Executive business administration graduate programs may help managers, leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs develop the knowledge and skills they need to facilitate business success. The core of the executive business administration program—the Master of Business Administration—is a popular graduate degree programs in business. It was created in the United States during the early 20th century when companies sought scientific approaches to management.[i] The executive master of business administration degree is a professional degree that covers business administration subjects such as accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, and operations, especially as they relate to management analysis and strategy.[ii] Schools offer executive MBA programs to support professionals who serve or want to pursue careers as managers, leaders, and executives in business capacities.
If you’re someone who wants to pursue a career as a leader and apply the well-tested methodologies of executive MBA programs to various aspects of business, executive business administration graduate programs might be perfect for you.
The Executive Master of Business Administration, sometimes called the Executive MBA, or EMBA, enables working professionals to earn an MBA degree in one to two years depending on the program, as program lengths vary by institution. In many cases, professionals who pursue EMBAs have five to ten years’ experience in business, management, or leadership prior to beginning their programs. These programs are available on-campus, online, or through hybrid programs that enable students to blend on-campus and online study.
Professionals may earn an EMBA through a combination of advanced coursework and, at the end of the program, defending
a thesis or taking a comprehensive exam.
The Executive Doctorate of Business Administration, or EDBA, is a research-intensive doctorate degree in business administration that students generally earn through three to four years of fulltime coursework. Program lengths very by institution. Professionals who pursue this degree do so through a combination of advanced coursework and significant applied research. Many students conduct publishable research and writing that may contribute to business knowledge and practice.
Students typically conclude their EDBA programs by successfully defending a dissertation and passing a comprehensive exam. These programs are typically available on-campus, online, and through hybrid formats. In many cases, students must have a master’s degree in business to gain admittance to an EDBA program.
At the doctorate level of education, students might opt to pursue an Executive PhD in Business instead of an Executive DBA. The PhD track may (but not solely) help professionals pursue careers in academia while the EDBA track may help professionals pursue careers in industry.
Executive-Level graduate certificates in business are typically short, three- to five-course programs that help business professionals expand their skills and knowledge in the areas of business and leadership principles, theories, and applications. These programs generally take six months to a year to complete and may be offered in on-campus, online formats, or hybrid formats. Program lengths vary by school.
As we mentioned above, executive business administration programs are designed for business leaders, managers, executives, and entrepreneurs. Many programs therefore admit professionals who already work in these occupations across industries. In many Executive Master of Business Administration programs, professionals must have a minimum of five years’ experience working in business or, in some cases, upper-management or other leadership roles. In many Executive Doctorate of Business Administration programs, professionals must have ten or more years’ experience working as leaders, managers or consultants. Requiring students to have experience in executive roles helps create an academic environment in which students can share knowledge and experience to facilitate meaningful learning.
What you may study in an executive business administration graduate program depends of course on the program. In most cases, you’ll complete a combination of core and elective courses. In Executive MBA and DBA programs, your core curriculum may cover subjects such as leadership essentials, business foundations (marketing, finance, management, and human resources, for example), analytical fundamentals (business intelligence, economics, and statistics, for example), research methodologies, and business ethics. Through elective coursework, students may focus their knowledge or develop a program concentration in subjects such as investment, business acquisition, entrepreneurship, international business, organizational change, project management, non-profit management, or numerous other areas.
The type of program you elect to pursue—a graduate certificate in business administration, an EMBA, or an EDBA—will determine the extent and depth to which you’ll dive into these and other subjects.
Professionals in executive business administrative graduate programs may gain the following types of skills:
Students may also develop skills in developing business strategy, finding competitive advantage, providing management consulting, and numerous other areas critical to business success. In Executive Doctorate of Business Administration Programs, students may gain knowledge and skills in theoretical knowledge or conducting applied research that leads to the practical application of theoretical knowledge.
Business administration graduates may be available to pursue careers across industries in small, medium, or large public, private, and non-profit agencies. Many students who graduate from Executive Business Administration graduate programs already have or pursue careers as entrepreneurs, leaders, managers, consultants, or executives.
Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics can give you a sense of what you might earn as a fully employed top executive or manager in the field of business:
Pursuing an executive business administration degree might be the perfect next step if you want to enhance your career and education. Search our listings below to get a sense of your options or use our search tool to your left to browse by program type or location. You can search by program level (certificate, masters, or doctorate), program format (campus, online, or hybrid), or location (city, state, or country). Once you’ve narrowed your search, you can compare Executive Business Administration Graduate Programs to determine which may serve your dreams, goals, and desires. Good luck!
Sources: [i] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Business_Administration#Programs | [ii] bls.gov/ooh/management/mobile/top-executives.htm | [iv] bls.gov/ooh/management/mobile/top-executives.htm | [v] bls.gov/ooh/management/
Sponsored Listings
Sponsored Listings
Subscribe for information on earning a graduate degree
By entering my email address and clicking "Sign Up" I agree to be contacted by EducationDynamics for additional education products and services, this submission is not required to use our site. Privacy Policy.
Advertise | About | FAQs | Update Programs | Terms of Use | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Disclosure: What Determines Top/Best? | Do Not Sell My Personal Information (CA and NV residents)
© Gradschools 2020. All Rights Reserved.
The sources for school statistics and data is the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System unless otherwise noted.
Disclosure: EducationDynamics receives compensation for many of the featured schools on our websites (see “Sponsored School(s)” or “Sponsored Listings” or “Sponsored Results” or “Featured Graduate School(s)”. So what does this mean for you? Compensation may impact where the Sponsored Schools appear on our websites, including whether they appear as a match through our education matching services tool, the order in which they appear in a listing, and/or their ranking. Our websites do not provide, nor are they intended to provide, a comprehensive list of all schools (a) in the United States (b) located in a specific geographic area or (c) that offer a particular program of study. By providing information or agreeing to be contacted by a Sponsored School, you are in no way obligated to apply to or enroll with the school.
This is an offer for educational opportunities, not an offer for nor a guarantee of employment. Students should consult with a representative from the school they select to learn more about career opportunities in that field. Program outcomes vary according to each institution’s specific program curriculum. Specific School Disclosures. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify. The information on this page is for informational and research purposes only and is not an assurance of financial aid.
