Online Executive MBA (EMBA)

Class Format

The online, 12-course curriculum is offered as a two-year cohort program beginning in the fall. This allows students in each cohort to begin the program at the same point, move through the curriculum together, and build supportive working relationships in a stimulating online environment. Courses in the EMBA program are sequenced to assure continuity in learning.

All coursework is completed online and each class runs for 12 weeks. For each class, students will have at least one proctored exam which will be taken through ProctorU, an online proctoring service, or in the 365 Learning Office. EMBA students are required to complete their degrees in two years.

Tuition

The 12-course online Executive MBA is competitively priced at $30,000, payable in installments of $5,000 each semester.

Nevada System of Higher Education employees may use Grant-In-Aid benefits for the Executive MBA (EMBA). Please note tuition for the EMBA is priced higher ($2,500 per class) than the standard graduate rate, so the Grant-In-Aid will only cover a portion of the EMBA fees and students will be responsible for paying the difference.

If you would like to use your educational benefits, please speak with your human resources advisor for more details.

Veteran Education Benefits

The Online Executive MBA program is approved for veteran and veteran-related education benefits. The Veteran Services Office at the University of Nevada, Reno is your liaison to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for certification of your veteran and veteran-related education benefits.

Veterans Services provides support for applying for and receiving veteran education benefits. including the following services:

• Submitting forms and information to the Veteran Affairs Education Benefits Office for the student.
• Certifying classes being taken by the student
• Education benefit advising

Due to the structure of the program, the Nevada National Guard Waiver cannot be used toward EMBA classes.

Contact Us

If you have questions about or need assistance with your application please contact Caitlin Rock of Extended Studies 365 Learning at crock@unr.edu or call her at (775)784-1110.

If you have questions about the Online Executive MBA program content, please contact Kambiz Raffiee, Associate Dean and Director of the Program, at raffiee@unr.edu or call (775)682-9142.

EMBA Learning Objectives and Outcomes

• The ability to use evidence-based reasoning to understand, manage, and lead complex organizations.
• Development of skills that facilitate problem solving in a complex and dynamic environment.
• The ability to integrate qualitative and quantitative information into the decision making process.

Online EMBA Curriculum

The online, 12-course curriculum is offered as a two-year cohort program beginning Fall 2016. This allows students in each cohort to begin the program at the same point, move through the curriculum together, and build supportive working relationships in a stimulating online environment. Courses in the EMBA program are sequenced to assure continuity in learning.

All coursework is completed online and each class runs for 12 weeks. For each class, students will have at least one proctored exam which will be taken through ProctorU or in the 365 Learning Office. EMBA students are required to complete their degrees in two years.

Core Courses (21 Credits)

• BADM 700 | Statistics for Decision Making
• BADM 701 | Production/Operations Management
• BADM 710 | Financial Reporting and Analysis
• BADM 720 | Management and Organizational Science
• BADM 730 | Economics of the Firm
• BADM 741 | Financial Management
• BADM 760 | Marketing Management

Breadth Courses (15 Credits)

• BADM 711 | Seminar Managerial Accounting
• BADM 726 | Personal Branding
• BADM 728 | Managing Organizations in a Global Economy
• BADM 750 | Information and Communications Technology in Organizations
• BADM 781 | Strategic Management for Executives 

1. The EMBA program is open to those who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution. Any undergraduate major is acceptable.
2. The applicant must have an overall grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
3. The applicant must have five or more years of professional work experience beyond undergraduate studies.
4. Applicants must submit results for the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Exceptions to this are only granted if the applicant has completed an accredited graduate degree (Master’s, Ph.D.) or professional degree (JD, MD, DVM, etc.).

Applications are currently being reviewed for the fall term only.

Ready to Apply?  See the Application Checklist.

