EMBA ACADEMICS
Introduction to Academics
The UC Irvine Executive MBA is uniquely centered on fostering leadership skills and a practical understanding of how to apply digital technologies to make better decisions. Students develop a comprehensive understanding of essential business disciplines as they learn how top executives make strategic decisions. A tight-knit cohort of students collaborate in a highly collegial atmosphere, led by the Merage School’s world-class faculty.
Experiential Residentials
Learn in the Field
Every EMBA student completes three experiential residential courses that place students inside leading local businesses. With mentorship from Merage School faculty, you will work with top executives to analyze and solve real-world business challenges. Put your classroom learning into practice while building relationships with other business leaders.
- Learn from professionals at top firms
- Work with global companies in leading industries
- Collaborate with world-class faculty and industry partners
As a CTO, there was a mental shift that was necessary in my career. Being an executive is an opportunity to serve, and I realized that I had enough engineering skills, but I wanted to advance my business, executive and leadership skills.
Peman Montazemi MBA '22
Chief Technology Officer
Bright Uro, Inc.
Classes Meet Fridays, Saturdays and Some Thursday Evenings
Graduate in as Few as 21 Months
Curriculum with Leadership at its Core
The program offers a rigorous, technology-driven curriculum designed to fit the demanding schedules of experienced professionals. In just 6 quarters, you'll complete core courses in leadership, strategy, and AI, alongside immersive residencies and elective options that align with your professional goals.
EMBA-exclusive Courses
All students complete a core sequence of 10 core courses covering fundamental disciplines of business leadership and data-driven decision making. A selection of anchor electives offered only to EMBA students provides flexibility to deepen skills in areas such as healthcare, global business, negotiation and more. Every course in the program includes applications of AI. Students may also select electives from all the Merage School’s MBA programs.
Targeted Immersions
Specialized immersion programs in health care management, digital transformation, real estate development or entrepreneurship offer students opportunities to structure their degree to meet specific career goals.
Evening & Weekend Options
Classes are scheduled:
Fridays: 3:30pm - 8:30pm
Saturdays: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Select Thursday Evenings: Electives
Schedule
Year 1
Fall
- Opening Residential
- Organizational Leadership for Executives
- Financial Reporting for Executives
- Introduction to AI for Executives
Winter
- Microeconomics
- Managerial Finance
- Business Applications of AI: The Executive Perspective
Spring
- Business Analytics
- Marketing Leadership
- Global Business I
- Leading Self & Others (2 units)
Year 2
Fall
- Global Business II: International Residential
- Operational Excellence
- Elective
- Tech Leadership Experiential
Winter
- Competing with Digital
- Strategy for Executives
Spring
- Closing Residential
- Elective
- Health Care Leadership Experiential
Immersions
Immersions offer students opportunities to go deeper into specialized areas of study. Learn the principles that are driving today’s most transformational business trends.
Digital Transformation
The immersion in Digital Transformation prepares students to lead innovation within their organizations to compete in a digitized world. Students dive deep into the economics of the digital world and how they alter competition and business strategy. You will learn how to analyze technology-enabled change and how to leverage digital technologies within established businesses and startups. Completion of the MBA immersion requires 4+ academic courses and participating in the Center for Digital Transformation’s annual Road to Reinvention conference.
Health Care Management and Policy
The immersion in Healthcare Management and Policy prepares you to excel in today’s complex healthcare business environment. Developed and administered with the Merage School’s Center for Health Care Management and Policy, this immersion builds on the Center’s mission to engage its partners in collaborative education, research and community service programs. You will develop a deep understanding of not only the underlying economics of healthcare, but also the policies, regulations and institutions that impact healthcare markets. Students at the Merage School can earn the MBA immersion in Healthcare Management and Policy by successfully completing a set of key electives and participating in the Center’s annual Health Care Forecast Conference.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The immersion in Innovation and Entrepreneurship prepares students who are either planning to or have already embarked on a career as an entrepreneur (innovating to form new companies) or an intrapreneur (innovating within existing companies). The Beall Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship provides you with academic and practical training to gain a solid understanding of launching or growing a business in today’s competitive environment. Earn the MBA immersion in Innovation and Entrepreneurship by participating in the Merage School New Venture Competition and completing key electives focused on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Real Estate and Urban Development
The MBA immersion in Real Estate and Urban Development provides you the practical skills and theories needed to succeed in an ever-changing marketplace. The Center for Real Estate provides world-class resources and research to future leaders and entrepreneurs working in real estate, with a focus on the pursuit of emerging best practices in the real estate profession. Learn from the Center’s holistic approach to real estate, drawing from the lessons of past cycles and current trends in order to best prepare you for your career in real estate. Earn this MBA immersion through successful completion of five academic courses focused on real estate.
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