Wharton’s Executive MBA students juggle demanding careers, families, and coursework. That’s why flexibility is baked into the program’s design, and Block Weeks are a popular way for students to balance their schedules while adding variety and customization to their curriculum.
So, what exactly are Block Weeks?
“They are intense academic experiences,” explains Deputy Vice Dean for Academic Affairs for Wharton’s EMBA Program Richard Paul Waterman, who is also a Practice Professor of Statistics and Data Science.
Offered throughout the year on the Philadelphia and San Francisco campuses as well as select other locations, these three-to-four-day courses are open to students in all three EMBA cohorts and full-time MBA students.
“It’s a great platform for cross-pollination between Executive MBA and full-time MBA students,” says Waterman. “They spend time together, collaborate, and learn from one another. That kind of interaction deepens the network you build at Wharton.”
Designed for Real Life
For many EMBA students, flexibility isn’t just a convenience. It’s critical.
Waterman shares a recent example: “We had a pregnant student on the West Coast who loaded up on Block Weeks early in her program to lighten her course load later in the program when her baby was due. If a student is anticipating increased work or family responsibilities, Block Weeks are a helpful way to balance schedules.”
Because the EMBA program includes 18 credit units over 22 months, students have the flexibility to choose how they earn the additional credit needed to reach the 19-credit graduation requirement. With 28 Block Week offerings each year—far more than most business schools—students enjoy a wide range of options to tailor their experience and explore areas of interest.
“In terms of scale, I haven’t seen any other business school come close to what Wharton offers,” says Waterman.
Adding Flexibility and Variety
Courses range from traditional academic topics to niche areas of study to the cutting edge. Examples include:
- Sales 3.0 and the Future of Revenue Growth with Prof. Americus Reed in San Francisco
- Mathematical Modelling and its Application in Finance with Prof. Ziv Katalan in Philadelphia
- Vibefounding: Entrepreneurship with AI with Prof. Ethan Mollick in Philadelphia
- Tech in the San Francisco Bay Area with Prof. Lori Rosenkopf in San Francisco
- AI in Seattle with Prof. Serguei Netessine in Seattle
- Luxury Branding and Retailing with Prof. Barbara Kahn in Paris
- Healthcare Reform with Prof. Ezekiel Emanuel in San Francisco
- Product Management with Prof. Karl Ulrich in Seoul, Korea
- (New) Formula One Racing and Innovation in Bologna, Italy
“Students consistently give positive feedback on Block Weeks,” says Waterman. “They love the intensity, the immersive learning, and the relationships that form during those intense days.”
At their core, Block Weeks are about more than earning credit. They are high-impact, high-energy ways to learn, connect, and grow, while adding flexibility so students can make the most of their Wharton experience.