Information for International Applicants

International candidates must have strong English language communication skills, both written and spoken. As an international student, you must submit an acceptable score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

• For TOEFL, you must score 550 or above (paper-based test) or 213 or above (computer-based test) or 79 or above (internet based TOEFL).
• For IELTS, you must have a score of 7 or above.

Students are expected to complete a great deal of reading and writing in the program. A strong command of the English language is critical for success.

The TOEFL is waived for students who have completed degree programs conducted in English in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia or New Zealand.

Kambiz Raffiee, Ph.D., EMBA Director

Kambiz Raffiee is associate dean and director of the online Executive MBA program. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Oregon. His areas of specialization are on the airline industry and economic impact of transportation systems. He has done extensive work involving cost-benefit analysis of air cargo and passenger systems at Reno/Tahoe International Airport, public opinion survey of Reno/Tahoe International Airport and economic linkages of the air transportation systems in Northern Nevada.

He has published more than 60 papers in nationally and internationally refereed journals that include the top-ranked journals in transportation economics. He received the University of Nevada, Reno Foundation Professor award in May 2001 in recognition of his significant contributions in research, teaching and service. He is also the recipient of the Best Researcher of the Year Award in Business Education in 1992 and 1998 from the Nevada Alpha Chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, the highest honor society for collegiate schools of business in the United States.

William L. Kuechler, Jr., Ph.D.

William Kuechler is professor of information systems at the University of Nevada, Reno. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Drexel University, and a Ph.D. in computer information systems from Georgia State University.

His academic career follows a successful industry career in information systems development and consulting. His work experience brings insight to his teaching of both IS management and technical material and brings a wealth of practical background to his research. Kuechler’s two primary research themes are the cognitive bases of IS use, development and education, and design science research in IS. He is on the editorial advisory board for the Journal of Information Systems Education and is an associate editor for the Journal of Information Technology Cases.

Ronald Lembke, Ph.D.

Ron Lembke has taught supply chain management and operations management at the graduate and undergraduate levels at the University of Nevada, Reno since 1995. In addition to operations management, his teaching has focused on courses in quality, inventory management, and production planning. More recently, he has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in sustainability.

He is the author of Going Backwards: Reverse Logistics Trends and Practices with Dr. Dale Rogers. In 2005, he was a visiting professor at the corporate offices of 3M, where he developed models to optimize supply chain inventories and production capacities. Lembke holds a Ph.D. in industrial engineering and management science from Northwestern University, and a bachelor’s degree in math with a concentration in computer science from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.

James McClenahan, MBA

Jim McClenahan is the Director of Corporate Relations and Outreach at the University of Nevada, Reno's College of Business.

He serves as the Treasurer to the Northern Nevada Chamber of Commerce, chair of the Schools to Careers committee for Washoe County and on the advisory board for St. Albert the Great Catholic Church. He completed his MBA at the University of Nevada, Reno in 2006.

Robert Miller, MPA

Rob Miller is currently the Budget and Personnel Director for the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno. He received his Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Kansas in 2009 and is currently working on his PhD. in Higher Education Administration at the University of Nevada, Reno. Rob has 10 years of private sector management and finance experience in retail management, banking, and mortgage services. In the public sector, Rob has worked for the City of Bonner Springs, KS as the Assistant to the City Manager and as the Senior Management Analyst for the Office of Management and Budget at the City of Reno before coming to the University of Nevada, Reno in 2013.

Sonja Pippin, Ph.D., CPA

Sonja Pippin is an associate professor in accounting and the director of the Master in Accountancy Program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Pippin received her Ph.D. from Texas Tech University and joined the faculty at the University of Nevada, Reno in 2006. She has published in a number of academic and practitioner-oriented journals including Behavioral Research in Accounting, the Journal of the American Taxation Association, the Journal of Legal Tax Research, the Journal of Accountancy, and the CPA Journal.

Pippin’s research interests are in the area of taxes and taxpayer behavior in the context of proposed and actual changes in tax legislation. She has also examined the impact of technology on the accounting profession (especially in the tax context) and compared tax legislation and tax systems in a global context.

