Executive MBA Schedule
To accommodate your full-time work schedule, the Wharton MBA Program for Executives holds class every other weekend. The Philadelphia and San Francisco cohorts’ unique residency requirement creates a focused living-and-learning environment on program weekends. We take care of the logistical details so that your attention is on your studies. This format also helps you develop your own close networks and friendships. Our Global cohort leverages state-of-the-art virtual classroom technology for remote, synchronous learning every other weekend with a blended schedule. Whatever your background, you’ll find highly motivated and high-achieving professionals who share your interests and who will open your eyes to new possibilities. Take a look at these sample weekend schedules, which reflect a typical Wharton Executive MBA weekend for our Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Global cohorts. Or, see the two-year class calendar.
Here’s a sample weekend EMBA schedule for the Philadelphia and San Francisco cohorts:
Friday
| Philadelphia | San Francisco | |
| 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. | 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Arrive on campus, drop your luggage, grab some coffee, and head to class. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Contagious: How Ideas Catch On with Marketing Professor Jonah Berger |
| 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. | 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. | Lunch with classmates. |
| 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. | 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Negotiation and Conflict Resolution with Management Professor Peter Cappelli |
| 4:45 – 6:45 p.m. | 5:15 – 7:15 p.m. | Management Communication with communications faculty from Wharton’s Management Department, who work with you to improve your presentation skills. |
| 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. | 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. | Dinner in our executive facilities. |
| 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | Students read in their guest rooms or work on group projects in study rooms. Some get together at the pub for a little rest and relaxation before another busy day. Some venture off campus to explore the city together. |
Saturday
(Philadelphia & San Francisco on the same schedule)
| 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast in the dining facility to gear up for the day. You might stop first at the fitness center or go for a run along the Embarcadero or the Schuylkill River. |
| 9:00 a.m. – Noon | Product Design and Development with Operations and Information Management Professor Karl Ulrich |
| Noon – 1:00 p.m. | Lunch in the executive dining room gives you the chance to catch up with other students or chat with a faculty member. |
| 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Foundations of Teamwork & Leadership with Management Professor Michael Useem, director of the Wharton Center for Leadership and Change Management, who explores the leadership lessons drawn from various current events. |
| 4:00 p.m. | Time to go home! Between program weekends, you study 20-25 hours/week, which includes time spent collaborating on projects with your study teams by phone, email, and via Canvas, Wharton’s customized course collaboration platform. |
Here’s a sample weekend EMBA Schedule for the Global Cohort:
| Chicago, USA (CDT) | São Paulo, Brazil (Mar-Oct)* | Lagos, Nigeria (Mar-Oct)* | Mumbai, India (Mar-Oct)* | Beijing, China (Mar-Oct)* | |
| Thursday | Thursday | Friday | Friday | Friday | |
| 5:45-6:00pm | 7:45-8:00pm | 1:45-2:00am | 4:45-5:00am | 6:45-7:00am | Grab your morning coffee or evening tea and log in to the Wharton Global portal. Ensure your video and audio connection is optimized, then check in with your classmates. |
| 6:00-9:00pm | 8:00-11:00pm | 2:00-5:00am | 5:00-8:00am | 7:00-10:00am | Macroeconomics and the Global Economy with Prof. Joao Gomes |
| Friday | Friday | Friday | Friday | Friday | |
| 5:45-6:00am | 7:45-8:00am | 1:45-2:00pm | 4:45-5:00pm | 6:45-7:00pm | Finish breakfast or dinner, check your Wharton e-mail, and log in to the Wharton Global portal. |
| 6:00-9:00am | 8:00-11:00am | 2:00-5:00pm | 5:00-8:00pm | 7:00-10:00pm | Operations, Information and Decisions: Quality & Productivity with Prof. Santiago Gallino |
| Saturday | Saturday | Saturday | Saturday | Saturday | |
| 5:45-6:00am | 7:45-8:00am | 1:45-2:00pm | 4:45-5:00pm | 6:45-7:00pm | Grab your morning coffee or evening tea and log in to the Wharton Global portal. Chat with your classmates about the weather on the other side of the world. |
| 6:00-9:00am | 8:00-11:00am | 2:00-5:00pm | 5:00-8:00pm | 7:00-10:00pm | Financial and Managerial Accounting with Prof. Luzi Hail |
| Log off and prepare your deliverables for the next class weekend session. | |||||
| * Times are approximate due to global reach of program and impact of Daylight Saving Time | |||||
Taking on Wharton’s EMBA and a New Baby
Balancing School, Work and Parenthood
Finding a Global Perspective at Wharton San Francisco
Student Experience FAQs
I live within a short commuting distance. Can I go home on Friday nights?
Your tuition fee includes the cost of staying over on Friday night during program weekends. The program is designed to be fully immersive — this time commitment allows students to form personal and professional bonds that last long after graduation. In fact, students say they learn nearly as much from each other as they do during formal class hours. Much of this interaction takes place on Friday evenings when the study groups get together to master course material. In addition, many course review sessions and special events for families and partners also happen on Friday evenings.
Where can I stay if I have to fly in on Thursday nights to be on time for Friday morning classes?
You may make arrangements directly with local hotels to reserve rooms as needed for Thursday or Saturday nights. Whenever possible, they will try to accommodate your requests at the special rate reserved for students in the Wharton MBA Program for Executives. Contact us in Philadelphia or San Francisco to find out more.
Are there opportunities to network outside of class and with Wharton alumni?
The residential component of the program ensures that there are ample opportunities for you to network with your fellow classmates, as well as with the faculty, during program weekends. Eating meals together, meeting with study groups, and getting together for informal sports and recreation outside of class are all ways that students bond beyond the classroom. You will meet alumni as class guests and through occasional program-sponsored events. And as Wharton students, you can also begin to take part in the activities of Wharton alumni clubs located in or near your own city.
Can my partner (or family) stay with me during a program weekend?
Yes. Please contact your hotel or conference center to alert them to any special needs. A surcharge may apply for meals or special arrangements.