If you are assessing whether the Executive Development Program is right for you, here are some answers to frequently asked questions:
What do I have to gain from the Executive Development Program?
This program is designed to equip you with the necessary tools and knowledge to make you a better manager. Learn practical applications of business principles that increase your effectiveness at work, from budgeting and cost control to supply chain management. Create strategies to become a better leader and a greater asset to your organization. Plus, you’ll develop a peer network of experienced professionals from a diverse array of Northwest industries.
What kind of results can I expect by participating in the Executive Development Program?
Participants and sponsors report that class members become better leaders, analysts, marketers and problem-solvers. Their results include:
- Improved budgeting and cost management
- Increased confidence in reading and understanding financial statements
- Better communication with employees, other managers, vendors, suppliers, and customers
- A deeper understanding of operations, from technology systems to supply chain management
- New methods to assess marketplace issues and develop competitive strategies
How long has the Executive Development Program been offered?
The Executive Development Program (formerly The Management Program) has been offered since 1970 and is the premier management development program in the Northwest. The Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, is the second-oldest institution of management education on the West Coast.
Is the Executive Development Program right for me?
How can I determine if the Executive Development Program will fit my needs?
- Check to see if your organization and job responsibilities align with the program’s optimal and potential fit in the following grid:
- Review this Web site to assess the format, curriculum and expected outcomes.
- Attend one of the Information Sessions or Open Houses held throughout the school year and get an in-person presentation about the Executive Development Program.
- Arrange to visit a class and observe firsthand the level of the other participants and faculty. To arrange for a class visit, please contact our office in Executive Education or (206) 543-8560.
- Ask EDP alumni what they learned from the Executive Development Program. Contact our office in Executive Education or (206) 543-8560 to connect with an EDP alum in your industry.
- Arrange an informational meeting so you can discuss what type of advance business education might be right for you. Contact Paul Frogley at (206) 543-2344.
How much time will I need to commit to the Executive Development Program?
How much time is required to complete the Executive Development Program?
Classes meet Mondays from 4:30 – 9:00 p.m. The Executive Development Program encompasses 123.75 classroom hours over a nine month period, from September to May. The program includes a four-day fall residential session and a three-day residential session in the spring.
Out of class preparation for weekly sessions involves extensive analysis of case studies, assigned readings, and other related assignments. Diligent reading and study is the key to success in the Executive Development Program. In order to facilitate class discussion and a successful completion of the program, participants are advised to set a study schedule. Participants report they study between five and fifteen hours each week, depending on the topic.
Classes are divided into teams to review and discuss the materials and information presented in the classroom. There is one team presentation required at the end of the program. There are no tests unless you choose to participate in the optional credit track. For subject matter that you are less familiar with, you may want to do more of the suggested background reading.
How will being in the Executive Development Program impact my travel schedule?
EDP begins with a four-day fall residential session in September. There is also a three-day spring residential in mid-May. To see session dates, visit the schedule page.
The Executive Development Program is offered on Monday nights. Participants are free to travel the rest of the week. Traditionally, there are several weeks during the nine months when EDP does not meet, such as Thanksgiving week, the last three weeks of December and spring break week in March.
How does the Executive Development Program compare with an MBA program?
The MBA offers a comprehensive, in depth business education but also requires a significantly larger time and financial investment than the Executive Development Program.
| Executive Development Program |
UW MBA Programs |
| No educational prerequisites |
Requires undergraduate degree |
| No entrance tests |
Requires GMAT test |
| 9 months, 1 day/week |
18-36 months |
| Study Groups |
Project Teams with graded assignments |
Reading homework
One team presentation |
Graded assignments, papers, and tests |
| $16,500 |
Costs vary from $24,840 to $58,000 for Washington residents |
| UW Certificate |
MBA degree |
In the Executive Development Program, you study with the same faculty who teach in the University of Washington’s 29th-ranked* MBA programs. Our distinguished faculty members are award-winning researchers as well as top-ranked instructors. They have condensed the subject matter into the essential information you need to be a more effective manager. The Executive Development Program curriculum covers an array of topics immediately applicable to the workplace. Topics studied over an entire quarter in an MBA sequence are usually condensed into a two-week session in EDP.
*U.S. News & World Report (Best Graduate Schools 2007)
How does the Executive Development Program compare to intensive leadership development and in-house programs?
Is the Executive Development Program a good alternative to a three-week intensive management development program?
