Make an Immediate Impact

One-Year Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership

Expand your enterprise perspective and make an immediate impact through applied learning designed for senior leaders. No GMAT required.

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Now enrolling for January 2027. Request more information below.

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The Haslam Difference

Why Choose UT’s Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership?

As an executive, the decisions you make shape your organization’s present and future success. In just one year, expand your business acumen with Haslam’s nationally ranked Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership, and learn to navigate the complexity of senior leadership with greater clarity and confidence.

Students listening in the EMBA-SL class

Executive MBA Rankings

#2

Executive MBA for alumni satisfaction

Financial Times 2025

#3

Executive MBA program under $115K

Poets & Quants 2024

#10

Executive MBA Among Public Universities

Fortune 2025

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Class Profile

Executive MBA Class Profile

The Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership brings together accomplished leaders spanning different industries, organizations and backgrounds. Participants gain fresh perspectives, challenge assumptions and develop a deeper understanding of organizational leadership.

30

Students average class size

20

Years average professional experience

12

Years average management experience

16

Industries represented in the Class of 2026

Upcoming Events

Experience the Executive MBA Impact

Experience the Executive MBA firsthand through an immersive Preview Day designed to reflect the residency experience. Engage with faculty, connect with current students and alumni, and gain insight into how the program develops strategic leaders capable of driving organizational impact.

Attend a Preview Day

One-Year EMBA Curriculum

What will I learn in UT’s Executive MBA?

The one-year Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership is designed for accomplished leaders who recognize that greater responsibility requires a broader perspective. The program challenges participants to question long-held assumptions, develop new perspectives, and draw on the support of accomplished peers. Structured to meet the needs of industry leaders, the program’s practical, applied curriculum creates lasting impact and drives meaningful transformation.

Executive MBA

Apply EMBA Concepts in Your Workplace

Through the Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership, your organization becomes part of the learning experience. The Organizational Action Project (OAP) allows you to apply Executive MBA concepts to a real business challenge within your company. Guided by expert faculty, you’ll develop solutions that create measurable value for your team. Schedule a conversation with an Executive MBA enrollment advisor to learn more.

1

Identify a Challenge

With support from a dedicated faculty advisor, select an organizational challenge to address during the one-year program. 

2

Build Your Business Acumen

Advance your strategic leadership and business knowledge through MBA content designed for executive leaders.

3

Apply Your Learning

Outline a strategic plan and implement EMBA concepts within your organization for a real-time return on investment. 

4

Reflect and Refine

Analyze your results and make adjustments throughout your learning journey to maximize your impact.

One-Year Executive MBA

Develop Your Executive Leadership Capabilities

Build your ability to lead teams and generate results through individualized leadership development. With support from a dedicated executive coach, identify the factors that impact your leadership effectiveness, then address them through experiential learning and coaching. 

1

Build Your Profile

Build a data-backed leadership profile to identify your greatest strengths and challenges through a series of assessments.

2

Development Planning

Partner with an executive coach to interpret your results and multiply your leadership effectiveness.

3

Real-Time Application

Put your insights into practice through activities that challenge you to use what you’ve learned in a real-world context.

Deepen Your Learning

Optional Experiences

Beyond the core Executive MBA curriculum, optional programming gives you the opportunity to explore targeted areas of professional growth in greater depth. This added dimension of the Executive MBA curriculum helps you personalize the experience while building skills that enhance your leadership impact.

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Excel Bootcamp

Excel novices and experts alike will benefit from this interactive session. Complete Excel challenges and discover program functionalities that will serve you during the one-year EMBA and beyond.

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Human Centered Design

Identify opportunities for innovation by refocusing product and service design around your customers’ behaviors and buying patterns. 

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Supply Chain Certificate

Deepen your understanding of enterprise-level supply chain leadership with in-person and virtual coursework designed for industry experts.

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Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership

Cost & Financial Aid

Advance Program Fee$2,000
Spring Semester$28,000
Summer Semester$30,000
Fall Semester$30,000
Total Program Cost$90,000*

*Program cost is subject to change

“It’s all integrated. There is an end learning goal for you, whether it’s a residency session or a distance learning… all the disciplines come together.“

– Stephen Soltis (HCB, ’22)
Director of Finance – High Security Group, ASSA ABLOY

Financial FAQs

Yes. Many Executive MBA participants receive employer support through tuition assistance, talent development funding, or merit raises. Because participants apply learning directly to strategic challenges within their organizations, employers often recognize the immediate and long-term value generated through the Executive MBA experience.

