2014-06-10

More and more companies are sending their managers to EMBA (Executive Master of Business Administration) programs to learn innovative and effective leadership skills. One year executive MBA programs cut down on the amount of time before these companies can reap the benefits of the knowledge their managers gained through completing the program. EMBA programs are not for everyone, though, and can be quite prestigious and selective.

Requirements to Apply

EMBA and one year executive MBA programs are designed for working students with professional experience in the field. Most programs require applicants to currently hold a management position, so unless you have some kind of leadership role in your current company, an EMBA is probably not for you. Consider MBA programs instead, which have much less stringent requirements.

EMBA programs often require the following for application:

Completion of a 4-year undergraduate degree in Business or a related field

GMAT scores

Minimum GPA at undergraduate institution

Minimum number of years of professional work experience

Employer recommendation(s) and support

Demonstration of career potential

Strong academic record

As you can see, you must have great potential as a leader in the business world to apply to an EMBA program. Sometimes programs will waive the experience requirement if you can show (through your employment track record and through recommendations and endorsements from your current employer) your potential to become a great manager and leader.

Curriculum

An EMBA curriculum is rigorous and focuses on leadership potential as well as hot trends in the business world like global supply chain management.  Some programs culminate in a project that demonstrates students’ implementation of what they learned in their classes, and some have the option of a trip abroad to get acquainted with global business markets. Most programs are about 20 courses in length and combine longer seminars with shorter class sessions. You will likely begin the program with a cohort of other students and take the same classes with that cohort for the entire duration of your degree.

Courses you might expect to see in an EMBA program include:

Leadership Development

Teams and Team Management

Finance

Investments

Business Ethics

Global/International Business

Human Capital Analysis

Competition Analysis

You’ll likely review key concepts you learned at the undergraduate level, but will learn much more about the complexities of the business world than you ever have before. Most programs are lock-step, meaning you are required to take certain courses at a certain time. There are often no choices in these programs, but they are designed to be diverse and give you a large breadth of information, hitting on everyone’s interests, over the course of the program.

Online and Hybrid Options

Many top ranked EMBA programs offer an online or hybrid option to their students. In a hybrid option, students attend most of their classes online, but are required to meet their cohort at the university for a number of days over the course of the program for workshops and seminars. This is usually called a “residency requirement” and is often manageable even for people who live out of state. Fully online courses enable students to remain at home while they complete their courses, but still provide the networking and connection opportunities as hybrid or on campus programs through video conferencing and other collaborative platforms.

One Year Format

As you can probably imagine, one year executive MBA programs are quite intensive, especially since you’ll be working at the same time. These programs are designed for students who are wholly committed to increasing their knowledge of how to manage a business and its employees. In a one year executive MBA program, you’ll be expected to pour many hours per week into your studies. You’ll most likely have to give up any responsibilities outside of work as well as any leisure time you have for that entire year. Only dedicated, focused students will succeed in these fast-paced programs. The fast-paced nature of a one year program, however, can really prepare you for the fast-past nature of a top management role in the business world.

Degree Value

Some EMBA programs can be pricey, so you might be wondering if it’s even worth it to apply for one. Recent studies and news reports indicate that the value of an EMBA is definitely there. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2008 that employers felt the resources and money used to send their employees to EMBA programs was worth the knowledge and training they came back with. Employers also reported that EMBA programs are improving year to year.

The Washington Post reported in 2012 that a salary increase with an EMBA is almost guaranteed and that EMBA holders will see a payoff within less than 18 months of finishing their degree because of that increase. If you can secure funding from within your company for part or all of your degree, it will definitely be a worthwhile endeavor. Company sponsorship is a growing trend, as companies see the benefits of employees with EMBA degrees.

The post Prestigious Business Training, Fast: One Year Executive MBA Programs appeared first on | Accelerated-Degree.com.

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