2014-2015 University Catalog 
  
2014-2015 University Catalog

Executive MBA


Banner Code:  BU-MBA-BUEX

Phone: 703-993-1880
Email:  emba@gmu.edu

Participants

The Executive MBA is designed for those with a minimum of 7 to 10 years of significant business and professional experience. Students enrolling in the hybrid version must have the support of their organizations to attend classes one Friday per month.  Students enrolling in both the hybrid and online versions must have the support of their organizations to participate in global and domestic residencies.

Sponsoring organizations have included ATPCO, AMS, Apple Federal Credit Union, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Booz Allen Hamilton, Case New Holland, the Center for Naval Analyses, Cisco, CSC, DISA, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, EDS, Ernst & Young, Exxon- Mobil, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, GE Health care Financial Services, General Dynamics, HP, IBM, KPMG, Level (3) Communications, Lockheed Martin, Man Tech International, Marriott, Nextel, Northrop Grumman, OPM, Orbital Sciences, PamAmSat, Pinkerton Computer Consultants, Raytheon, SAIC, SRA, Sunrise Senior Living, USA Today, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Postal Service, Verizon, World Bank, WR Systems, and Xerox, among others. 

Diversity in Learning

Students encounter multiple approaches to learning in the Executive MBA Program. Classroom discussions, team projects, individual reading, team presentations, team problem solving, business simulations, business case analyses, coaching, and domestic and international residencies all contribute to the creative learning environment delivered by the Mason Executive MBA Program.

Cohorts

There are two courses of study a student may take in the Executive MBA Program: the Global Executive MBA Cohort and the National Defense Executive MBA Cohort.  Information on cohort courses and schedules may be obtained from the EMBA program office.

Global Executive MBA

The Global Executive MBA hybrid cohort completes the program in 18 months, starting in the spring semester including a summer online session. Students attend classes one Friday per month and every other Saturday for five semesters. The Global Executive MBA online cohort completes the program in 18 months.  The program’s focus is management decision making, strategic management of business resources, and leadership.  Dedicated faculty, an innovative and relevant curriculum, a global focus, a student-centered program team, and great colleagues contribute to the learning experience of a lifetime. The program is carefully designed to help students master a broad range of executive-level competencies while cultivating expert business-related knowledge of the global economy.

Global EMBA Residencies

Two required residency sessions complete the Global EMBA experience, and two optional residencies:

  • Opening Residency: The Leader’s View—Focuses on developing a broad understanding of the economic environment of business and the development of high-performing teams.
  • Global Residency: Global Business Strategies—Encompasses a trip to selected international locations. Professors from local universities provide an introduction to the business environment of each country visited and help prepare students for company visits and meetings with executives from local and multinational firms. Company presentations are delivered by directors and top managers. Housing is provided in business-class hotels, and time is provided for cultural excursions and other activities.
  • New York Residency (Optional): Financial Markets— Encompasses a trip to New York which concludes EMBA 703 Financial Markets. During this residency, students hear from top managers of financial institutions and visit a number of those institutions to develop a comprehensive understanding of worldwide financial markets.
  • Oxford Residency (Optional): Understanding the European Union— Encompasses a trip to Oxford, England. Includes faculty presentations on the European Union and the variety of European cultures and approaches to doing business worldwide. Site visits to local companies in London are also organized with presentations from senior managers and directors.  

National Defense Executive MBA

The National Defense Executive MBA cohort completes the program in 18 months starting in the spring semester including a summer online session. Students attend classes one Friday a month and every other Saturday taking all courses with the Global EMBA students.  Dedicated faculty from the Mason School of Management and adjunct faculty working in specialty areas of the defense sector; as well as accomplished government, military, and corporate guest speakers, technical experts, and GMU alumni employed in the defense industry; are a part of the National Defense EMBA. The dynamic learning environment brings contemporary challenges of the defense industry right into the classroom.

National Defense EMBA Residencies

Three residency sessions complete the National Defense EMBA experience:

  • Opening Residency: The Leader’s View—Focuses on developing a broad understanding of the economic environment of business and the development of high-performing teams.
  • National Defense Residency #1: At this residency, students will develop a working knowledge of the National Defense industry, the appropriations and budget process, policy development in the Department of Defense (DoD), and Enterprise Management through a four-day combination of in-class sessions and site visits to Capitol Hill.  Students will also gain familiarity with the organization of DoD, insight into acquisition policy development; government contracting; export compliance and defense security management processes.
  • National Defense Residency #2: This residency focuses on the business/defense industry interaction that focuses on defense acquisition and program execution in a project management office.  Students will gain familiarity with the defense acquisition framework, budget execution, and earned value management principles.  In addition, the residency will provide students with insights on effective interaction between industry and government through round table sessions.  Site visit will focus on the national defense industry.
  • Global Residency (Optional):  Global Business Strategies—Encompasses a trip to selected international locations. Professors from local universities provide an introduction to the business environment of each country visited and help prepare students for company visits and meetings with executives from local and multinational firms. Company presentations are delivered by directors and top managers. Housing is provided in business-class hotels, and time is provided for cultural excursions and other activities.

Degree Requirements


The EMBA program requires successful completion of 48 credit hours of coursework including for-credit residencies. Students are responsible for familiarization and compliance with the university’s Graduate Policies  contained in this catalog.

Eight Modules


During each seven-week module, students complete two to three courses in an applications-oriented sequence that takes them from developing core management skills through the understanding and application of the tools of business performance to the talents of leadership.

Module 1 and 2:
The Economic and Analytical Foundations of Management

Module 3:
Managing Resources for Performance

Module 4:
The Global Perspective

Modules 5 and 6:
Sustainable Business Performance

Modules 7 and 8:
Leadership and Strategy
 

Total: 48 credits