For support in positioning the program with your employer, please contact our Executive MBA enrollment team.

Yes. Financial aid, such as graduate student loans, may be available for qualified students enrolled in the University of Tennessee Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership.

Many participants use federal student loans, employer tuition assistance programs, personal financing, or a combination of funding sources to support their investment in the program. Prospective students are encouraged to speak with the admissions team to be connected with more information about financial aid.

Yes, military service members, veterans, and dependents may qualify for education benefits through approved VA programs.

Prospective students who plan to use military or veteran education benefits are encouraged to schedule a call with our Executive MBA admissions team for information about applying veteran benefits. Our team works closely with UT’s Veteran Success Center for detailed and dedicated student support throughout the program.

The Executive MBA for Strategic Ledership program cost includes:

  • Tuition and academic instruction
  • Course materials
  • Executive coaching and leadership development assessments
  • Most meals during residency periods
  • Program-related activities and experiential learning components
  • Access to university and program resources

 

The cost does NOT include:

  • Travel to and from residency periods
  • Lodging during residency periods

 

This approach allows students to focus on learning, leadership development, and application without managing numerous additional program expenses throughout the year.

Executive MBA participants typically fund the program through a combination of employer sponsorship, federal student loans, and personal financing.

Many organizations view the Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership as an investment in leadership development and organizational effectiveness. Because participants apply learning immediately through executive coaching, applied coursework, and the Organizational Action Project, employers often see value throughout the program rather than waiting until graduation.

If your organization offers tuition reimbursement or professional development funding, a good place to start is with your HR department or direct supervisor. Understanding your company’s educational assistance policies, funding limits, and approval process can help you have a more productive conversation.

When discussing sponsorship, focus on the organizational benefits of the Executive MBA experience, including:

  • Broader enterprise perspective and cross-functional understanding
  • Enhanced strategic decision-making and executive effectiveness
  • Immediate application of learning to organizational opportunities and challenges
  • Leadership development supported by executive coaching

 

For questions about funding your Executive MBA, schedule a conversation with our admissions team here.

Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership

Admissions Requirements

What does the application require?

Applying to the Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership is a clear and streamlined process designed for senior and executive leaders looking to expand their impact. The application requires:

  • A resume
  • Responses to a four-prompt essay
  • Two professional references
  • Official transcript(s)
    • A bachelor’s degree is required for consideration. Review transcript requirements here.
  • No GMAT or GRE required for qualifying applicants
  • TOEFL waivers may be available for international applicants
Apply Here

Admissions FAQs

The University of Tennessee’s Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership operates on a rolling admissions basis, so there is no single application deadline.

Applications are reviewed as they are received, and admission decisions are made on a continuous cycle. However, because cohort sizes are limited, applying early is encouraged.

No, the GMAT and GRE are waived for qualified applicants.

Admissions decisions are based on a holistic review of each applicant’s academic background, professional experience, leadership responsibilities, career progression, and potential contribution to the cohort.

Many Executive MBA applicants bring substantial leadership experience and professional accomplishments that demonstrate readiness for graduate-level business education. Prospective students are encouraged to speak with an enrollment advisor to discuss their individual qualifications.

Applicants should request official transcripts from all institutions where they earned a bachelor’s degree and any institutions where they completed graduate-level coursework. Current and former University of Tennessee, Knoxville students do not need to submit a UT transcript, as the admissions team can access those records directly.

To expedite the admissions process, applicants may upload copies of official transcripts through the application portal for review. Official transcripts can then be submitted electronically through secure transcript services such as Parchment or the National Student Clearinghouse, or mailed directly from the institution in a sealed envelope. Complete transcript requirements and submission instructions can be found here.

Absolutely. In fact, our average Executive MBA student has 20 years of work experience and completed their undergraduate degrees years before beginning the program.

The Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership is designed for senior leaders who bring substantial professional experience to the classroom. Your industry expertise and leadership responsibilities are valuable assets in the learning environment. The program is intentionally structured to help accomplished leaders connect their practical experience with broader business knowledge, strategic leadership concepts, and enterprise-level decision-making.

Our students find that they can immediately apply what they learn to the complex challenges they face in their organizations every day.

The Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership is designed for experienced leaders with significant professional responsibilities.

