Find answers to common questions about Drexel LeBow’s Executive MBA, including program fit, format and workload, admissions requirements and what to expect throughout the EMBA experience.
About the Executive MBA
- Who is the EMBA for?
Drexel’s EMBA is designed for professionals with at least five years of progressive professional experience and increasing organizational responsibility. The program is a great fit for leaders who are:
- Looking to take on greater responsibility in their organization
- Seeking to broaden their expertise into an enterprise-level role
- Facing AI transformation in their organization
- Managing a complex business problem
- Needing the advanced credential for career progression
- Looking to pivot to a different industry
- What degree will I earn?
You’ll earn an Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA). You’ll also graduate with an AI Leadership Certificate, an additional credential reflecting the applied AI learning integrated throughout the EMBA curriculum.
- How long does the program take to complete?
The Executive MBA is completed over 21 months, with month-long program breaks in December and August. The hybrid format, structured across five semesters, combines in-person residencies, live virtual sessions and online coursework to help experienced professionals balance the program with their careers and personal responsibilities.
- How does a Drexel EMBA differ from other EMBAs?
Drexel LeBow’s Executive MBA combines an integrated curriculum for enterprise leadership with a hybrid format designed for experienced professionals. Across five semesters, students connect strategy, finance, leadership, operations, technology, AI and global business while applying what they learn to complex organizational challenges.
Students also graduate with an AI Leadership Certificate, an additional credential reflecting the applied AI learning built into program courses and projects. In-person residencies, an international residency, executive engagement and virtual group coaching further extend the experience beyond traditional coursework.
Explore the EMBA curriculum and learn about program format and delivery.
- What leadership and professional development support is available?
Professional development is integrated throughout the EMBA experience. Students participate in virtual one-on-one coaching, engage with senior executives through CEO Conversations on Leadership and learn from faculty and experienced professionals across the LeBow executive community.
These experiences complement the curriculum by providing opportunities to strengthen leadership capabilities, gain perspective from other executives and expand your professional network.
Learn more about the EMBA experience and executive network
EMBA Workload
The Executive MBA is rigorous by design, but its hybrid structure is built with the demands of experienced professionals in mind. Coursework, residencies and program breaks are intentionally structured to help students stay engaged in the program while continuing to manage significant professional and personal responsibilities.
- What will studying consist of?
Learning varies by course, but EMBA coursework generally combines preparation, active application and follow-through.
Preparation may include readings, videos, case materials or other work that builds familiarity with key concepts before a class session.
Application takes place through faculty-led discussion, case analysis, simulations, team projects and other experiences that allow you to apply concepts to business challenges alongside your classmates.
Follow-through may include additional reading, reflection, individual or team assignments and opportunities to connect what you have learned to challenges within your own organization.
Together, these experiences shift the emphasis from simply learning concepts to applying them in an executive context.
- What can I expect in terms of time and workload?
Workload varies throughout the program depending on scheduled class sessions, residencies, assignments and team projects. The EMBA calendar is intentionally structured to balance periods of concentrated learning with time to complete coursework and remain engaged with professional and personal responsibilities.
The program also includes month-long breaks each August and December. Reviewing the program calendar and planning ahead for residencies and other concentrated periods can help you manage the demands of the program alongside your career.
- I am an introvert. Will I be expected to participate and give presentations?
Yes. We are asked this question often. Active participation is an important part of the EMBA experience. Depending on the course or activity, students may contribute to discussions, collaborate on team projects, facilitate group work, report findings or deliver presentations.
These experiences provide opportunities to strengthen communication and leadership skills in a supportive environment alongside experienced peers. You are not expected to arrive equally comfortable with every type of participation; the program is designed to help you develop those capabilities throughout the EMBA experience.
Our goal in all of EMBA is to challenge you to learn and do things you never thought yourself capable of. This is all to help you develop critical leadership skills. By the end of every EMBA program, many of our best presenters are those who were reluctant at the beginning.
Schedule a consultation with our Director of Recruitment, Mark E. Dierkes, if you’d like to learn more about the transformative nature of the program.
EMBA Admissions and Qualifications
The Executive MBA brings together experienced professionals who are ready to learn from one another, broaden their perspective and take on greater leadership responsibility. Learn more about the professional experience, qualities and preparation that can help you succeed in the program.
- How much professional experience do I need to apply?
Applicants should have at least five years of progressive professional experience, with a record of increasing organizational responsibility. Because the EMBA classroom draws heavily on the perspectives and experiences students bring to discussions, professional experience is an important part of both admission to the program and the learning environment.
Review the EMBA Applicant Profile and Eligibility Requirements
- What are the skills and qualities you need to be successful in this program?
EMBA students enter the program with different professional backgrounds, strengths and experiences, then build on those capabilities throughout the program. Qualities that can help you succeed include:
- Discipline and effective time management
- The ability to consider both immediate priorities and long-term implications
- Strong listening, analytical and critical-thinking skills
- Clear communication and a willingness to collaborate
- Openness to new perspectives, knowledge and tools
- A willingness to take on challenges, learn from experience and continue developing as a leader
You don’t need to arrive with every capability fully developed. The EMBA experience is designed to challenge you to build on your strengths and develop new ways of thinking, working and leading.
- Does the program require standardized tests?
No. The GMAT and GRE are not required for admission to the Executive MBA program.
Review the EMBA Applicant Profile and Eligibility Requirements
- How can I start to prepare for the EMBA program?
Staying informed about developments affecting business, your industry and the broader economy can help you bring current perspectives into classroom discussions. It can also be helpful to consider the challenges and opportunities facing your organization, since the EMBA provides frequent opportunities to connect what you are learning to your own professional experience.
Just as important is preparing for the commitment ahead. Review the program calendar, plan for in-person residencies and discuss the time commitment with the people at work and home who will support you throughout the program.
Take the Next Step
Have questions about the Executive MBA or the application process? Schedule a consultation with Director of Recruitment Mark E. Dierkes to discuss your questions, learn more about the program and get guidance on the application process.