MBA: Carlson School of Management: University of Minnesota

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Executive MBA FAQs

Structure
Q. What is the structure of the Executive MBA program?
Q. When are classes held?
Q. How long does it take to earn the degree?
Q. What if I travel a lot for work or need to miss a class?
Q. How are study teams formed? Will they change throughout the program?
Q. What kinds of career services are available through the Executive MBA program?

Curriculum
Q. What is the curriculum of the Executive MBA program?
Q. What are Executive MBA residencies and when do they occur?
Q. What is the international residency?
Q. What is the domestic residency?
Q. How much time outside of class will I spend per week on homework/group work?

Admissions

Q. Are there any prerequisites for admission to the Carlson Executive MBA program?

A. The prerequisites for applying to the Carlson Executive MBA program are a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (regardless of major), a minimum of eight years of full-time, professional work experience, and you must be currently employed. Some foreign students may need to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), Pearson Test of English, or the IELTS, as well.

Q. Does my work experience need to be in management?

A. Not necessarily. The Executive MBA program will look at the type and quality of experience that you have achieved. We are looking to see that applicants have successfully managed new and diverse challenges, while progressing in their chosen profession.

Q. Is the degree from the Executive MBA program different from one that is received in the Full-Time or Part-Time MBA program?

A. No. All graduates of the MBA programs from the Carlson School of Management receive a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Minnesota. The Executive MBA program is designed for more experienced professionals who wish to complete their program in a format convenient for them and their career. The curriculum and faculty are the same as our other MBA programs at the Carlson School. To learn more about executive MBA degrees in general, you may want to visit the website of the Executive MBA Council at: www.emba.org.

Q. Is the GMAT required for admission?

A. The Carlson Executive MBA does not require the GMAT for admission. We do, however, recommend it for those applicants who do not have a strong academic record or who have concerns about the overall strength of their application.

Q. What is the application process for the Executive MBA program?

A. The Carlson Executive MBA accepts applications on a rolling basis until April 1, and admissions decisions are made once your application is complete. We recommend that applicants submit pieces of their application as soon as they are completed. You do not need to submit everything at once. The Executive MBA admissions staff will collect your various application pieces and contact you to schedule your admissions interview. The Carlson Executive MBA’s priority deadline is April 1. Applications that are not complete by this deadline (that includes completing the admission interview) will be held and processed in a batch admission procedure to fill any remaining seats.

Q. What if I apply after the deadline?

A. The Carlson Executive MBA program reviews all applications that are received. For any applications received after our deadline, admissions decisions are made on a space-available basis. If the class is full, we will make a decision on your application for the following year and place you on a waitlist for the current admission period.

Q. When will I receive an admission decision?

A. You will receive an admission decision via US mail within 1-2 weeks of completing your application. We do not give admission decisions over the phone.

Q. Can I defer my admission?

A. Occasionally, students defer admission due to family or work situations. We will transfer your decision to the following year and get a new admission packet to you.

Q. How can I get an application to the Carlson Executive MBA program?

A.The online application can be accessed on our website.

Q. Does my undergraduate degree need to be in business? Does my work experience need to be in business?

A. You are not required to have an undergraduate degree or work experience in business. The Carlson School of Management recruits and admits individuals from a broad range of academic and professional backgrounds. We are looking to see that applicants have successfully managed new and diverse challenges while progressing in their chose professions.

Q. Do applicants with foreign credentials need to meet special requirements?

A. A foreign credentialing check is required to determine that the undergraduate degree is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Additionally, students who are not native English speakers from the following countries (United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Canada, or New Zealand) must take one of the following English language proficiency tests: the TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson Test of English. If the applicant has completed the last two years of their baccalaureate degree or one year of graduate school in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Canada, or New Zealand they are exempt from the TOEFL, IELTS, and Pearson exams.

Q. How many credits need to be completed to earn an MBA through the Executive MBA program?
A total of 48 credits is required to complete the MBA degree through the Executive MBA program.

Q. Is it possible for me to register for some MBA courses before being admitted to the program?
A. No. The Carlson School’s MBA classes are not open to the general public. We guarantee our current students that everyone in class with them went through the same application process that they did, thereby ensuring the quality of class discussions, group work, etc. You may want to join us for a class visit to experience the program first hand, before you apply. If you are interested in a class visit, please contact Robyn Blilie: wickx013@umn.edu or 612-625-0306.

Q. What are the tuition costs for the Executive MBA program? Is financial aid available?
A. Tuition has not been set for students entering the program in Fall 2011. The program fee for the class that started in 2009 is $92,640. The program fee covers tuition and books, other class materials, meals, parking, costs for the domestic residency and most costs for the international residency. Costs of the international residency that are covered include airfare to and from the residency site, lodging, ground transportation to and from all official visits and most meals. Employers frequently support the education of employees who attend the Carlson Executive MBA program through corporate reimbursement. For educational expenses beyond corporate reimbursement plans, the University of Minnesota's Office of Student Financial Aid makes available financial assistance in the form of University, Federal and Private educational loan programs. Executive MBA students are not eligible for fellowships or scholarships from the University of Minnesota.

