The Executive MBA curriculum includes insights into core business disciplines, analytical
tools, leadership effectiveness and strategy. The program is administered through
the Barton School of Business faculty in the accounting, economics, finance, decision
sciences, marketing and management departments. Everything in this unique curriculum
is designed to change the way you work and think -- an investment that lasts a lifetime.
The fundamentals--finance, accounting, operations, marketing, strategy, business law
and ethics, organizational behavior, global business and economics--are supplemented
with seminar topics in executive leadership, negotiation and entrepreneurship. The
curriculum capitalizes on WSU's strategic choice to remain exclusive.
The EMBA curriculum includes:
- A 2-day orientation that emphasizes leadership development, self-assessment, teamwork and effective communication skills;
- Course sequencing designed to challenge every student regardless of previous work and educational experience;
- Seminars in negotiation skills and executive leadership;
- A week-long international trip that will broaden every student's view of global management;
- Option to focus on Innovation Leadership or Program Management
Executive MBA students complete (30) credit hours. No preparatory coursework in business is required to enter the EMBA program.
Click here for the course catalog.
Core Classes - 24 total credit hours
Focuses on critical evaluation of the nature of business problems and opportunities in ways that allow data-driven decision making. This includes problem discovery and framing, data exploration using descriptive techniques, and inferential analysis using parametric (e.g., t-tests, correlation, regression) and nonparametric techniques. It also emphasizes appropriate communication of data. (2 credit hours)
Examines leadership styles, power, authority, motivations, communications and their impact on human behavior. Includes organizational learning, team building, participative management, transformational leadership, managing diversity, conflict management, network organizations, organizational change and re-engineering. (2 credit hours)
Focuses on strategic marketing analysis, planning, integration and implementation. Designed to prepare middle, senior and executive-level leaders to make effective marketing decisions and is taught using the case-study method. Introduces key principles and processes for the development of effective integrated marketing programs aligned with organizational strategy. (2 credit hours)
Focuses on the elements of economics that are most useful for middle- and upper-level managers. Covers the basic concept of a market (demand and supply), the internal operations of the firm (production, cost structures, internal organization and pricing policies), and the micro environment of the firm (competitive market structures and government regulation). (2 credit hours)
Provides a fundamental understanding of manufacturing and service operations and their role in the organization, along with other functions like sales, finance, etc. An overview of a range of topics including operations strategy, capacity planning, quality management, lean, inventory management, and forecasting. Special emphasis is placed on the conceptual frameworks and modeling tools used to implement improvements in business processes. Also highlights the use of analytics in operations and supply chain management. (2 credit hours)
Focuses on applications of economic analysis to international business decisions, international and macroeconomic components, understanding the implications of macro policies and developments for the firm's business environment, expansions into foreign markets, foreign investment and the relevance of global changes in technology and labor productivity, and foreign exchange, balance of payments, and trade policy issues. (3 credit hours- International Trip)
Studies the fundamental concepts of financial accounting and reporting by business entities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Approaches the material from the perspective of the financial statement user rather than the financial statement preparer. Therefore, emphasis is placed on the use and interpretation of information contained in business financial statements by managers, investors and creditors. (2 credit hours)
Covers the foundations of finance with an emphasis on applications that are vital for corporate managers. An overview of basic financial analysis. Considers the major financial decisions made by corporate managers. Essential in most of these decisions is the process of valuation, which is an important course emphasis. Topics include criteria for making investment decisions, valuation of financial assets, relationships between risk and return, risk management, and capital structure choice. Course goals are to examine the role of finance in supporting the functional areas of a firm and to foster an understanding of how financial decisions themselves can create value. (2 credit hours)
Introduces students to modern tools and techniques designed to generate performance measures used for decision making, management and control purposes. Accounting information is used for a variety of managerial decisions such as product pricing and profitability analysis. Illustrates how performance measures are integrated into management control systems so as to align the objectives of (division) managers with those of the shareholders. Key building blocks of such systems are cost allocations, transfer pricing and compensation schemes. Illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of commonly-used performance metrics such as the Balanced Scorecard. (2 credit hours)
Explores how to successfully incorporate information technology into organizations to support business model innovation, business process innovation, and management decision making. Course goals are to equip managers with the understanding of how information technology can be used for value creation and sustainable competitive advantage. (1.5 credit hours)
Integrates the other courses in the program by addressing the strategic management of an organization. Focuses on the factors surrounding achieving and sustaining competitive advantage in the business unit and extending competitive advantage across business units. Strategy is discussed in terms of how to create maximum value for customers and to capture as much of that value as possible for growing and sustaining the organization. Prerequisite: admission to EMBA program. (2 credit hours)
Stimulates critical thinking about the application of law and ethics in business. Provides an overview of the legal system and dispute resolution procedures. Covers specific legal topics of particular importance to business leaders including contracts, torts, constitutional law, product liability, intellectual property, employment law, business entities and business regulation. Introduces students to ethical decision making processes, the major philosophical traditions in ethical theory, as well as principles of corporate governance, corporate responsibility, and sustainability. Focuses on stimulating analytical thinking and class discussion about how to apply ethical principles to practical business situations. (1.5 credit hours)
The remaining 6 credit hours come from either the Innovation Leadership or Program Management concentration. You pick the concentration that best fits your needs.
Innovation Leadership - 6 total credit hours
In strategic negotiations, participants will explore negotiating opportunities, become aware of how to effectively plan negotiations, examine differing negotiation styles, discuss proven negotiation tactics, research cultural differences, debate ethics in negotiations and practice negotiation skills. (1 credit hour)
This course is designed to introduce the student to the various theories, philosophies and practices of leadership in modern corporations. Topics to be discussed include strategic planning (including vision and goal setting), leadership styles, changing organizational culture, and cross-cultural leadership. (1 credit hour)
Description coming soon!
Description coming soon!
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Program Management - 6 total credit hours
In strategic negotiations, participants will explore negotiating opportunities, become aware of how to effectively plan negotiations, examine differing negotiation styles, discuss proven negotiation tactics, research cultural differences, debate ethics in negotiations and practice negotiation skills. (1 credit hour)
This course is designed to introduce the student to the various theories, philosophies and practices of leadership in modern corporations. Topics to be discussed include strategic planning (including vision and goal setting), leadership styles, changing organizational culture, and cross-cultural leadership. (1 credit hour)
Description coming soon!
Description coming soon!
Description coming soon!
Description coming soon!