Bret L. Simmons, Ph.D.

Bret Simmons is associate professor of management in the College of Business where he teaches courses in organizational behavior, leadership, and personal branding to both undergraduate and MBA students.

Simmons earned a master’s degree in international management from Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington, and a Ph.D. in business administration/management from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. Simmons blogs about leadership, followership, and social business and teaches organizational behavior, management and organization science, international management and entrepreneurial psychology at the University.

Yvonne Stedham, Ph.D.

Yvonne Stedham is professor of management, a 2010 University of Nevada, Reno foundation professor, and co-director of the Center for Corporate Governance and Business Ethics in the College of Business. She received a Ph.D. in business and an MBA from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas and undergraduate degrees in economics and business from the Rheinische Friedrich Wilhelms University, Bonn, Germany. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in international management and human resource management at the University of Nevada, Reno and the School of Management in Ingolstadt, Germany.

Her research focuses on cross-cultural aspects of management and business ethics. Stedham serves on the State Council for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as well as on the Nevada World Trade Council (NEWTRAC). She provides consulting and training services to many companies, locally, nationally, and internationally.

James A. Sundali, Ph.D.

James Sundali is associate professor of strategic management. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona and his MBA and bachelor’s degree in economics from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He has been at the University of Nevada, Reno since 1997 and has taught strategic management, corporate finance, game theory, bargaining and negotiation, individual choice behavior, organizations and the natural environment, the psychology of gaming, and managerial and leadership insights from film and literature.

In 2006 he was awarded the B.J. Fuller Excellence in Teaching Award and in 2008 the Graduate Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. In the last few years he has been involved in teaching abroad with classes in London, New York City, and Bilbao, Spain. His research is focused on experimental economics, behavioral game theory, behavioral finance, and individual choice behavior.

Arun Upadhyay, Ph.D.

Dr. Arun Upadhyay teaches finance courses in the College of Business at University of Nevada Reno. His primary teaching area is corporate finance. Before moving to academic world, Dr. Upadhyay worked for several years with a commercial bank in the area of credit analysis and international banking. He received Ph.D. in finance from Temple University. Prior to moving to University of Reno, he worked at University of Alaska Anchorage where he was awarded College of Business and Public Policy Best Teacher award. Dr. Upadhyay also served on the Investment Advisory Commission of Municipality of Anchorage.

Dr. Upadhyay’s research focuses on corporate governance issues. He studies corporate leadership structure and executive compensation. He has published articles on board structure in high quality finance journals such as Financial Management, Journal of Corporate Finance and Journal of Business Finance and Accounting. His work has been presented at various national and international conferences.

Jeffrey Wong, Ph.D. CPA

Jeffrey Wong is a professor and department chair of accounting in the College of Business. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Oregon. His research interests focus on understanding how a firm's strategic decisions and actions ultimately map to financial results. Professor Wong's work has been published in a number of journals including Journal of Management Information Systems, Journal of the American Taxation Association, Behavioral Research in Accounting, and Database.

College of Business ranks for online graduate program

The University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Business received recognition this week from U.S. News & World Report as offering a top online graduate program in the country. The full article can be read on Nevada Today.

Congratulations to our own EMBA student Danny DeLaRosa for being honored at Reno-Tahoe’s 2015 annual Twenty Under 40 awards!

Online Course Report’s 50 Best Online MBA Programs in America

The Executive MBA ranked #35 in Online Course Report’s 50 Best Online MBA Programs in America. See the full article here.

Princeton Review Ranks University’s Executive MBA Program in the Top 25

The University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Business Online Executive Masters of Business Administration has been named one of the “Top 25 Online MBA Programs for 2015” by the Princeton Review. The full article can be read on Nevada Today.

College of Business & College of Education ranked top online graduate programs

The University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Business and the College of Education received recognition this week from US News & World Report as offering some of the top online graduate programs in the country. Read more about rankings.

