Executive master's degree

Executive Master (EM) or Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) is an advanced level of master's degree designed specially for mid-career executive professionals. Common titles of the degree are executive master of arts, executive master of science or area specific titles like executive master of business administration, executive master of communication or Executive Master of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Logistics and Management (MASHLM) etc.

Structure

Executive master's programs are usually attended by full-time working professionals, therefore the programs are scheduled to match this condition. Most executive master's programs run several full days (not more than a week) per month for the period of two or three years.^[1] However, some options have similarly adapted schedules, offering classes nights or weekends only. The most condensed of such programs can be completed in as little as a year. According to the Bologna system, program participants are required to gain 60 ECTS to complete the degree. In other systems, the duration of the program is dependent on the total number of academic credits and the number of course credits it is possible to complete in a given semester.

Types

Executive Master of Science in Communication

Executive Master of Science in Communication (EMScom, MScom) is designed for corporate communication professionals with a significant experience in the sphere. EMScom programs run on the same level as EMBA and usually consist of short learning sessions, evenly distributed throughout the total number of years required (for example: 7-day-sessions every two months during two years). Courses: Typically, one third of the program will cover general management topics (as in general EMBA). The other two thirds deal with the whole bandwidth of themes specific to corporate communication.

Executive Master in Marketing & Sales

SDA Bocconi School of Management - Bocconi University (Milan, Italy) and ESADE Business School (Barcelona, Spain) offers a conjoint Executive Master Degree in Marketing & Sales. Program website: www.emms-program.com

Executive Master in Marketing & Sales (EMMS) is designed for Marketing & Sales professionals with a significant experience and who wants to sharpen their skills. EMMS program run on the same level as EMBA and consist of 7 rigorous modules (each module has 7 days) in 14 months.

Executive Master of Science in Health Systems

Binghamton University offers an Executive Master of Science in Health Systems. The program is available in two tracks: Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) with Health Systems Concentration; Master of Science in Systems Science (SS) with Health Systems Concentration. An engineering background (or completion of fitting prerequisites) is required for conferral of the ISE degree, while the SS degree is open to all academic majors. Program website: http://www.binghamton.edu/ssie/grad/mshs-nyc/

Students in this program have opportunity to gain sufficient knowledge and skills for modeling, analyzing and/or designing healthcare delivery systems and processes. These skills can then be used to help healthcare networks address significant issues - for example, reducing patient readmissions, decreasing patient wait time, minimizing patient no-shows through analysis of scheduling, optimizing storage and utilization of supplies, increasing overall quality and satisfaction, and impacting other aspects that can make a true difference in the overall operations of a healthcare organization. The program occurs on Saturdays only in New York City and completes in one year.

Admission

Applicants for an executive master program typically must have:

• Bachelor's degree;
• 4-15 years of work experience in their area of study (or a comparable background and expressed passion for the specific subject area);
• Leadership potential

Admission requirements may slightly differ from country to country.^[2] Some universities may require GMAT, GRE or other standardized mathematical test scores.^[3]

Graduation requirements

The number of credits required for graduation within the Bologna process is 60 ECTS. Programs within the United States typically require 33 credits according to the U.S. Department of Education.^[4] The number, however, may differ from one credit system to another. By the end of the program participants of the program are required to have completed a thesis or a field project, on which they should usually spend 350–500 hours.^[5]

Offerings by Country

Europe

There are several universities in Europe, offering EMScom or an equivalent program. In 1999 Università della Svizzera italiana, also known as University of Lugano, launched the first Executive Master of Science in Communication program in Switzerland. Working language of the program is English and in 2006 the same Università della Svizzera italiana launched new Executive Master of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Logistics and Management MASHLM^[6] for professionals who work in International Organizations, NGOs and International Development Agencies. The Technical University of Munich offers EMBA in German and English. In France an equivalent program is offered by the Paris-Sorbonne University in French. The Rotterdam School of Management offers Master of Corporate Communication on an executive level in the Netherlands. Universitat Politéctina de Catalonia offers Master of IT Project Management since 2011. The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, offers an Executive Master in Armed Conflict programme since 2011.

Australia

The Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Melbourne offers Australia's only Executive Master of Arts.^[7] The Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) offers an Executive Master of Public Administration program in collaboration with various universities in Australia and New Zealand.^[8]

United States of America

Binghamton University offers an Executive Master of Science in Health Systems program in Manhattan. Benefits of this program include:

• Increased competitive advantage for leadership roles in transforming healthcare delivery systems
• Ability to identify and solve efficiency problems in healthcare systems using systems engineering techniques, data analytics, and process improvement
• Connection with experienced faculty and professionals with proven track records in the field^[9]

References