When you’re ready to go back to school to get a Master Degree, should you choose an MBA, or an eMBA? It’s smart to learn the differences before you invest your time and money.
The Master of Business Administration, or MBA, is a program that varies between one year and two years where the coursework is generalized and applicants are not required to have professional experience. Many of your fellow students will be coming to graduate school directly from earning their undergraduate degree. The degree program is designed for that full-time student, so if you attend part-time it will take longer. The coursework can be specialized to focus on a particular business field such as finance or marketing. The learning style is usually the typical academic lecture format. Cost is similar to other Master’s Degree programs in other fields, with financial aid available.
The Executive Master of Business Administration, or eMBA, is also a one to two year degree program, but it is designed for mid-level or senior business executives who have at least five years of professional experience under their belts. The coursework was designed for part-time students carrying full-time professional responsibilities during the work week. While the same MBA core material is studied in the eMBA, there is a simplified path with fewer electives and no specialization. The learning style is referred to as cohort learning which is usually accelerated or condensed and highly interactive within small stable groups. Cost is different to an MBA, but fewer universities offer financial aid for an eMBA, as many companies shoulder the cost in return for a time commitment from the students.
Many mid-level to senior executive level business professionals are attracted to the eMBA degree program because it offers a targeted program, intense focus, and a significant opportunity to network while working on career-building knowledge and skills.
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