2014 EMBA Cohort Graduates

Congratulations to the class of 2014! Read more about the Executive MBA graduation ceremony in the University’s online publication, Nevada Today.

More pictures from the Executive MBA graduation ceremony

Graduate Students Win at Tri-State Governor’s Cup

Dragonfly Energy, a graduate entrepreneurship team from the University of Nevada, Reno, won first place and $30,000 in the graduate-level competition of the annual Donald W. Reynolds Tri-State Governor’s Cup held in Las Vegas, May 23. Read more about the competition.

Pictured Mechanical Engineering Doctoral student Justin Ferranto, EMBA students Denis Phares and Sean Nichols and faculty advisor Matt Westfield.

EMBA Student’s Team Places 2nd in The Nevada Governor’s Cup

The Donald W. Reynolds Nevada Governor’s Cup business plan competition encourages Nevada university students to act on their talents and ideas. Two EMBA students in the 2012 Cohort did just that. Denis Phares and Sean Nichols worked with team member Justin Ferranto (working toward a Ph.D. in Engineering, UNR) and advisor, Matt Westfield, to create Dragonfly Energy, a Reno-based lithium ion battery technology company. Their business plan earned them 2^nd place in this prestigious event. For more information on the competition, visit the Nevada Governor’s Cup website.

Pictured left to right: Sean Nichols (COO), Denis Phares (President and CEO), and teammate Justin Ferranto (VP of Engineering).

First Online EMBA cohort graduates!

The first cohort of EMBA students graduated on Saturday, August 24, 2013. The first graduating cohort of 13 students received their EMBA degrees and walked away with a new appreciated for the online learning environment. Read more about the first graduating class.

In the news: UNR’s Online EMBA ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 Best Online Education Programs

The College of Business saw its online Executive MBA, offered in partnership with Extended Studies, ranked in the top 100 “Best Online Graduate Business Programs” recently released by U.S. News & World Report as part of its “2014 Best Online Education Programs” report. See the full ranking list and methodology on the US News and World Report website.

Online EMBA program is named one of GetEducated.com’s “Best Buys”

GetEducated.com, a consumer group dedicated to assisting students in comparing and rating accredited online degree programs, colleges and universities, has named three University of Nevada, Reno online degree programs as “Best Buys”: the Executive MBA and two master’s degree programs in education. The full article can be read on Nevada Today.

Veteran Education Benefits

The Online Executive MBA program is approved for veteran and veteran-related education benefits. The Veteran Services Office at the University of Nevada, Reno is your liaison to the US Department of Veterans Affairs for certification of your veteran and veteran-related education benefits.

Veterans Services provides support for applying for and receiving veteran education benefits, including the following services:

• Submitting forms and information to the Veteran Affairs Education Benefits Office for the student.
• Certifying classes being taken by the student
• Education benefit advising

The University of Nevada, Reno’s MBA Program Makes Princeton Review’s “Best” List for the Fourth Time!

For the fourth year in a row, The Princeton Review has recognized the excellence of the University of Nevada, Reno College of Business in its Best Business Schools guidebook, based on the quality of its MBA Program. Read more about the selection of the MBA program for this prestigious list.

“Being included in The Princeton Review’s Best Business Schools book again this year is very rewarding,” stated Kambiz Raffiee, director of the MBA Program and associate dean of the College of Business. “It is especially gratifying to see that we have scored even higher this year, evidence that our faculty members are not content to rest on our laurels. They work hard to make the program better each year.”

AACSB Accreditation

The University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the most respected business program accreditation entity. To learn more about the College of Business, please visit the website.

NWCCU Accreditation

The University of Nevada, Reno is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. NWCCU is an independent, non-profit membership organization recognized by the US Department of Education as the regional authority on educational quality and institutional effectiveness of higher education institutions in the seven-state Northwest region of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. More information on the University’s accreditation can be found on their website.

