Program Format

Our Faculty

All Fuqua degree programs are taught by the same world-renowned faculty, scholars recognized for their excellence in both teaching and research. They include New York Times best-selling authors, journal editors, policy advisors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders in every business discipline. Your professors will challenge you with concepts you can apply immediately in your role, and perhaps continue discussions over coffee or lunch.

Classroom Dynamics

While extensive reading assignments get you ready, debate and analysis is how you’ll learn. Faculty expect you’ll play an active part as classmates from different industries and functions offer real-time insight on the material. Our case-based curriculum is academically rigorous and tackles problems from multiple perspectives, giving you practice in analyzing business decisions with incomplete data. Be prepared to weigh in and to move through topics quickly.

Experiential Learning

Outside the classroom, speaker events and workshops give you an insider view across a range of industries. Whether it’s a four-star general sharing his experience leading the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, an alumni panel discussing trends in the health care industry, or the head of a sports marketing agency describing her career pivot—you’ll gain insights that expand your understanding of the academic material.

Over six terms you’ll cover 18 courses: ten in the core curriculum, four focused on leadership and personal skill development, and four electives. Although timing may vary by calendar year, the typical Weekend Executive structure looks like this:

Term 1

• Distance Period (3 weeks)
• Orientation Residency (7 days)
• Five weekends alternating with 2 weeks of distance: two sessions are 3-day residencies on campus, and three are 1-day (Saturday) hybrid classes
• Finals by distance (10 days)
• Break (6 days)

Terms 2–4

• Distance Period (2 weeks)
• Six weekends alternating with 2 weeks of distance: three sessions are 3-day residencies on campus, and three are 1-day (Saturday) hybrid classes
• Finals by distance (10 days)
• Break (9 days)

TermS 5 - 6 Electives

• Distance Period (2 weeks)
• Residency (2 - 1 week sessions)
• Distance Period (6 weeks following each 1 week residency)

Residencies in Durham

From Friday morning to Sunday afternoon, each month's residency is an intensive learning experience. You’ll also have two longer residencies during your program: 1 week for orientation, and 2 one-week residencies for the elective term. During residency you’ll go to class, work with your team, participate in career resource sessions, meet with your leadership coach, attend guest speaker events and engage with alumni panels.

Learning—and living—with a cohort of experienced professionals helps you forge connections that will last a lifetime.  The program provides your accommodations starting Thursday night to make sure you’re ready for Friday morning classes, and you’ll find even local residents live on campus for residencies.

You’ll stay at the four-star JB Duke Hotel and your meals are included, beginning with Friday breakfast and ending with Sunday lunch. On Friday evenings you might join faculty, staff, and students in other programs for “Fuqua Friday,” a catered social event for the community. Sunday classes end at 1:00pm, when you'll travel home.

Hybrid Saturdays

During each term your in-person residencies alternate with distance weekends, where you’ll join your class either in person or remotely for sessions that start Saturday at 11:00am EST and end by 5:00pm. Faculty lead these course discussions from classrooms using technology that integrates in-person and virtual participation. While the program will not provide lodging for Hybrid Saturdays, each term you’ll have the option to decide whether you want to attend hybrid classes remotely or in person.

Distance Learning

Distance learning periods follow each residency, offering flexibility in scheduling and managing coursework, team projects, and other deliverables. Most distance periods range from 2-4 weeks in length, while each of the one week residencies in Term 5 will be followed by 6 weeks of distance learning in a format that includes weekly online classes.

Print Calendar

2021-2023 Weekend Executive MBA Academic Calendar

* Arrival day, lodging covered by program — no programming scheduled.
** Departure day from residency — no programming scheduled.
Classes for standard residency weekends begin on Friday at 8:00am and end on Sunday at 1:00pm.
Pre-Residency Session: Students attend virtually from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

Hybrid Weekend Saturday: Students have the option to attend virtually or in person. No lodging provided. Students decide on a term-by-term basis, not week-to-week, whether they will attend in person. Classes will begin on Hybrid Weekends at 11:00 am ET and end by 5:00 pm.
*** Global Academic Travel Experience (GATE) - This is an optional course that is a blend of in-class and in-country experiences. The in-country experience will occur between Terms 3 and 4, with required class sessions prior to departure. Additional fees apply.
**** May 2023 Graduation dates have not yet been announced by the University; dates provided are anticipated based on historical experience