The Krannert Executive Education Programs at Purdue University emerged as a trendsetter in executive education in 1983, establishing a standard of excellence and innovation for executives around the world. The Executive Master's Program-initially known as the EMS (Executive Master of Science in Management) Program-was developed specifically for mid-level managers and managers-to-be who are unable to attend classes on a full-time basis to get their master's degree in business. It was, and continues to be, a creative alternative to traditional Executive MBA programs.
Designed to attract students from all over the U.S., the EMS Program was the first of its kind in its use of electronic communication by email to allow students to stay in contact with each other and with the faculty during off-campus periods. Now, nearly 20 years later, the program has moved to a more sophisticated and comprehensive electronic network, including Internet access, with computer-based applications to assist in solving business problems, thereby enhancing the learning experience both off and on campus.
Under the dedicated Krannert leadership, the program offerings have moved from a relatively small enrollment in a single section to multiple programs with global dimensions. The programs draw participants from corporations like United Technologies, Ingersoll-Rand, Boeing, John Deere, and GE, among many others, from around the world. The programs are nationally recognized by The Wall Street Journal, Business Week and U.S. News and World Report, ranked among the top 20 executive MBA programs in the country. At present, the Krannert School offers five distinctive executive degree programs, all accredited by the AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business:
The Executive Master's in Business Administration Program (EMBA): This program is the successor to the EMS Program, now that the Krannert School has changed the degree designation to an MBA for all its master's programs in business. Unlike conventional MBA programs, the EMBA program has a schedule which makes it possible for participants to be drawn from a wide geographical area. There are six two-week residencies spread across 22 months, from orientation to graduation, coupled with Internet-supported off-campus assignments between residencies. This design allows EMB participants to meet their educational goals while simultaneously fulfilling their ongoing job responsibilities. It attracts both a national and international student population, providing a diverse learning environment.
The program begins each July with an orientation session where the participants are introduced to the coursework, the instructors, and the Purdue information technology system. The courses in the program have an applied policy-making orientation and make extensive use of cases and other experiential material. Computer-based analysis is a key component of most courses. Students enter together, take the same set of courses together, and graduate together in this cohort program. To heighten the learning experience, the last residency is an international trip with class sessions, plant visits, and speakers from government agencies and multinational firms. Both Asia and Europe have been the sites of recent trips. Upon completion of the program, the Master of Business Administration degree is awarded.
The International Master's in Management Program (IMM): This program, begun in 1991, was modeled after the EMB Program, following the same format of two-week residencies combined with off-campus work. It has its roots in Rouen, France, when the Krannert School formed an alliance with the Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Rouen (ESC Rouen), a leading French business school. Again, Purdue blazed a trail, being the first MBA program in the U.S. to form a degree-granting partnership with a foreign business school. Over the years the IMM program has evolved into a collaborative effort of four of the world's top universities: Purdue University in the United States; Tilburg University in the Netherlands;CEU Business School in Budapest, Hungary; and the GISMA Business School in Hannover, Germany.
The program is structured much the same as the EMB Program, with six two-week residencies spread over roughly a two-year period. The residencies rotate among the campuses of the four collaborating institutions. The program provides an especially rich multicultural learning experience, with participants drawn not only from North America and Europe but also from Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. Both the Purdue MBA and an MBA from one of the three European schools, at the student's election, are awarded upon graduation from the program. All instruction in the program is in English.
The Weekend Master's in Business Administration Program (WKND): In the spirit of service specifically to the State of Indiana, the program began in 1995, offering an opportunity for professionals coming primarily from the Mid-North and Central regions of Indiana to earn an MBA without career interruption. The curriculum follows that of the EMB Program, but the Weekend MBA spans a three-year period, with classes held entirely on Saturdays during Purdue's fall and spring semesters. Over the three years, there are 78 days of classes, each consisting of six hours of instruction. The Weekend MBA is also a cohort program. A new class begins every January. The next class enters in January 2008.
