Program Format

Our Faculty

All Fuqua degree programs are taught by the same world-renowned faculty, who are recognized for excellence in both teaching and research. While our faculty are known for their accessibility across degree programs, the Global Executive format fosters an even closer relationship. Traveling and living together for international residencies, you’ll interact with your professors both in and out of the classroom. And since your distance learning platform is always on, your faculty are monitoring class bulletin board discussions and responding to emails continuously.

Classroom Dynamics

Your classmates will bring real-time expertise to class discussions. While extensive reading assignments get you ready, debate and analysis—both in the classroom and on your learning platform—is how you’ll learn. The case-based curriculum is academically rigorous, and faculty keep you on your toes with random "cold calls" as you work through the material.

Experiential Learning

You’ll go out into the field to gather real-world data points. The Global Executive MBA curriculum includes a range of non-traditional assignments—like interviewing locals—that get you out of your comfort zone. You’ll observe operations and meet with managers in company visits, developing insights on different industries. Senior leaders engage with your class in each country, providing perspective on that region’s political economy. These experiences enrich classroom discussion while giving you a real-world sense of the concepts you learn.

Over six terms you’ll cover 17 courses: 10 in the core curriculum, three multi-term courses on dynamics in global business, and four electives. Although locations and timing may shift between calendar years, the typical Global Executive structure looks like this:

Term 1 (Durham)

• Distance Period (3 weeks)
• Orientation & Residency (2 weeks)
• Break (2 days)
• Distance Period (6 weeks)

Term 2 (Santiago)

• Distance Period (2 weeks)
• Residency (8 days)
• Break (8 days)
• Distance Period (3 weeks)
• Break (11 days)

Term 3 (Shanghai)

• Distance Period (2 weeks)
• Residency & Team Changeover (9 days)
• Break (7 days)
• Distance Period (6 weeks)
• Break (4 days)

Term 4 (New Delhi)

• Distance Period (2 weeks)
• Residency (8 days)
• Break (7 days)
• Distance Period (7 weeks)
• Break (4 days)

Term 5 (Berlin)

• Distance Period (2 weeks)
• Residency (8 days)
• Break (1 day)
• Distance Period (7 weeks)
• Break (9 days)

Electives Term 6 (Durham)

• Distance Period (3 weeks)
• Residency (2 weeks)
• Break (2 days)
• Distance Period (10 weeks)

Optional Term 7

• Optional Concentration or Certification (12 weeks) 

Residencies

In the Global Executive format, you travel to meet classmates and professors in cities that become your campus for the week. Four of your residencies will be in cities selected to provide wide exposure to the global economy, while two residencies take place on Fuqua’s campus in Durham, North Carolina. Locations may vary based on travel restrictions, but the typical pattern looks like this:

• Durham, NC 
• Santiago, Chile 
• Shanghai, China 
• New Delhi, India 
• Berlin, Germany 
• Durham, NC

Condensed into a short window, residency is the time you immerse fully in your program:

• Attending classes
• Visiting companies
• Engaging in cultural activities
• Participating in career development workshops
• Interacting with alumni
• Working on assignments
• Socializing with classmates
• Meeting face-to-face with your team

Distance Learning

Between residencies, you’ll be in a distance learning period. During this part of the term, you attend weekly virtual classes with your faculty and continue working on team assignments remotely. Distance learning periods provide more flexibility to balance program requirements around the needs of your job and family. While you should expect to spend at least 20 hours a week on schoolwork during this time, you can schedule these tasks around work and personal commitments.

Throughout the program you’ll use your distance learning platform to:

• Submit assignments
• Download course materials
• Chat with classmates
• Read class and team bulletin boards
• Take exams
• Contribute to course discussion boards
• Share documents
• Call your teammates

* Arrival day — lodging covered by program.
** Departure day from residency — no programming scheduled.