An online executive MBA is one of the many types of Master of Business Administration programs you can choose from. The executive MBA differs from a traditional MBA in that it is geared for business professionals who already have several years of management experience under their belt. Therefore, the courses do not consist of the foundational business administration framework you find in a standard MBA program. Instead, courses focus on processes, improved management strategies and direct application in the workplace. The online executive MBA offers working professionals more convenience and flexibility because all courses can be accessed from their home computers.

What Does an MBA in Executive Studies Cover?

An executive online MBA is a rigorous graduate program that typically takes two years of study to complete. Because the program is geared toward full-time mid-level managers looking to move up the corporate ladder, few students complete the program in fewer than two years, as they don’t typically have time in their busy careers to intensify the program and many are enrolled part time. The MBA executive online equips students with a thorough business administration education in all major areas of business, such as accounting, finance, marketing, management, statistics, business law and ethics. However, instruction in these courses is tailored for seasoned professionals, rather than those with little to no management experience. The focus of such courses isn’t to prepare students for management roles, but to teach students new ways of applying those business principles in their current place of work. Possible courses might include: Economic Analysis for Business Leaders, Analytical Tools for Decision Making, Bargaining and Negotiations, Strategic Management and Enterprise Risk Management. Some online executive MBA programs give students the option to complete an international residency. Online executive MBA programs usually do not require internships between the first and second years like a standard MBA program would, as students are already employed in the business world where they can directly apply what they learn in class. Such programs also do not generally offer opportunities for specialization. Executive online MBA programs capitalize on the collective business experience present in the classroom and thus often require group work, where students collaborate together on various instructive projects.

Getting Into an Executive MBA Program

To get into an executive MBA program, all applicants must fulfill several requirements, such as holding an undergraduate bachelor’s degree with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. While the bachelor’s degree can be earned in any field, meaning that students did not have to major in business during their undergraduate studies, it does have to be from an accredited university. Applicants should also have proficiency in algebra-level mathematics, which can be demonstrated by completing and passing algebra-level classes during their previous studies. Those who lack mathematics skills can complete an algebra class prior to applying to the executive MBA program. Some schools will require GMAT scores in addition to evidence of undergraduate work. For example, the University of Pennsylvania requires that all applicants submit their GMAT scores with their applications, though there is no minimum score requirement. Students should check with their prospective schools to determine what other materials are needed, such as letters of recommendation, essays, and letters of endorsement.

Why Should I Get an AACSB Accredited Executive MBA?

It is vital that you make sure that the school offering your executive MBA program online is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The AACSB is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the advancement of quality management education and serves as an accreditor for undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs in business and accounting. When online executive MBA schools are accredited, you can rest assured that you will receive a top quality business education there and avoid wasting your money at a school that offers you classes that are too easy in exchange for a worthless degree. Many different types of people benefit from enrolling in MBA executive online degree programs, particularly older individuals in mid-level management who are looking to sharpen their business skills and retrain for work in a modern business environment, brushing up on areas such as e-commerce, information technology and international business that have gained precedence in the last 15 years. The program provides key training for those who want to continue to climb up the corporate ladder. The MBA online executive program is also beneficial to career-changers who are already executives but want to brush up on their business skills to qualify for executive positions at other corporations. The online executive MBA equips you with the practical skills and knowledge you need to make a career transition at the top.

What Jobs Can an MBA Executive Online Get Me?

• CEO (Chief Executive Officer): The head of the company, the CEO establishes the goals and policies of a company and is also charged with finding a way to obtain those goals. The CEO meets regularly with other top executives to ensure that the company is moving in the right direction and that its Board of Directors is pleased. Most CEOs also have a hand in monitoring the company’s budget and making sure that it is being utilized to its full extent. In larger companies, CEOs may delegate some of their responsibilities to other higher level and mid-level executives and managers, while in smaller companies, CEOs may take on all of these roles as well as some other management-related ones.
• General and Operations Manager: These managers are responsible for planning and coordinating the company’s operations. They work with top executives and mid-level managers to create policies, deal with day-to-day activities, and planning how to use different departments like human resources. Most of these managers deal broadly with all branches of a company rather than just working in one department. This way, they can coordinate all departments to better help the company meet its general goals.
• Sales Manager: Most sales managers work with retail companies and can be in charge of an entire region. These managers oversee sales employees and ensure that their branch is meeting the quota set forth from the company headquarters. Sales managers work closely with teams to ensure that customers are receiving good customer service and products. Many also devise ways to increase sales through promotions or advertising. In large companies, sales managers can tackle budgeting, employee reviews, and employee training, while at smaller companies, they may conduct sales calls themselves in addition to their other responsibilities.

Top Earning Industries for Jobs

How Do I Find Online Executive MBA Programs?

Since online executive MBA programs are geared for working business professionals, a large proportion of them are available fully or partially online. You just have to know where to find them. The best place to start searching for executive MBA programs online is the AACSB website. Rest your cursor over the “accreditation” tab and click on the “accredited institutions” tab to browse a complete list of fully-accredited schools. Business schools across the world will be listed, so if you’re not interested in attending schools overseas, you can cross out any outside the U.S. From here, you can launch a search into online executive MBA schools. Online executive MBA rankings also help you find the top programs. While most ranking systems focus on traditional programs, they are still useful because many of the best business schools offer their executive MBA programs online. Sources that rank executive MBA programs include:

• Wall Street Journal
• Bloomberg Businessweek
• The Education Database (OEDb) for a ranking of online universities

While OEDb does not provide individual online executive MBA rankings, it does list quality online schools that may have quality graduate degrees in business. Online schools listed on OEDb are ranked on metrics such as graduation rate, retention rate and student-to-faculty ratio.

Additional Resources:

• Businessweek’s Latest News on MBA Developments
• Wall Street Journal’s Top Executive MBA Programs
• American Management Association