45%
of our Executive MBA grads reported receiving increased job duties while attending the program*
* 2024 Executive MBA student exit survey
Premier Academic Instruction for Business Leaders
Executive MBA
Move Forward with Confidence
Prepare for the next step in your career, enhance your leadership skills and learn more about generating innovative new ideas and business strategies in the Opus College of Business Executive MBA program.
Designed for professionals with at least 6 years of experience, the comprehensive Executive MBA program focuses on best practices in business strategy, and is taught by faculty with significant business experience who are revered practitioners in their fields.
In our experiential learning model, you’ll gain real-world knowledge and skills through group projects, labs, simulations, guest speakers and practical exercises. You’ll solve actual business challenges for your employer organizations and learn by examining case studies with your cohort of peers.
During the program, you’ll be on-campus two days per month and complete interactive online coursework between sessions. This proven distance learning design offers the executive-style format and flexibility needed to pursue your educational goals while continuing to meet the demands of your professional and personal commitments.
The Executive MBA program follows a cohort learning model, which means you’ll join other experienced professionals from various industries in all classes and group projects. A typical cohort has 20+ students who exhibit a high level of leadership or managerial responsibility. The cohort’s wealth of experience enriches class discussions and team projects as different perspectives emerge.
Another important part of the Executive MBA program is Executive Leadership Development and Coaching. We tailor coaching to help you maximize your leadership effectiveness and achieve your professional goals. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to see how business works in different markets through the International Residency, an 8-10 day international trip that visits multinational and local companies.
Executive MBA With Immediate ROI
100%
of students reported increased effectiveness in their current role as a direct result of entering the program*
100%
of students would recommend the program to a friend or colleague*
Program Overview
Format & Schedule
- Duration: 21 months, spanning 5 semesters
- Start Date: Begins in the Fall semester
Curriculum
- Courses: 19 required courses, totaling 42.5 credits
Class Format
- In-person Sessions: monthly on-campus classes held on Fridays & Saturdays
- Online Coursework: Engage in online learning between on-campus weekends
Global Experience
- International Residency: Participate in an 8 to 10-day international residency as part of the Global Systems course.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in any subject
- Application form
- Essays
- Resume
- Minimum 5 years’ of management or leadership experience
- Admissions interview (virtual)
- Application Deadlines
- October 1 - Application Open
- April 1 - Guaranteed Scholarship Deadline
- August 30 - Final Application Deadline
- September 2025 - First Day (in person)
Cohort Learning Model
As part of a 20+ student cohort, you’ll form strong connections with the same group of business leaders as you move together through the program. You and your peers will draw upon your diverse experiences to provide meaningful examples and real-life case studies to the course dialogue and team projects. Your cohort members will be a valuable network upon the completion of your program, as well.
Applied Learning
As a student in the Executive MBA program, you will gain knowledge you can apply at work the next day. The program immerses you in hands-on curriculum and provides you the opportunity to dive deeper into important business topics through:
- Global Residency
- Executive Leadership Development & Coaching
- Group Projects
Personalized Service
Our Executive MBA student services team helps busy executives like you save time and focus on your studies. We take care of all the administrative details, from handling class registration to purchasing textbooks for you and having them ready for you in class. We understand the many demands on your time, and we don’t want the details to stand in your way. Best of all, it’s included with your tuition.
Career Impact
While all Executive MBA students start the program fully employed, they experience significant career advancement as a result of earning this degree. Executive MBA students often receive promotions and new opportunities while they’re still enrolled, as well as after graduation.
Format & Schedule
- Duration: 21 months, spanning 5 semesters
- Start Date: Begins in the Fall semester
Curriculum
- Courses: 19 required courses, totaling 42.5 credits
Class Format
- In-person Sessions: monthly on-campus classes held on Fridays & Saturdays
- Online Coursework: Engage in online learning between on-campus weekends
Global Experience
- International Residency: Participate in an 8 to 10-day international residency as part of the Global Systems course.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in any subject
- Application form
- Essays
- Resume
- Minimum 5 years’ of management or leadership experience
- Admissions interview (virtual)
- Application Deadlines
- October 1 - Application Open
- April 1 - Guaranteed Scholarship Deadline
- August 30 - Final Application Deadline
- September 2025 - First Day (in person)
Cohort Learning Model
As part of a 20+ student cohort, you’ll form strong connections with the same group of business leaders as you move together through the program. You and your peers will draw upon your diverse experiences to provide meaningful examples and real-life case studies to the course dialogue and team projects. Your cohort members will be a valuable network upon the completion of your program, as well.
Applied Learning
As a student in the Executive MBA program, you will gain knowledge you can apply at work the next day. The program immerses you in hands-on curriculum and provides you the opportunity to dive deeper into important business topics through:
- Global Residency
- Executive Leadership Development & Coaching
- Group Projects
Personalized Service
Our Executive MBA student services team helps busy executives like you save time and focus on your studies. We take care of all the administrative details, from handling class registration to purchasing textbooks for you and having them ready for you in class. We understand the many demands on your time, and we don’t want the details to stand in your way. Best of all, it’s included with your tuition.
Career Impact
While all Executive MBA students start the program fully employed, they experience significant career advancement as a result of earning this degree. Executive MBA students often receive promotions and new opportunities while they’re still enrolled, as well as after graduation.
St. Thomas Executive MBA
The Executive MBA delivers a comprehensive business curriculum in a collaborative learning environment. Gain the tools, strategies and insights to lead your organization to success without putting your career on hold.
Featured Courses
Executive Leadership Development
This course is a unique executive leadership development workshop held during on-campus sessions that offers personal assessment, development opportunities and executive coaching.
Decision Making for Executives
Complex decisions in an ever-changing environment demand an integration of creative, critical, ethical, rational, strategic and systems thinking. This course explores the impact of psychology, mathematics, statistics and technology on our ability to expand an organizational decision maker’s knowledge base.
Strategic Management
An integrative approach to the formulation and implementation of organizational strategy and policy, this course focuses on organizational performance as it relates to mission, goals and objectives. Students will get practice defining multi-faceted problems and determining their causes; analyzing internal and external environments; reviewing key corporate and business strategies; formulating alternative strategic options; and addressing the challenges of implementation.
Featured Faculty: Christopher Michaelson
Christopher Michaelson is the David A. and Barbara Koch Distinguished Professor of Business Ethics and Social Responsibility at the University of St. Thomas, Opus College of Business. As a scholar and business advisor, he explores how meaning and purpose in life and at work can improve our own and others' lives.
Seeing is Believing
Get in Touch
St. Thomas Opus College of Business is an incredible place to learn, meet inspiring peers and mentors, and build a strong career path. Don't just take our word for it—experience St. Thomas firsthand. Visit a class, attend an info session, or chat with the admissions team.