Academics

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“UCLA Anderson EMBA has developed a program and schedule offering that makes it possible for me to have an enriching MBA experience and balance my demanding career. The monthly schedule empowers me to stay connected with my classmates and the Anderson community. I love that I’m being challenged with the same academic rigor as any other Anderson MBA student; the educational experience has not been eroded by an abbreviated on-campus schedule.”

Therese Banks (’19)
Vice President and General Manager of US Small Merchant Client Management, American Express

Standard Program of Study

 
Program Length: 22-months
Total Minimum Academic Units: 68 = 44 Core Courses + 8 Capstone Thesis + 16 Elective Courses*
*Option to take beyond 16 Elective Units
Year of Study Summer Fall Winter Spring
YEAR July–August September–December January–March April–June
1st
Opening Residential
Leadership Foundations: Foundations of Inclusive Leadership (Part I)
Leadership Foundations: Foundations of Inclusive Leadership (Part II)
-
Data Analysis & Management Decisions
-
Economic Analysis for Managers
Leadership Foundations: Foundations of Ethical Decision Making (Part I)
-
Marketing Management
-
Organizational Behavior
-
Electives Offered*
Leadership Foundations: Foundations of Ethical Decision Making (Part II)
-
Financial Policy for Managers
-
Financial Accounting
-
Electives Offered*
2nd
International Business Residential
-
Weekend Hybrid Elective
-
August Elective One Week Block
Leadership Foundations: Transformative Leadership (Part I)
-
Operations & Technology Management
-
Competitive Strategy & Business Policy
-
Electives Offered*
Leadership Foundations: Transformative Leadership (Part II)
-
Capstone Project:
Strategic Management Research (SMR)
OR
Business Creation Program (BCP)
-
Global Economics and Business Cycles
-
Electives Offered*
Leadership Foundations: Transformative Leadership (Part III)
-
Capstone Project:
Strategic Management Research (SMR)
OR
Business Creation Program (BCP)
-
Electives Offered*

1st YEAR

Fall

September – December
  Leadership Foundations I
-
Data Analysis & Management Decisions
-
Economic Analysis for Managers

Winter

January – March
  Leadership Foundation II (Launch)
-
Marketing Management
-
Organizational Behavior
-
Foundations of Ethical Decision Making (Part 1)
-
Electives Offered*

Spring

April – June
  Leadership Foundations II (Conclusion)
-
Financial Policy for Managers
-
Financial Accounting
-
Foundations of Ethical Decision Making (Part 2)
-
Electives Offered*

Summer

June – September
  International Business Residential
-
Hybrid Elective
-
August Elective Block Courses*td>

2nd YEAR

Fall

September – December
  Leadership Foundation III (Launch)
-
Operations & Technology Management
-
Competitive Strategy & Business Policy
-
Electives Offered*

Winter

January – March
  Leadership Foundation III (Continues)
-
Capstone Project:
Strategic Management Research (SMR)
OR
Business Creation Project (BCP)
-
Global Economics and Business Cycles (remote)
-
Electives Offered*

Spring

April – June
  Leadership Foundation III (Conclusion)
-
Capstone Project:
Strategic Management Research (SMR)
OR
Business Creation Project (BCP)
-
Electives Offered*

*Electives typically take place once a month on Sundays of class weekends.

Course Descriptions

1st Year Course Descriptions

Leadership Foundations

Designed to enhance student knowledge of, and competency in, leadership. Thus, the course has both conceptual and skill development objectives. The conceptual framework for the course is grounded in principles of individual, group, and organizational behavior.

Data Analysis & Management Decisions

Studies statistical model building with emphasis on managerial interpretation of statistical summary data. The course also covers classic statistics through multiple regression analysis to support subsequent courses in finance and marketing.

Economic Analysis for Managers

Focuses on analyzing the functioning of markets, the economic behavior of firms and other economic agents and their economic/managerial implications through a selected set of topics that are motivated by real-world observations of business operations. Topics to be covered include fundamental market forces, consumer and firm behavior under various market structures, sophisticated pricing strategies with market power, decision-makings under uncertainty/risk/information asymmetry, strategic interactions in game-theoretic situations and a variety of behavioral insights.

