Executive Master or Master of Advanced Studies 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, 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 per month for the period of two or three years. 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.
Executive Master of Science in Communication 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. Courses: Typically, one third of the program will cover general management topics. 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 and ESADE Business School offers a conjoint Executive master's degree in Marketing & Sales. Executive Master in Marketing & Sales 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 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 with Health Systems Concentration; Master of Science in Systems Science with Health Systems Concentration. An engineering background is required for conferral of the ISE degree, while the SS degree is open to all academic majors.
Admission
Applicants for an executive master program typically must have: Admission requirements may slightly differ from country to country. Some universities or private institutions may require GMAT, GRE or other standardized mathematical test scores.
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. 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.
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 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. In Belgium, IHECS in Brussels offers three Executive Masters courses, notably in Digital Communication, Event Management and Public affairs and European Communication. The Rotterdam School of Management offers Master of Corporate Communication and an Executive MBA 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.
