Executive MBA: Letter from the Assistant Dean
Deciding when and if to enroll in an MBA program is a very big decision. When you add a family, demanding job, travel requirements and a challenging economic environment, the decision becomes even more onerous. “What kind of return on my investment in time and effort and money can I expect”, “How long will it take to get my investment back” are questions to be asked. The purpose of this letter is to identify the key criteria candidates think about in making the decision to apply to an Executive MBA program and to provide you with the advantages of the Cox program.
People choose to return for an MBA for one primary reason: change. That change can be in position, function, organization, industry, or geography. They choose MBA programs based on the following criteria: Reputation, Quality of Faculty, Program Format, Quality of Classmates, Location, Curriculum, and Rankings.
The SMU Cox Executive MBA Program began in 1976 and was recently ranked #7 in the world by BusinessWeek. The format of alternating Fridays and Saturdays allows for weekday travel and most of the classes are recorded for downloading if students miss or want to review class material. The average experience level of the student is 15 years, which allows for both breadth and depth of classroom discussion. TThe curriculum has a general management focus and all students take the same courses including a global studies trip.
The Cox program is one of the largest programs in the world with an average enrollment of 80 - 90 (two sections of 40 - 45). Professors chosen to teach in the program are international thought leaders and many have thriving consulting practices that help drive discussion with students in the classroom. The Executive MBA Program is housed in the James M. Collins Executive Center in Dallas, Texas one of the leading business centers in the world.
Additional resources offered to Executive MBA students include: The Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, Cox Mentor Board, Career Management Center, Business Leadership Center and Business Information Center.
The best way to determine if an MBA is the right decision for you at this juncture of your career is to email your resume to Delania Teems, Program Coordinator of the Cox Executive MBA Program. She will schedule a short phone visit to help you determine the next step, if any. If you decide to move forward, a visit to a class is the best way to observe the quality of students, faculty, classroom setting and program culture.
Thank you for your interest in the SMU Cox Executive MBA Program,
Tom Perkowski
Assistant Dean of the Executive MBA Program