what is an executive mba emba 
executive master of business administration is a degree program similar to a master of business administration mba program but specifically designed for corporate executives and senior managers already in the workforce an executive mba program referred to as an emba enables executives to earn the degree while continuing to hold their existing jobs typically emba students are relatively senior in their fields and possess considerable work experience before entering the program understanding the executive mba programthe emba program is comprised of a mix of classroom teaching on evenings and weekends online classes and tutorials and occasional full day workshops equivalent to a full time mba program in scope and requirements an emba program can last as long as 24 months intensive modular classes to reinforce expertise and fill knowledge gaps are primary motivators for executives to embark on this program they engage in core coursework in finance and accounting operations management strategic management marketing human resources and other disciplines and may take specialized electives an emba program may take up to two years to complete and could potentially cost 200 000 students in emba programs come away with an enhanced skills base to advance their career prospects at their organizations not to mention the credential of a master s degree and a new alumni network because most of these executives are also working while earning their embas they are better positioned to apply the management techniques and best practices learned in the classroom to real life situations than traditional mbas in school full time types of emba programsthere are numerous emba programs in the u s and abroad the economist cites 65 universities that offer embas and states that these pricey programmes are more popular than ever its top 10 rated programs ranked for 2020 rankings include those offered by the business schools at the university of california at berkeley northwestern brown and yale the economist ranks the school s emba programs on broad measures like personal development educational experience and career development as with the regular full time mba programs these universities have a competitive admissions process there is no absence of good emba programs in the u s and abroad from which to choose it s essential to research emba programs thoroughly to find the best school program and location for your particular needs however what is possibly more germane is to understand whether pursuing an emba degree is the right path 