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If you鈥檙e just beginning your MBA research, you will no doubt come across different MBA program formats to choose from, such as full-time, part-time, or executive MBA. Chicago Booth offers four different MBA formats: the Full-Time MBA Program in Chicago at our Hyde Park campus, the Evening and Weekend MBA Programs at the Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago, and the Sokolov Executive MBA Program at our campuses in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong. In this blog, we鈥檒l go over the key differences between the various programs.

How is an Executive MBA Program different from other MBA programs?

The key differences between an Executive MBA Program and a Full-Time, Evening, or Weekend MBA Program involve timing, location, and career profiles. Executive MBA students are typically further along in their careers and continue to work while enrolled; Full-Time and Part-Time MBA students generally have fewer years of professional experience, and while Evening and Weekend MBA students continue to work as they earn their degree, Full-Time MBA students take a two-year break from their jobs during their studies.

Chicago Booth鈥檚 Sokolov EMBA Program is a 21-month part-time program that allows students to participate in classes while remaining in their jobs. It is a global program offered across our campuses in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong. Students select one campus as their 鈥渉ome campus鈥� where they will commute to throughout their study. Sokolov EMBA students also spend time at each of the three global campuses during the course of the program. Typically, EMBA students are senior professionals with eight to 21 years of work experience.

In the Full-Time MBA Program, students take a career break for two years and live in Chicago for their MBA experience. The program lasts 21 months with a summer internship midway through. In addition to their studies on campus, students have opportunities for international travel and can even study abroad for a quarter. Some students expand the scope of their education by doing a joint or dual degree with the University of Chicago鈥檚 other graduate programs. Full-Time MBA students are usually earlier in their career with three to eight years of experience.

The Evening and Weekend MBA program is designed for students who want to continue working full time while going to class. The Evening MBA typically appeals to Chicago-area residents who are interested in weeknight classes, while the Weekend MBA Program meets on Saturdays and attracts students from across the country. Based in our downtown Chicago campus, both programs can be completed in 2.5 to three years.

Is there a difference in the MBA curriculum or degree qualification between the various programs?

If you're wondering whether an executive MBA degree is equivalent to a full-time MBA degree then the answer is yes! At Chicago Booth, we offer one MBA degree with the same world-class faculty, the same rigorous courses, and the same powerful, global network.

There are some differences in how the courses are delivered. In the Sokolov EMBA Program, students follow a lockstep general management curriculum, taking the same classes at the same time. They also travel across campuses for international session weeks and electives course weeks. The intense amount of time spent with a local campus cohort and global classmates leads to a tight-knit student community.

The Full-Time and Part-Time MBA Programs offer a unique flexible curriculum where students can design their own course of study. The ability to select your classes and when you take them allows students to build directly on their existing knowledge and skill sets to achieve their specific goals.

All programs cover the same core courses including LEAD, an experiential leadership development program that helps students gain leadership skills to enhance their interpersonal effectiveness.

A common thread that runs through all Chicago Booth MBA programs, irrespective of the MBA format, is the Chicago Approach鈩�. This approach to business education provides an evidence-based framework rooted in the fundamental scientific disciplines at the heart of business鈥攅conomics, accounting, psychology, sociology, and statistics鈥攚hich allows students to define problems, ask better questions, and develop better solutions. This unique and powerful problem-solving methodology is shared by all of our MBA students.

Learn More about MBA Programs at Chicago Booth