Q. Is corporate support required to participate in the Executive MBA program?
A. There are two types of corporate support: time off and financial sponsorship. Organizational support in the form of time off to attend class is the only corporate support required by the Carlson Executive MBA program. There is no required level of financial sponsorship required and we do not consider financial sponsorship in the admission decision process.

Q. Why should I choose an executive MBA program over a full-time or part-time program?
A. If you have the necessary work experience, the executive MBA program may be a richer experience for you by allowing you to study amongst your professional peers, as well as complete the degree through a program that provides the appropriate level of services and networking opportunities for experienced professionals.

Q. Can I speak with an Alumnus of the Carlson Executive MBA program?
A. Certainly! We would be happy to connect you with one of our many Carlson Executive MBA Alumni Ambassadors who look forward to sharing their experiences with you. Please call Robyn Blilie, Associate Director, at 612-625-0306 for more information.

Q. How can I learn more about the Carlson Executive MBA program?
A. The best way to learn more about the Executive MBA program is to attend an information session or class visit opportunity, where you can meet our admissions staff, hear the perspectives of current students, experience the classes first hand and find answers to your questions.

Structure

Q. What is the structure of the Executive MBA program?

A. The Carlson Executive MBA program is a delivered as a lock-step, cohort program, which means your schedule of courses is predetermined and that you go through the entire program with the same group of students (your cohort).

Q. When are classes held?

A. Classes are held on Fridays and Saturdays, predominantly on alternate weekends although there are some back-to-back weekends each semester. Class days begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. on each class day.

Q. How long does it take to earn the degree?

A. From orientation to graduation, the program length is approximately 21 months. This includes the fall and spring semester for year 1 and then the fall and spring semester for year 2. You do not have classes during the summer in between those two years.

Q. What if I travel a lot for work or may need to miss a class?

A. Many, if not most, of our Executive MBA students travel for work, and our faculty are aware of the tensions and challenges in balancing a busy career with graduate study. Policies and standards vary by professor. Our faculty members are as flexible as possible about issues regarding professional travel. You should work directly with your instructors to work out such issues. If you do need to miss class for travel or any other reason you should immediately contact your professor, along with your study team members. The Executive MBA program digitally records all class sessions using MediaSite. MediaSite is a technology that allows students to click on a link and view video recordings of their courses that are synced with any powerpoint presentations that accompany the course. The Carlson School also provides additional resources, such as virtual team meeting tools to assist students manage travel and study.

Q. How are study groups formed? Will they change throughout the program?

A. Executive MBA study groups are formed by the program office and are created to provide teams with diverse perspectives, educational backgrounds, careers, international backgrounds and overall experiences to enhance their learning and networking opportunities. Study groups are rotated between the first and second years of the program.

Q. What career services are available through the Executive MBA program?

A. The Graduate Business Career Center offers a variety of services and programs that help students in finding the right job and in determining their career path. These services include resume critiques, mock interviews, career counseling, job search workshops, job postings and national job fairs. Career coaches are available for individual career coaching and career planning. Career related workshops are delivered at times convenient for Executive MBA students.

Curriculum

Q. What is the curriculum of the Executive MBA program?

A. The Carlson Executive MBA program has a strategic management focus, with an understanding of the global environment. In the first year of the program, students complete a series of MBA core courses, which cover the basic functions and tools of business. The second year courses explore the broader context of business and help you develop the ability to deal with complex management challenges, as well as develop a deeper global perspective.

Q. What are Executive MBA residencies and when do they occur?

A. The Carlson Executive MBA program includes two domestic residencies which occur at the beginning of each school year, and an international residency which takes place at the end of the final semester of the program. Residencies are experiential components of the program that allow for unique and rich learning experiences.

Q. What is the international Residency?

A. Our International Residency gives students a deeper understanding of emerging and mature markets all over the world, including a broadened sensitivity to cultural and social differences and similarities, which can have a profound impact on global business. The program is led by senior faculty and incorporates pre-program lectures, guest speakers and project assignments, on-site work, and final team presentations. On-site work includes company visits, plant tours, presentations and panel discussions led by senior government and business leaders, lectures from local university professors, and the opportunity to experience local culture. Previous International Residencies have been in Vienna, Austria; Warsaw, Poland; Dublin, Ireland; London, England; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Santiago, Chile; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Budapest, Hungary; Shanghai, China; Guangzhou, China; Hong Kong; Helsinki, Finland; and Berlin, Germany.

Q. What is the Domestic Residency?

A. The Domestic Residency is an intense four-day session that is held both First and Second Year. First year, you'll work on understanding how teams work best, how to adjust to "being in school" again, and completing the majority of your statistics course. It is designed to help you understand the academic process and program expectations, as well as begin your courses. Second Year students begin taking their courses and get the opportunity to meet and network with first year students.

Q. How much time outside of class will I spend per week on homework/group work?

The general guideline is that you will spend two times the amount of class time on assigned readings and team projects outside of the classroom, which means approximately 15-20 hours per week. The first semester is the most intensive and will require at least 20 hours of work time out of the classroom.

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Carlson School of Management

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Last modified on January 9, 2009