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Executive MBA available for Norfolk, San Diego areas via distance learning

All Hands, March, 2005 by Jon Gagne

Four Executive Masters of Business Administration (EMBA) cohort degree programs will be available for mid- to senior-grade active-duty unrestricted line (URL) officers in the Norfolk and San Diego fleet concentration areas in 2005.

Instruction for two cohorts (25 students in each that function as a learning team) will begin the week of March 28, and the other two cohorts will start the week of Sept. 26.

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) defense-focused EMBA is a 24-month, Navy-funded, part-time graduate program that includes a financial management and acquisition concentration. This program is targeted at mid-to senior-glade active-duty URL officers (0-4 to 0-5) who are unable to attend NPS residential postgraduate programs. Non-URL officers (0-4 and 0-5) and civilians in glades GS-13 and GS-14 will also be considered for the program on a space available basis, with officers having first priority.

According to Douglas A. Brook, Ph.D., dean of the NPS School of Business and Public Policy, the EMBA cohort degree program can be extremely beneficial in building a career in the Navy as a mid- to upper-level leader and manager.

"Our defense-focused EMBA is a unique program, unlike any other in the country in its goal of providing high-quality relevant management education to a new generation of Navy leaders," Brook said. "We are taking our NPS faculty expertise to officers in the fleet and preparing our graduates to take their future places managing complex organizations, large budgets and major programs."

The program begins with a one-week temporary additional duty (TAD) orientation at the NPS campus in Monterey, Calif. Funding for TAD travel must be provided by the student's parent command and cannot be the responsibility of the individual. During orientation, students will take a two-credit-hour course in managing teams. Orientation for the March 2005 cohorts is scheduled for the week of March 21-25, and for the September cohorts the week of Sept. 19-23.

The NPS faculty will use video teleconferencing (VTC), the Internet and other distance learning modes to teach the follow-on courses. Students will meet in VTC-capable classrooms once a week during normal duty hours for six to seven hours of instruction. Norfolk and satellite locations in the fleet concentration area (FCA) will hold VTC classes on Tuesdays beginning March 29. San Diego area locations will conduct training on Thursdays beginning March 31.

Students will take two college classes per quarter for eight quarters, and take all classes as part of a learning team. While course absences due to military requirements are factored into the course planning, students are expected and required to attend classes with their learning teams and complete all degree requirements.

"The cohort model--in which students join and progress through their studies as a group--fosters working effectively as a learning team by sharing experiences, knowledge and strengths," said retired CAPT Pat Flanagan, EMBA program director at the Naval Post Graduate School "Through this working relationship, the students are able to establish a professional network with their colleagues that endures and adds real value as they progress in their career as Navy leaders, and confront Navy resource management issues and analyze investment opportunities."

Eligibility requirements for the program include having an undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college or university, a 2.6 (or higher) grade point average, department head or mid-level management experience, a strong potential for promotion and full command support. Officers selected for the program must be able to complete the full 24-month program at their FCA site. Officers who already haw a graduate degree funded through any DOD assistance or veteran's educational benefit program are not eligible for this program.

The application deadline for the March cohorts has passed. The application deadline for the September cohorts is July 15. Applications must be submitted in the format listed in NAVADMIN 268104 and sent, along with a copy of undergraduate transcripts, via the candidate's activity commanding officer to the Naval Postgraduate School, EMBA Director, Code GB/FL. See NAVADMIN 268/04 for specific details and other qualification requirements.

All potential EMBA applicants are encouraged to visit the NPS Web site and complete an online interest form at their earliest convenience. For additional information on the program or the Naval Postgraduate School, visit the school's Web site at www.nps.navy.mil.

For related news, visit the Naval Education and Training Command Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cnet.> Story by Jon Gagne, who is assigned to the public affairs Office, Naval Education and Training Command.