A key advantage of Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives is the vast amount of electives and flexibility it offers to fully employed students. After spending their first year with their chosen cohort, students have the unique opportunity in their second year to take courses in one of the other cohorts whether that be in the vibrant Silicon Valley ecosystem with our San Francisco Cohort, the historic University of Pennsylvania campus with our Philadelphia Cohort, or expanding their global perspective with our Global Cohort by taking courses online or at locations around the world.
“The ability to take electives with a different cohort is an extraordinary opportunity to build connections with more students from differing backgrounds and industries,” says Richard Waterman, Deputy Vice Dean for Wharton’s EMBA Program. “These connections enrich the learning experience and benefit students throughout their careers,”
The flexibility is embedded in the program’s structure, which enables students to take electives – or spend an entire term – in their second year (pending space and approval) with any of the three cohorts. Also built into the 22-month program is the addition of a new floating credit unit, which students fulfill outside of the standard program calendar through elective classes, Global Modular Courses, or independent study.
Wharton’s EMBA program offers 130+ electives across the three cohorts – more than any other business school – giving students ample opportunity to take classes of interest across the curriculum and around the globe.
Electives are driven by student interest and taken during the second year of the program during the summer, fall, and spring terms. Students can choose to major or earn a concentration or both. Students can select from among 10 available majors as well as two concentrations: Business Analytics and Healthcare Management.
The program also offers electives during academic calendar breaks, as some students find those easier to fit into their schedules, especially for the floating credit unit requirement. These block week courses run for three to five consecutive days and feature a diversity of subjects ranging from Advanced Topics in Negotiation and Sports Business to Financial Disclosure Analytics.
“The majority of our students are interested in taking a class (or classes) with a different cohort,” says Dr. Waterman. “They value the flexibility in their second year whether it’s due to changes in their location, a desire to make more connections, or a curiosity about a different part of the country or world.”
In addition, the floating credit unit can be fulfilled through one of the program’s many Global Modular Courses (GMCs), which are intensive workshop courses offered to Wharton students in key business locations around the world. The courses are led by Wharton faculty and are intended to provide unique educational experiences to students in a regional context.
The courses are offered in an intensive workshop format over three to seven days during school breaks on topics like Operations and Business in India, Conducting Business in Emerging Economies: Vietnam, Finance in the UAE, Marketing in Saudi Arabia, and Leadership and Change in Rwanda.
Read more about EMBA program updates
By Meghan Laska
Posted: December 9, 2024
