Executive MBA (EMBA)

Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University

The Executive MBA from SMU Cox is a broad-based, fast-paced, in-depth global leadership experience. The Executive MBA has been praised by participants, sponsors, and those in the business world for the preparation it offers those ready for the unique challenges of the executive suite. Consistently ranked one of the best Executive MBA programs in the world, the curriculum is forward-thinking and taught by some of the most notable professors in academia.

Our Executive MBA students represent the top minds in business from a varying array of industries and disciplines. Through the “cohort approach” to learning, you and your peers will interact through classes, study groups, team-building exercises, and social activities providing you with new insights and vastly broaden your personal and professional perspectives. Very often, you’ll be able to immediately apply the knowledge you gain in the classroom to everyday challenges you face in the workplace. Likewise, situations from work are brought into the classroom for discussion and even resolution.

The Executive MBA will dramatically increase your ability to think globally, plan intuitively, communicate effectively, and act strategically. This adds tremendous career value by exposing you to cross-functional business knowledge, improved professional connections, and a heightened confidence that often comes with a life-changing experience.

Program Features

The following features of the SMU Cox EMBA program provide a rich educational experience to the seasoned professional seeking the next level of attainment.

Professional Networking Opportunities
The Cox community --- a network of more than 33,000 business leaders spanning most industries, is a resource and significant enhancement to the SMU Cox experience. Even more significant are the relationships you develop with your classmates inside and outside of class for both personal and professional enrichment.

Global Learning Experiences
Immersion in the global economy is important for any savvy business professional. EMBA students are required to travel to both Asia and Latin America for company presentations highlighting the foreign companies, their cultures, and the environments in which they operate, providing a deeper understanding of the dynamics of international business.

Small, Private School Environment
Many EMBA programs take place in non-campus settings such as office buildings. The SMU Cox EMBA is delivered on the gracious SMU campus, noted for its traditional Georgian architecture. The school's small size allows for a collaborative, team approach. While the SMU Cox EMBA is the largest program in North Texas, classes are divided into sections and further broken down into study groups of five to seven students, a feature most students find extremely helpful and at times vital.

Career Self-Determination
Seeking an MBA degree, as acknowledged by students past, was to further their career choices, whether inside their organizations or outside. Having an MBA can instill a greater sense of confidence and self-determination --- enhancing one's ability to have and make more desirable lifelong choices.

Location in a Dynamic, World-class City
The Cox School is located in the midst of the thriving, economic epicenter of Dallas, TX, allowing close proximity to business opportunities and business leaders from virtually any industry. SMU Cox continues to play an important role in shaping the intellectual landscape of Dallas with its continued bright prospects for growth and opportunity.

Curriculum

As a Cox Executive MBA student, you will be exposed to highly engaging curriculum and groundbreaking research designed to prepare you for the executive level. Throughout the 21-month program, you will master such fundamentals as Applied Economics, Financial Management, Organizational Behavior, Statistics, Marketing Research, and Accounting. In addition, you will also delve into such recent course electives as Mergers and Acquisitions, Negotiations, and Portfolio Theory. There are two international trips – a 4-day trip to Latin America in August of the second year and a 10-day trip to Asia in March of the last module. During these trips, you will meet with top executives and visit a number of companies to solidify your fundamental understanding of international business concepts and strategies.

Much of the coursework will take place working with small study groups to identify and solve problems that often mirror real-world challenges. In less than two years, you will gain the ability to think, plan, and act strategically to meet the challenges of leadership in a competitive global marketplace. Below are the course descriptions.