The Executive Development Program is specifically designed so that you can apply the information you receive in class each week. Rather than leave your position for three weeks to study, topics are presented in short weekly sessions over a nine month calendar. You can ponder, process, and apply knowledge as you go instead of trying to absorb three weeks of intensive learning, and then apply it afterward.
EDP classes are taught by the outstanding University of Washington MBA faculty and you will have ongoing access to faculty members during the nine-month program. The longer format also fosters professional networking with your peers. Since most participants live in the Northwest, you will leave the program with personal and professional networks you have developed with other business leaders in the region. EDP alumni activities will help you maintain your networks after graduation.
Is the Executive Development Program a substitute for my in-house leadership development program?
The Executive Development Program complements in-house programs by exposing you to the diverse perspectives of participants from other organizations and industries. Several companies have incorporated EDP into their long-term leadership development initiatives. For companies that don’t have in-house programs, EDP provides access to high-quality faculty and curriculum at the University of Washington, a nationally ranked business school.
For companies that offer in-house programs that focus primarily on leadership skills, EDP can expand managers’ knowledge by exposing them to a broad range of business topics, including managerial finance, macroeconomics, brand management, IT strategy and international business.
Am I eligible for the Executive Development Program?
If I don’t have a bachelor’s degree, am I still eligible for the Executive Development Program?
Acceptance to the program is heavily based upon your career achievements and experience instead of educational prerequisites. While a majority of participants have some college education or have successfully completed an undergraduate degree, managers with high school educations are also admitted. Business experience is the key requirement. Conversely, EDP participants with masters-level, JD and even PhD degrees apply for the Executive Development Program because they seek to sharpen their business skill sets.
Do I have to have a degree in business in order to be eligible for the Executive Development Program?
The Executive Development Program does not require a degree in business. It does require five to ten years of management experience, with a broad scope of responsibility or experience in a strategic position.
What is required to apply to the Executive Development Program?
What are the application requirements?
Acceptance to the Executive Development Program is based on career experience and accomplishments. Most applicants have five to ten years of work experience and a minimum of five years management experience. Applicants with strong project management experience and expertise with large-scale projects are given first consideration when applying for admission.
An application packet needs to be submitted by June 1 for the Fall session beginning in September. Please include a resume or details of your employment history, an organization chart of your company and a description of your job responsibilities. A personal statement that explains your reasons for applying to the Executive Development Program is also required.
What does it mean to sponsor someone in the Executive Development Program?
What are the responsibilities of sponsorship?
Sponsors agree to support EDP participants by ensuring their release from work obligations on Monday afternoons and for the residential sessions in September and May. Sponsors also pay all or part of the tuition for the Executive Development Program. Taking the time to establish goals and discussing results with EDP participants will allow a sponsor to assess the return from their investment in advanced business education.
How do I secure sponsorship from my company?
Many companies incorporate the Executive Development Program into their leadership development budget. Contact your human resources or organizational development office for more information about leadership development resources. Your supervising manager may also sponsor you directly for EDP.
We recommend that you work with your perspective sponsor to develop mutually-agreeable goals for your participation in management development. Tie these goals to the advanced business education offered in the Executive Development Program. Many students use the coursework of the Executive Development Program to analyze a particular work-related issue at their place of employment. Others include the Executive Development Program as part of their individual development or company succession plans. Typically you will need to prepare a proposal and submit it to your potential sponsor. Once you have secured sponsorship, simply ask your sponsor to fill out the Sponsor’s Endorsing Statement in the Application for Admission.
To help you prepare a strong proposal, you are welcome to speak with EDP alumni who have completed the process. EDP alumni can best describe the ways their companies benefited from the program. University of Washington staff can also meet with your supervising manager, human resources, or organizational development office to illustrate the value of the Executive Development Program and answer their questions. Please contact the Executive Education office at (206) 543-8560 to arrange a meeting with your company or to connect with EDP alumni in your industry.
Are there payment alternatives if my company does not support leadership development at this level?
Tuition can be paid in one lump sum, or payment arrangements can be requested. Please contact the Executive Education office at (206) 543-8560 for assistance with payment options.
Can I attend even if my company does not sponsor me?
Yes, many participants split the cost with their companies or even pay their own way entirely.
Is there any financial aid available?
Participants have discovered financial aid support for advanced non-degree education. For example, some banks offer the best rates; there are also agencies offering financial aid. Please contact the Executive Education office for assistance at (206) 543-8560.
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