Executive MBA (EMBA)

Executive MBA (EMBA)

Since its founding over 35 years ago, USC Marshall’s Executive MBA (EMBA) program has maintained its mission of developing seasoned professionals into competent, innovative, and confident business leaders. We encourage our students to reach beyond their technical expertise by broadening their working knowledge of business disciplines, discovering connections that lead to smart business solutions, and strengthening their unique leadership potential.

Today, we still hold strong to this foundational mission, while providing cutting-edge interdisciplinary curriculum to address timely workplace challenges and a flexible hybrid schedule to accommodate life's increasing responsibilities. Our 22-month Executive MBA program consists of weekly virtual classes, bi-monthly in-person sessions at USC’s historic University Park Campus in Los Angeles, and a 10-day international intensive.
At the end of the comprehensive EMBA Program, our graduates earn their MBA from a top-ranked business school and join the Trojan Family – one of the world’s most reputable alumni networks.

EMBA PROGRAM BENEFITS

Our 22-month hybrid program is designed for senior executives who wish to remain fully employed as they pursue their graduate studies.
Our hybrid schedule includes in-person classes located on USC's historic University Park Campus in Los Angeles and virtual classes via Zoom:
- Saturdays (bi-weekly, in-person) - 7:50am - 5:30pm
- Tuesday evenings (weekly, via Zoom) - 6:00pm - 8:00pm

APPLYING TO THE EMBA PROGRAM

Is an Executive MBA the right degree for you?

Our ideal Executive MBA candidates are seasoned professionals and senior managers who are self-motivated learners looking to take ownership over the next step in their career. They are eager to break out of their functional expertise and hone their leadership, communication, and broader business acumen.

EMBA DATES + DEADLINES

ROUND 1
DEADLINE: November 1, 2023
DECISION BY: December 31, 2023

ROUND 2
DEADLINE: January 5, 2024
DECISION BY: March 31, 2024

ROUND 3
DEADLINE: March 1, 2024,
DECISION BY: May 15, 2024

ROUND 4
DEADLINE: May 1, 2024
DECISION BY: by June 30, 2024

ROUND 5
Applications submitted after May 1, 2024, will be considered on a space-available basis.
ADMISSIONS EVENTS

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REQUEST INFORMATION

For more information about this program please fill out THIS FORM.
ADMISSIONS CONTACT

Marshall School of Business
MBA Admissions Office
Anastasia Figueroa, Senior Associate Director, MBA Admissions
310.874.9545
EMAIL
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EMBA ACADEMIC OVERVIEW

The USC Marshall Executive MBA curriculum focuses on ten integrated themes that parallel managerial situations facing executives on a daily basis. Within a given theme, we carefully sequence class sessions to integrate the different functional areas that are relevant to the overall theme topic. Just like executives, who are judged on how the company fares overall under their direction, students receive a single grade for each theme.

Our curriculum structure is one that gives us greater flexibility to remain current with today's business environment. Because we're not locked into conventional courses, we're able to introduce new content as new developments emerge. By the end of the program, you will have covered all the material — and more — of a traditional program, but its relevance and application will be heightened substantially by how we present it (and how you learn it).

Theme I: The Perspective of Top Management

Helps you gain a greater appreciation for the variety of business issues facing senior executives today. Using lectures, discussion, case studies, and team projects, we introduce you to executive leadership issues, environmental and strategic issues, use of financial statements, organizational assessment and design, technology management and communications.

Theme II: Evaluating Market Performance

Focuses on the different disciplines and markets in which the modern firm must compete, including financial, product, and labor markets. Its purpose is to familiarize you with the interactions of these markets and the effect of managerial decisions on the performance of the firm and to provide you with the tools necessary to do an effective evaluation. Provides in-depth training in statistics for decision making.

Theme III: Management of Operations

Provides an advanced look at each of the major business disciplines and their respective organizational functions. We undertake a systematic study of the management of marketing, organizational structure, accounting, and finance. In contrast to Theme II, which focuses on an external evaluation of performance, Theme III considers the firm's performance from an internal perspective. You will gain tools necessary to streamline operations across functions.

Theme IV: Technology and Information Systems Management

Examines how operations and information technology are used in managing the operations function of a firm. We place special emphasis on understanding production processes and work flows and how contemporary concepts such as business process reengineering, total quality management, team production, and just-in-time production can be used to improve performance. We introduce you to work design, project management, and hands on communication tools.

Theme V: Functional Strategies and Implementation

Focuses on developing communication skills that are essential for a senior executive. The theme involves case studies, short projects and simulations to develop these skills. This is a short theme where the content is spread out through the other themes during the year.

Theme VI: Environmental Analysis: Establishing Competitive Advantage

Focuses on globalization. The theme draws on macroeconomics and global strategy to establish a conceptual framework for understanding the rapid economic change taking place in the world today. The theme also deals with cultural and communication issues that arise in a global marketplace. The theme provides helpful preparation for the international trip in Theme VII.

Theme VII: The Role of the Senior Executive

Provides a first-hand exposure to the global marketplace. This six-day international residential experience focuses on the broad spectrum of issues behind conducting business effectively in a global market. We travel abroad, where we hold overseas classroom sessions. We visit local businesses and meet with executives of national, joint venture, and transnational corporations.

Theme VIII: Strategic Planning for Growth

Focuses on obtaining and protecting market power through strategic management. We examine how firms have been able to generate and protect market power in the past, and how they will have to change to meet new demands. The theme integrates strategy and finance tools to provide an integrated approach to the creation of shareholder value. Teams work on a major strategy and finance (valuation) project throughout the theme. The project requires you to evaluate a firm or business transaction (i.e., merger, acquisition, or dissolution) and formally present your case analysis.

Theme IX: Managing Strategic Change and Implementation

Concentrates on the development of skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur or a leader in a large established organization. The theme deals with governance issues in large organizations and the problems encountered in starting and operating an entrepreneurial firm. You will develop assessments of your own capabilities and leadership skills and you will formulate an analysis of a new opportunity for which your skills are well suited.

Theme X: The Executive of the Future

Focuses on career development and personal assessment. You will be led through an assessment of your future goals and you will evaluate how your career plans fit with your goals. You will meet in teams with other participants, evaluate your management style, reflect on your career path, and update your career plans.

THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Princess Mpati, EMBA Class of 2018

“I immediately started using everything that I was learning because I’m already a working manager, I already have people that report to me so a lot of the leadership classes, a lot of the organizational development classes – information that I could to work on Monday and start using. So If I was to look back and compare last year to this year I would say my performance at work is superior to last year. Being in the program has changed the way I look at things, it’s changed the way I think, [and] I have resources that I now leverage.” Princess Mpati, District Sales Manager - Retail Healthcare

James Naviaux EMBA '17

“When you think about the faculty at USC [Marshall], I think that’s really what separates this program from the others. These are people that are incredibly intelligent, have had great careers, have travelled all over the world, and these are the people that you’re learning from.”
Jill Olson EMBA '18

“The advice I would give others weighing ROI of this program would be just think about where you are in life and what you want in life. It’s not like you need to know exactly what you’re going to do in 10 years, but know the direction you want to go in, know yourself and this program is going to amazing. Just be willing to commit to the program because you put in is what you get out.”
Florian Limjoco EMBA '09

“I chose USC Marshall because of its network. I work in a global environment – I travel often into Asia. USC has an extremely good presence there, they travel well. Some of my most recent contacts and opportunities have been with USC alumni.”

EMBA NEWS + EVENTS

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