Required | 0.75 |
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMBA 5856 | Ethics & Corporate Responsibility | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5853 | Negotiation Strategies | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5854 | Managerial Accounting | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5855 | Competing Globally | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5861 | Customer Centric Marketing | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5845 | Executive Perspectives | Required | 0.375 |
| CMBA 5846 | Executive Leadership Insights | Required | 0.75 |
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMBA 5857 | Corporate Strategy | Required | 3 |
| CMBA 5862 | Competing in the Digital Age | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5863 | Entrepreneurship & Innovation | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5864 | Power & Influence | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5865 | Business Law | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5845 | Executive Perspectives | Required | 0.375 |
| CMBA 5846 | Executive Leadership Insights | Required | 0.75 |
| CMBA 5866 | International Residency | Required | 1.5 |
| CMBA 5867 | Global Team Project (GTP) | Required | 1.5 |
Executive MBA Curriculum & Faculty
The Carlson School Executive MBA (CEMBA) faculty and curriculum prepare students to succeed and lead in their careers.
How you'll learn
- Cohort model - Work through the curriculum with the same diverse group of students over 20 months. Participate in enriching discussions of business challenges while cultivating your collaboration and teamwork skills—all critical assets in today’s workplace.
- Alternate weekend classes - Classes are held on Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., mostly on alternate weekends with some back-to-back weekends each semester. Don’t worry–we ensure you have a hearty breakfast and lunch, with snacks throughout the day.
- Hyflex learning - Classes are offered in-person on campus and synchronously (or “live”) online—allowing you flexibility based on travel, illness or weather, etc.
- Study teams - You’ll be placed in a different study group at the start of each program year to enhance your learning and networking opportunities. Teams are made of diverse perspectives, education backgrounds, careers, and international backgrounds.
The value of hybrid learning
The Carlson School Executive MBA offers you the ultimate flexibility. Classes are offered in-person and synchronously online, allowing you to flex your learning to fit your lifestyle.
Program Highlights
Seize what’s next. Apply today.
Executive MBA Curriculum Frequently Asked Questions
The Carlson Executive MBA program is a delivered as a lock-step, cohort program, which means your schedule of courses is predetermined and that you go through the entire program with the same group of students (your cohort).
Many, if not most, of our Executive MBA students travel for work, and our faculty are aware of the tensions and challenges in balancing a busy career with graduate study. Policies and standards vary by professor. Our faculty members are as flexible as possible about issues regarding professional travel. You should work directly with your instructors to work out such issues. If you do need to miss class for travel or any other reason, you should immediately contact your professor, along with your study team members. Students are encouraged to attend class via the HyFlex method on zoom when they cannot attend in person and review any videos after the fact if they cannot attend virtually.
The Carlson Executive MBA program has a strategic management focus, with an understanding of the global environment and a focus on leadership development of self and others. In the first year of the program, students complete a series of MBA core courses, which cover the basic functions and tools of business. The second year courses explore the broader context of business and help you develop the ability to deal with complex management challenges, as well as develop a deeper global perspective.
The general guideline is that you will spend two times the amount of class time on assigned readings and team projects outside of the classroom, which means approximately 15-20 hours per week.