Master's vs Executive Master's: what are the differences?

Executive executive master's degrees are often confused with MBAs but it's crucial to understand the difference between these and regular master's degrees.

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Understanding regular master's degrees:

These are the more "traditional" master's degrees, which grant a diploma and are typically associated with recent graduates who are looking to specialize in a particular area. As a rule, they stand out for their academic rigor and research, and are more focused on the acquisition of theoretical knowledge, along with some practical component. These programs usually last two years, with a full-time workload, culminating in the submission and presentation of a thesis.

Getting to know executive master's degrees:

Executive master's degrees are aimed at professionals who are looking to improve their skills and accelerate their career growth while working. For this reason, these programs usually have greater flexibility, more practical cases in the curriculum, online classes, and generally a part-time schedule. Executive master's degrees assume that students already have experience in the job market, and often even require some level of seniority. Generally, an executive master's degree lasts one year.

Key differences between master's degrees and executive master's degrees:

- Academic focus and professional experience: regular master's degrees tend to have a more theoretical component and focus more on the acquisition of knowledge, while executive master's degrees seek to relate the subjects to the challenges encountered by professionals in the course of their work.

- Class composition: Master's classes tend to have more recent graduates with limited professional experience, while executive master's degrees involve some practical experience with professionals from different industries, allowing for the exchange of experiences and networking.

- Career advancement or career acceleration: while regular master's degrees can enable career advancement through specialization, executive master's degrees open doors to accelerate professionals' careers by equipping them with more practical skills, and open doors to new professional challenges through networking.

Choosing a master's or executive master's degree is a decision that depends on your professional and career goals, work experience and personal preferences. Education is a continuous journey and the search for knowledge is essential to remain relevant and competitive in an ever-changing market.