Coles Executive MBA

The Coles College Executive MBA Program allows an individual to earn an MBA degree without interrupting his or her career. Students become members of a “cohort” class – grouped into separate teams – which remains in tact for the duration of the Program. The functionally-integrated curriculum is delivered by a team of graduate faculty who teach exclusively in the Executive MBA Program and who, like the students, themselves have significant business experience in addition to their academic credentials.

Unlike other MBA Program formats, the Coles College Executive MBA curriculum is truly customized for mid-career executives seeking a value-based educational experience to augment their career accomplishments to date and achieve personal future career goals. In additional to a traditional business acumen foundation, the integrated curriculum differentiates itself in three important areas: 1) a strong focus on teaming as a part of the overall learning experience; 2) program-long personal coaching, including training of each student’s personal coach; and 3) a unique global business learning component involving a seven-month joint project with students from the largest Executive MBA Program in Eastern Europe. All graduate-level course prerequisites are incorporated into the Program curriculum.

The Program delivery augments traditional in-class lectures with adult-learning activities such as case study exercises, directed discussions, and team projects and presentations. A state-of-the-art technology platform provides for on-line (and Internet-accessible) communications via computer laptops provided to the students. Incorporating this technology into the Program allows students to ask questions and receive feedback from faculty and other students prior to and after readings and cases are discussed in class. As a result, in-class time is utilized more efficiently and effectively. The platform also provides an effective electronic student-to-student collaboration tool for general class communications and team assignments.

The Program schedule is designed to minimize the time an individual must be away from their work activities and home. Classes are held generally one weekend per month, on Saturday and Sunday, with a few “residency” sessions of longer duration (e.g., the international portion of the program involving travel to Europe). The entire 18-month schedule is provided in advance, so the professional can more easily coordinate his or her business and personal commitments with their responsibilities as students in the Program.