First, online executive business administration graduate programs are typically designed for managers, executives, leaders, and entrepreneurs. They’re for professionals who work fulltime in small, medium, or large businesses across industries. Depending on the program and a student’s concentration, they may be perfect for professionals who work at for-profit, nonprofit, government, and other types of organizations. In many cases, students in online executive business administration graduate programs have five to ten years’ experience working in business. Or the students have been leaders in some capacity. One of the many potential benefits of enrolling in an online EMBA program is that many of your classmates will likely be working professionals. This may allow for more dynamic and experience-based discourse and exploration.
Second, numerous business professionals pursue their education online. This makes sense given many professionals’ traditional eight-to-five schedules and the unpredictable demands of the business
workplace. One report published by the Learning House and Aslanian Research shows that the majority of students in online graduate programs in 2014 and 2015 were pursuing degrees in business.[i] You’ll clearly not be alone should you opt to do the same.
What Might I Study in Online Executive Business Administration Graduate Programs?
Online executive business administration graduate programs are distinct from a non-executive track. It’s a professional degree program. Online EMBA coursework (whether at the certificate, master’s degree, or doctorate degree level) is designed to help leaders, managers, mid-level executives, and entrepreneurs hone and develop their knowledge and skills in business and leadership. Professionals in online EMBA programs typically explore how to conduct analysis, strategize, and affect change in areas such as finance, marketing, human resources, and operations. They may also study theories, principles, and practical applications of leadership and management. Many programs, especially at the master’s level, provide curricula designed around three types of business knowledge and skills: analytical, functional, and ethical.
Executive MBA Online: Potential Subjects
Precisely what you study in an online executive business administration graduate program depends on the program. In many cases, you’ll engage in core and elective coursework. In the core curricula of an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) or Executive Doctorate of Business Administration (EDBA) program, you’ll likely cover foundational business subjects. These subjects may include:
- Finance
- Marketing
- Management
- Human resources
- Principles and theories of leadership
- Research methodologies
- Business law and ethics
You may also study subjects that prepare you for the analytical aspects of leadership and management such as business intelligence, economics, and statistics. Your elective coursework may derive from a variety of business subjects and will help you focus your studies. Some potential areas for elective study include:
- Finance
- Investment
- Management
- Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
- International business
- Business acquisition
- Organizational change
- Project management
- Non-profit management
These are just some of the many subjects you might study in an executive business administration graduate program.
The program type you pursue—a graduate certificate in business administration, an online EMBA, or an EDBA—will determine the extent to which you’ll dive into these and other subjects.
Types of Online Executive Business Administration Graduate Programs
The three primary types of online executive business administration graduate programs include the online Executive Master of Business Administration, the onlne Executive Doctorate of Business Administration, and the online graduate certificate in business administration.
The Executive Master of Business Administration - Online EMBA
The Executive Master of Business Administration, sometimes called the Executive MBA degree, or online EMBA, is a degree that typically requires one to two years of fulltime study. In online EMBA programs, students complete advanced coursework and, in many cases, conclude their programs by defending a thesis and passing a comprehensive exam. Online EMBA programs may be great options for professionals who want to engage in an intensive professional program but depend upon having a flexible schedule to do so. Program lengths and requirements vary by school.
The Executive Doctorate of Business Administration
The Executive Doctorate of Business Administration, or EDBA degree, is a research-intensive professional degree. Professionals typically pursue their EDBA over the course of three to four years through fulltime coursework and research. They commonly conclude their programs by producing research, defending a dissertation, and passing a comprehensive exam. Depending on the program, EDBA programs may be a great option for professionals who want to learn how to research and write publishable papers that contribute to business knowledge. Program lengths and requirements vary by institution.
An alternative option to the Executive DBA is the Executive PhD in Business. The PhD track typically helps professionals pursue jobs in academia, while the EDBA track typically helps professionals pursue jobs in industry.
Online Executive-Level Graduate Certificate in Business
Online Executive-Level graduate certificates in business provide a light overview of business and leadership principles, theories, and applications. Certificate programs generally include three to five courses that professionals complete over the course of six months to one year. Online Executive Business Administration Graduate Programs lengths vary by school.
What Skills Might I Develop in an Executive Business Administration Graduate Program?
Professionals in executive business administration graduate programs may have an opportunity to develop skills in a variety of areas. Some of those skills and areas include:
- Thinking skills (innovation and creativity, for example)
- Soft skills (general leadership and negotiation, for example)
- Hard skills (spreadsheets, project management, and foreign languages, for example)
- Training skills (multiculturalism and corporate social responsibility, for example)
Depending on the program and degree level, professionals may also develop knowledge and skills in theoretical knowledge. Graduate students may also apply research and in the areas of business strategy, competitive advantage, management, consulting, and numerous other areas.
What Jobs Might I Pursue as an Online EMBA Graduate?
Pursuing an online executive business administration certificate or degree may help you enhance your current job or pursue a new one. In many cases, professionals with executive business degrees pursue leadership, upper management, and executive positions. They might also pursue jobs as educators (at business schools, for example) or consultants. Some professionals use the degree to pursue careers as entrepreneurs.
Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics may give you a sense of what you might earn in some of the advanced positions in business:
- In 2015, top executives earned a median annual salary of $102,690.[ii] While you don’t have to have a graduate degree in business administration to pursue a career as a top executive, many top executives hold an MBA.[iii]
- In 2015, median salaries from managers ranged from $45,670 for preschool and childcare center directors to $132,800 for architectural and engineer managers.[iv]
Online EMBA & Other Business Administration Graduate Programs: Next Steps
Visit our listings below to explore your options for online executive business administration graduate programs. You may also opt to refine your search and look for programs by program level (certificate, master, or doctorate), city, state, or country. Why not enrich your journey in the field of management and leadership? Pursue your graduate degree now! Good luck!
Sources: [i] aslanianmarketresearch.com/resources/white-papers | [ii] bls.gov/ooh/management/mobile/top-executives.htm | [iii] bls.gov/ooh/management/mobile/top-executives.htm | [iv] bls.gov/ooh/management/