While there is no single number of years that guarantees admission, successful applicants typically have a substantial management, operational, financial, or strategic decision-making scope. The program is intended for executives and senior leaders who are responsible for influencing organizational outcomes and leading teams, functions, or business units.

Admissions decisions are based on a holistic application review, including professional experience, leadership responsibilities, career progression, and potential contribution to the cohort. Participants learn alongside accomplished leaders from a wide range of organizations and industries, creating a rich environment for executive-level discussion and peer learning.

Hear from Our Graduates

Executive MBA Stories

Our graduates come from across industries and functions, and they leave with a sharper strategic lens and a network of senior peers. Read how the Executive MBA reshaped the way they lead.

Executive MBA

Frequently Asked Questions

For many experienced leaders, the value of an Executive MBA extends far beyond earning a degree.

As leadership responsibilities grow, executives are increasingly expected to make decisions that affect multiple functions, teams, and business priorities. The Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership helps leaders develop an enterprise perspective, strengthen strategic decision-making, improve executive effectiveness, and increase organizational impact.

Participants immediately apply classroom learning within their organizations through the Organizational Action Project, executive coaching, and applied learning experiences. In addition to developing new knowledge and capabilities, participants gain access to a network of accomplished leaders who bring a range of perspectives and experiences to the learning environment.

For leaders preparing for broader responsibilities, organizational transformation, or more complex business challenges, an Executive MBA can provide both practical tools and transformational growth.

The Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership offers an intensive, one-year format that includes immersive residency periods, leadership development, and a network of seasoned professionals. During the program, students complete an Organizational Action Project, which allows participants to apply program learning to a meaningful challenge within their organization, creating value before graduation.

The Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership's hybrid structure centers around four immersive residencies, executive coaching, applied learning, and a senior-level peer network. The program is designed specifically for experienced leaders who want to strengthen executive effectiveness, broaden enterprise perspective, and engage in meaningful collaboration with fellow executives.

As an Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership student, your workplace becomes part of the learning experience. Through the Organizational Action Project, students immediately apply EMBA insights to address organizational challenges, evaluate opportunities, and implement strategies that create meaningful results. Many organizations benefit from new insights, stronger decision-making, and leadership development before the participant completes the program.

Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership cohorts include experienced leaders from a wide range of industries, creating opportunities for meaningful peer learning and broader business perspective. While each cohort is unique, industries often represented in the program include:

  • Manufacturing
  • Financial services
  • Supply chain and logistics
  • Retail and consumer goods
  • Technology
  • Professional services
  • Energy and utilities
  • Government
  • Military
  • Nonprofit organizations

 

This combination of broad industry experiences makes for a rich learning environment that benefits leaders facing complex business challenges.

For more than 33 years, the Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership has prepared experienced leaders to make a greater impact within their organizations and communities. Graduates join both the Haslam College of Business alumni network and the University of Tennessee's extensive alumni community, connecting them to a legacy that spans generations of business leadership.

Through events, networking opportunities, and continued engagement with the program, alumni build lasting relationships with senior leaders across industries. These connections often become trusted sources of insight, collaboration, and professional support long after graduation.

The Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership is specifically designed for experienced professionals who continue working full time while earning their MBA.

Each semester, students are enrolled in 12 hours of core business coursework and 3 hours of project-based coursework. Students earn these hours through four immersive residency periods, distance learning on Wednesday evenings, and immediate application through the Organizational Action Project. The program emphasizes real-time learning that enables students to put concepts to work directly for their organizations.

The Organizational Action Project (OAP) is a signature component of the Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership that allows participants to apply program learning directly to a meaningful challenge or opportunity within their organization.

Throughout the program, students integrate concepts from strategy, finance, operations, leadership, and other business disciplines to evaluate a real organizational issue and develop actionable recommendations. The project is designed to move beyond academic theory and create measurable organizational impact.

For many participants, the Organizational Action Project becomes one of the most valuable aspects of the Executive MBA experience because it allows them to demonstrate value to their organizations while still enrolled in the program. Rather than separating classroom learning from workplace responsibilities, the OAP makes the workplace part of the learning experience.

Executive education certificate programs typically focus on a specific topic or skill area. The Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership provides a comprehensive experience that integrates multiple business disciplines, for example, strategy, finance, operations, and leadership. Participants develop a broader business-wide perspective while earning an accredited graduate degree.