Los Angeles Executive Business Administration Graduate Programs on Campus

For the leaders, managers, executives, and entrepreneurs who prefer rolling up their sleeves and learning new things through in-person interaction, executive business administration graduate programs may prove a perfect option. On-Campus programs enable professionals to see, hear, and speak to their classmates, colleagues, and professors as they delve into subjects and pursue the knowledge and skillsets that may help them succeed. On-campus executive business administration programs also offer a great option to professionals who live close to the program of their choice and prefer to take classes on specific days, at specific times, and in bricks-and-mortar buildings. Pursuing a Executive Business Administration Graduate Programs on Campus degree may allow for a particularly interactive and invigorating experience.

Who Might Pursue an Executive Business Administration Degree?

Executive Business Administration Graduate Programs on Campus are typically designed for people who work fulltime across industries and in organizations of various sizes and types (small, medium, and large for-profit, nonprofit, and government entities, for example). Many commonly, students in executive business administration graduate programs have at least 5-10 years’ experiences in business and experience as leaders in some capacity. Filling courses and programs with students who have business and leadership experience may help cultivate a professional and experience-based learning environment in which classmates may share knowledge and collaborate on coursework.  

What Might I Study in an Executive Business Administration Graduate Program?

As you may already know, the executive business administration graduate program is distinct from a non-executive track. The executive track—whether at the certificate, master’s, or doctorate level—is a professional degree designed for professionals employed as leaders, managers, or mid-level executives, or working as entrepreneurs. In executive programs, professionals these capacities typically have an opportunity to learn how to conduct analysis, strategize, and affect change in areas such as finance, marketing, human resources, and operations. Students may also study theories and principles of leadership as they relate to operating various aspects of business. Many programs, especially at the master’s level, provide a threefold curricula that engages an exploration of analytical, functional, and ethical components of business.

The specifics of what you study in an executive business administration graduate program depends on the program. In many cases, you’ll complete a combination of core and elective courses. In Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) and Executive Doctorate of Business Administration (EDBA) programs, your core curriculum may cover business essentials such as finance, marketing, management, and human resources; leadership foundations (theories and principles, for example); research methodologies; and business ethics. Students may also study analytical fundamentals such as business intelligence, economics, and statistics. Your elective coursework may derive from a plethora of business subjects and allows you to focus your studies. Through elective coursework, you may concentrate your studies in areas such as finance, management, investment, marketing, entrepreneurship, international business, business acquisition, organizational change, project management, non-profit management, and others. 

The program type you pursue—a graduate certificate in business administration, an EMBA, or an EDBA—determines the depth to which you’ll dive into these and other subjects.

Types of Executive Business Administration Graduate Programs

There are three primary types of executive business administration graduate programs: the EMBA, the EDBA, and the graduate certificate in business administration.

The Executive Master of Business Administration

The Executive Master of Business Administration, sometimes called the Executive MBA, or EMBA, is an MBA degree that professionals typically earn in one to two years. In executive MBA programs, students typically defend a thesis and take comprehensive exam in addition to completing advanced coursework.  Executive Business Administration Graduate Programs on Campus lengths and requirements vary by school.

The Executive Doctorate of Business Administration

The Executive Doctorate of Business Administration, or EDBA, is a research-intensive degree. Students generally earn their EDBA through three to four years of fulltime coursework. Students in EDBA programs typically complete advanced coursework and conduct signifimayt applied research. They may conclude their programs by successfully defending a dissertation and taking a comprehensive exam. Program lengths and requirements vary by institution.  Students in EDBA programs often have a chance to learn how to research and write publishable papers that contribute to business research and knowledge.  

Some professionals opt to earn an Executive PhD in Business instead of an Executive DBA. The PhD track typically helps professionals pursue jobs in academia, while the EDBA track typically helps professionals pursue jobs in industry.

Executive-Level Graduate Certificate in Business

Executive-Level graduate certificates in business are typically three- to five-course programs that help business professionals expand their knowledge in business principles, theories, and applications. Executive graduate certificates in business administration typically take six months to a year to earn.in on-campus, online formats, or hybrid formats. Executive Business Administration Graduate Programs on Campus lengths vary by school.

What Education and Skills Might I Gain in an Executive Business Administration Graduate Program?

You may develop the following skills (amongst numerous others) as you pursue your executive business administration degree:

• General leadership and negotiation skills
• Skills working with computer software and project management and foreign languages skills
• Thinking skills and using innovation and creativity
• Skills in working in a multicultural environment and corporate social responsibility skills

You may also become skilled in developing business strategy, finding competitive advantage, providing management consulting, and numerous other areas. In an EDBA program, you might gain knowledge or skills in theoretical knowledge and applied research that leads to the practical application of theoretical knowledge.

What Careers Might I Pursue as an Executive Business Administration Graduate?

Once you’ve earned your executive business administration graduate degree, you may simply enhance your existing job or pursue new advanced positions with other employers. You may also launch your own business or pursue a career as a business consultant.  

Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics may give you a sense of what you might earn in advanced positions in business:

• In 2015, top executives earned a median annual salary of $102,690.^[i] While you don’t have to have a graduate degree in business administration to pursue a career as a top executive, many top executives hold an MBA.^[ii]
• In 2015, median salaries from managers ranged from $45,670 for preschool and childcare center directors to $132,800 for architectural and engineer managers.^[iii]

Find Executive Business Administration Graduate Schools

If you’re ready to enhance your career, now may be a great time to pursue your executive business administration graduate degree. Visit our listings below to find a perfect program. You’ll notice that many Executive Business Administration Graduate Programs on Campus have the working professional in mind and offer evening and weekend options. Schedules like these may be just what you need to begin your education now. Good luck! 

Sources: [i] bls.gov/ooh/management/mobile/top-executives.htm | [ii] bls.gov/ooh/management/mobile/top-executives.htm | [iii] bls.gov/ooh/management/