Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About the Executive MBA Program at Marquette University
The Executive MBA program is a cohort program, which means that we admit students in a group and they go through the program together as a group. A small class size along with the structure of the Executive MBA facilitates close interaction with both the faculty and other students. This unique group interaction, maintained throughout the 17 months, provides invaluable personal growth through shared resources and mutual support.
Another advantage is that your fellow participants will have business experience that enables them to enrich the environment with practical examples. The executive MBA program combines textbook with real-world experience, producing a challenging, stimulating environment that provides the maximum return for the time and money invested in it.
We have a rolling application process, which means that we review applications as they are complete. The deadline for the program is when the class fills up at 30 students. This typically does not occur before mid-July. However, we always suggest that students begin the application process as early as possible. It usually takes longer than you think to track down transcripts and letters of recommendation. You may also want to check out what type of approval process you have to go through at your company. Typically an Executive MBA program has a different process of approval than a regular MBA Program. This may also take longer than you think.
No. Your company does not have to financially sponsor you to participate in our Executive MBA Program. This has allowed us to diversify the participants in our program. We have students from government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, entrepreneurs, small companies, large companies, healthcare, etc. About a third of our students do have full company support, another third have partial funding and one third have no financial support.
You should verify what type of approval process you have to go through at your company to get financial support for the EMBA program. Typically an Executive MBA program has a different process of approval than a regular MBA Program. This may also take longer than you think. (Here's a hint, if your company has not historically sponsored Executive MBA programs, you might want to consider presenting this as an accelerated MBA program. It is usually the high-ticket price of the Executive MBA programs that companies are shying away from. Marquette's reasonable tuition rate may very well keep this program in the range to be sponsored. Plus, you don't have to pay the entire tuition up front. You pay on a semester-by-semester basis, just like our part-time program.)
Classes meet every other Friday and Saturday. The classes run from 8am-5pm. The day is usually split into two-hour class intervals (i.e., 8-10am, 10:15-12:00, 1-3, 3:15-5:00pm). A full meal is served at lunch from 12-1:00 each day. Continental breakfast is the served in the morning and there are snacks served at the morning and afternoon breaks. The meals are all included in the cost of tuition.
There are two periods of residency in the EMBA Program. The first is Immersion week. This is the first week of the program. It is usually the second or third full week of August. Classes meet Monday - Friday from 8am-5pm. The students will spend a reasonable amount of time during Immersion week on the Teams course but will also begin their other courses for the first term. We cap off Immersion week with an integrative team experience. All students are required to participate in Immersion week. Students have the option of staying in the hotel during Immersion week at the expense of the College.
The second period of residency is the 8-day international trip. The international trip occurs in the summer and the location is Europe. The final destination will be determined one year in advance. All students are required to participate in the international trip.
Our class size is usually between 20 and 30 students. We never accept more than 30 students as we think small class size is critically important.
You will be assigned to a team of 4-6 students and work with that team for the entire 17 months of the program. Teams are selected before the program begins based upon the skills and backgrounds of the students, first and foremost. Secondarily, we try to group students by location.
Teams typically meet weekly or biweekly. Some teams meet in-person, while others utilize technology to facilitate their meetings. That is entirely up to the personality of the teams to determine. Because each student is issued a laptop computer as part of the program, and included in the cost of tuition, it is very easy to do things via technology. The students can share files and join their work together without having to worry about compatibility problems.
Success in business demands a substantial and regular commitment of time. The same is true for Marquette's EMBA Program. Most students state that they are spending between 15 and 20 hours a week outside of class on group and individual study. Students say that they tend to find some time a number of days a week to work on school activities, rather than saving it up for the weekend they don't have class. There is simply too much reading to accomplish it that way.
We run on a traditional semester so at the end of the term there tends to be a bit more time needed to study for finals and complete projects and papers. And of course, students that have had a business background tend to spend a little less time than those that have never had a business course. That is also why your team is important. You team mates will become a great resource for you even when you are not working on a group project.
As you can see, added to the already heavy demands of your career, the time involved in pursuing an executive MBA is considerable and will require a high level of motivation and discipline. For this reason, we believe the decision to participate should be a family one. For the next 17 months, leisure and family time will be at a premium. Time management and planning will be of utmost importance. Upon completion of the EMBA program, your time management skills and ability to delegate will be well enhanced!
The international trip is required for all students. The trip is in the summer term and is usually about 10-12 days. We have been going to Antwerp, Belgium. We review different trips every year and compare them to the current program. The trip is part of a three-credit course. You have some coursework before you go and after you return. The trip consists of classroom lectures at the international institution that we partner with, corporate visits, government visits and some cultural aspects. Travel costs, single occupancy hotel room and usually two meals a day are all included in the cost of tuition.
Yes, we do require the GMAT, unless you have a Ph.D., J.D. or M.D.
If you have taken the GMAT in previous years, please have your prior scores sent to the MBA office for review before retaking the exam.
If you have a Masters degree and completed the GRE as an entrance requirement for that program, you can appeal the GMAT requirement and ask for a waiver. Typically we do require the GMAT for those with a Master's degree but we are open to reviewing such requests. There is no guarantee that a waiver will be granted.
We require five years of managerial experience to be admitted to the EMBA Program. We define managerial experience differently depending upon the industry that you are in.
The average work experience in the program is typically about 11-12 years, with students at the five-year mark and students up to 25-30 years of experience.
Yes, we do require that you have a four-year degree but it can be in any major. Many of the students in the program have never had a business course. We offer Review Sessions in the area of Economics, Accounting, Math and Statistics for students that have not had prior coverage of such material. These Review sessions are held in late July and early August.
You will be issued a laptop computer at the beginning of the program. The laptop is included in the cost of tuition and you keep the computer at the end of the program. Because each student is issued the same laptop computer as part of the program, it is very easy to do things via technology. The students can share files and join their work together without having to worry about compatibility problems.
Many of the students in the program have never had a business course. We offer Review Sessions in the area of Economics, Accounting, Math and Statistics for students that have not had prior coverage of such material. These Review sessions are held in late July and early August.
Even if you have never had a business course, people on your team will have. This is why the team concept is so important. Your teammates will be a wonderful resource for you on team projects as well as for help on individual topics.
Click here for the calendar.
Click here and email your name, address and state EMBA packet, we will be very pleased to mail one to you. Thank you for your interest in Marquette University's Executive MBA Program!
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