For more news and information, please visit the EMBA blog.

Can the GMAT or GRE requirement be waived based on years of work experience?

No, the GMAT/GRE requirement cannot be waived based on work experience.  However, exceptions can be made if the applicant has completed an accredited graduate degree (Master’s, Ph.D.) or professional degree (JD, MD, DVM, etc.).

Does the Admissions Committee require a minimum score on the GMAT or GRE?

While the Admissions Committee does not require a minimum score on the GMAT or the GRE, it is suggested that applicants receive scores at or above the national averages. Currently, the GMAT national average is a 544 total score. The GRE average is a 151 on the quantitative section, and a 151 on the verbal section.

If I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, do I still need to request my transcript?

In many cases, the Graduate School does have access to transcripts from the University of Nevada, Reno. However, if there are courses currently in progress at the time the application is submitted or an applicant attended here many years ago, the applicant would be responsible for requesting a final official transcript. If there are specific questions regarding this, please contact Caitlin Rock.

What is the difference between an Executive MBA and a traditional MBA program?

The EMBA and MBA are similar in many ways—both include coursework in statistics, strategic management, marketing and finance. An EMBA is designed specifically for business professionals and executives who want to accelerate their education while continuing to work full time. The online program structure offered by the University of Nevada, Reno makes a graduate education in business accessible to more students and allows professionals to earn a degree they may not be able to pursue otherwise due to work and personal obligations.

How much time will I need to spend on assignments each week?

The EMBA is a rigorous two-year degree program that requires a significant time commitment. While individual study habits may vary, plan to spend at least 15–20 hours each week on course assignments, discussions, and research.

How does the cohort structure work?

Students in each cohort begin the program at the same point, move through the curriculum together, and build supportive working relationships in a stimulating online environment. Courses in the EMBA program are sequenced to assure continuity in learning. EMBA students are required to complete their degrees in two years. Most students continue to work full-time while enrolled in the program.

What are the program’s technology requirements?

Given the importance of information technology in delivery of courses online, successful applicants should:

• Be proficient in operating in a conversant online environment. Be willing to create a professionally personal online brand with Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and a Wordpress blog for a 12 week course at the end of the program.
• Have access to computer technologies that will allow interaction with others online (e.g., webcam and microphone)
• Be proficient with MS Excel, PowerPoint, and other MS Office or related business productivity software packages

Are EMBA course exams online?

Students will have at least one proctored exam for each class in the program. These exams are proctored online through ProctorU. Students are supervised by webcam and will need to provide two forms of government-issued picture IDs to confirm identity. Testing in the 365 Learning Office is also available.

Who typically enrolls in an EMBA program?

Students in the EMBA program are working professionals who seek a graduate-level business degree to enhance their careers. Most students continue working full time while enrolled in the program and are employed in mid-to upper-level management positions or are business owners.

Is an EMBA a recognized credential?

The program builds on the awarding-winning University of Nevada, Reno part-time MBA program, ranked as one of the top programs in the United States by BusinessWeek, the country’s most prestigious source for ranking of business schools. All programs offered by the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the highest level of accreditation attainable in business education.

How will an EMBA impact my career?

Graduates of the EMBA program will gain knowledge and skills to:

• Lead organizations
• Tackle new and unfamiliar circumstances through a conceptual understanding of relevant disciplines
• Adapt and innovate to cope with unforeseen events
• Manage in unpredictable business environments

With a blend of theory and practice that integrates professional experiences with a graduate-level academic management curriculum, the EMBA program provides a general management emphasis suited to the needs of mid-career executives and experienced professionals. The program familiarizes students with cutting-edge issues of business disciplines for managerial decision making, and crystallizes the philosophy and capabilities of experienced professionals, fostering professional growth.

Will the degree state that it was completed online?

The diploma will read "Executive Master of Business Administration" and will not indicate that the degree was completed online.