Program Quality and Design

• Reputation – What is the reputation of the degree-granting institution? Is it recognized locally, nationally, internationally? How important is it to you to have a degree from a top-tier university?
• Curriculum – What are the specifics of the program requirements and course offerings? Do the courses match your interests in terms of both technology and management electives? Are they targeted at the right level?
• Learning Culture – Do you want an intensive “immersion” program – either through a full-time on-campus program or through a residential weekend program such as Penn’s EMTM? Or do you prefer a program in which you accumulate course credits relatively independently?
• Faculty – Do the faculty have the academic credentials, teaching experience and business exposure that will enable them to bring both cutting-edge research and real-world experience to class discussions?
• Students – Who will you be learning with? Depending on the program format, your peer students can be an important factor in the quality of interaction and learning that takes place … and in the network of colleagues you build during and after the program.
• Academic resources – How well is the program supported? Is there access to outstanding university library and technology resources? What provisions are made for course texts and materials, and for online collaboration and teamwork?
• Additional opportunities – Executive seminars and guest speakers, workshops, options for gaining global experience, access to other university activities.
• Alumni Network – What kind of alumni community will you be joining? Is it local, national or international in scope? Will it provide opportunities to expand your professional network?

Program Quality and Design

• Delivery –Do you prefer campus-based, face-to-face interaction with faculty and fellow students? Satellite classrooms? Online courses?
• Schedule: Full-time vs. Part-time – Do you want to continue working while you earn your degree, or leave the workforce and concentrate on full-time studies? If you want to continue a full-time job, how does the program’s schedule and academic calendar fit with your work and personal life?
• Schedule: Weekend vs. Evening – What are the relative advantages of an alternate weekend format vs. taking courses in an evening school program? Can you commit to a year-round schedule, or prefer a program that does not hold classes during the summer? Do you need to have flexibility in terms of the number of classes you can take each term?
• Location and Travel – How accessible is the campus, given the program’s format and schedule? (Some people find that they spend less time commuting by train or plane to an intensive residential program located in another city than they would traveling locally to individual class sessions.)
• Costs and Financing – What are the program costs, and what do they include? Will your organization help sponsor you financially, either fully or partially? What options for student loans are available through the school or university?
• Impact on Work and Home Life – Finally, an important consideration is the potential impact that entering a degree program may have on your situation both at work and at home, especially if you have a spouse, partner or family.