Marketing Management

To encourage strategic thinking about marketing, this module integrates theory and practice from the core disciplines of Marketing Strategy, Cross‐Cultural Consumer Behavior, Brand Management, Digital and Social Media Marketing and Analytics and Business Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Organizational Behavior

Introduction to organizational behavior for executives, including but not limited to optimal decision making, fostering motivation, and other topics on psychology of leadership. Lecture, discussion and experiential applications of course concepts.

Financial Accounting

Familiarizes the manager with functions of accounting by focusing on the use of external financial reports for evaluating corporate performance and use of accounting information for internal planning and control.

Foundations of Ethical Decision Making

Provides practical tools to help students navigate difficult decisions that leaders routinely face. Study adopts behavioral science approach to understanding ethical behavior in order to examine why good people sometimes do bad things.

2nd Year Course Descriptions

Leadership Foundations III Further exploration of leadership strengths and weaknesses, with emphasis on individual leadership and organizational change. Readings, cases, decision simulations, peer coaching and discussions.
Operations & Technology Management Analysis of strategic and operating policies and decisions for systems that produce goods and services. Examination of role of comprehensive planning, inventories, scheduling of resources, distribution systems and system location. Comprehensive operating problems.
Competitive Strategy & Business Policy  Study of general management task of forging a corporate competitive strategy. Emphasis on economics of business rivalry within a variety of industrial settings and implications of changing environments on business strategy. 
Capstone Project Option: Strategic Management Research (SMR) Preparation of strategic overview of selected company entailing collection and analysis of primary and secondary data, including (but not limited to) interviews of corporate executives, corporate financial and marketing data, industry reports and customer and competitor interviews and/or surveys.
Capstone Project Option: Business Creation Program (BCP) Work alongside a team of classmates and an advisor to transform an idea from a business plan to a functional startup organization.
Global Economics & Business Cycles Comprehensive introduction to macroeconomics, with focus on real-world applications and implications. Provides students—as future decision-makers in business world—with framework through which to analyze domestic and global macroeconomic fluctuations and trends that impact business environment.
Leadership Communication (Elective) The purpose of this course is to help improve your management communication skills, primarily in the areas of presenting and communicative persuasion.
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Capstone Thesis Project Options
 

Build Your Skillset with EMBA Electives 

 
As an EMBA student, you have the flexibility to select electives that align with your professional goals. If you wish to concentrate on a specific area, we also provide specializations. Additionally, EMBA alumni have the opportunity to audit elective courses at a significant discount. Below are the electives typically offered on EMBA class weekends and during the summer. Elective courses are subject to change. 

UCLA Anderson Faculty: Cutting–Edge Research

 
Each year, our faculty members publish papers in leading scholarly journals, receive recognition for research excellence, provide leadership in and beyond UCLA, and serve as inspirational teachers and mentors. Read their work below.

Listen in on Our Faculty’s Conversations About Current Subjects

 
Our podcast focused on Anderson’s thought leaders, How the World Works, makes interesting — sometimes complex — subjects instantly accessible

Leadership Coaching and Observation

 
Students grow their skills and acumen via academic insights, personal reflections and coaching conversations that promote accountability. Students will see themselves develop into better leaders over the course of the program, and this valuable coaching comes included in the MBA experience.

Our One-On-One Leadership Coaching Model:

  • Each MBA student develops a leadership practice plan in their first week.
  • Students begin monthly coaching designed to advance, iterate and track progress on their plan.
    Monthly written deliverables and in-person conversations track progress.
  • All coaching sessions focus on building the capabilities of the Transformative Leader

Our Commitment: You’ll Become a Transformative Leader

 
The Transformative Leader is defined by the balance of hard and soft skills that are necessary to thrive in the most successful, forward-thinking organizations.

They solve complex business problems through these capabilities on the left...

...And catalyze action in organizations, teams and individuals through these capabilities on the right

How you’ll get there:

 

100%

MBA courses designed to build these key capabilities in you

1:1

Monthly leadership coaching, throughout your MBA experience

70+

Extracurricular opportunities including clubs, centers and conferences

Solves complex business problems in a transforming industry landscape

flywheel
flywheel

Catalyzes action by organizations, teams and individuals