Overview

Degree program overview

Thunderbird’s Executive Master of Global Management with a concentration in Space Leadership, Business, and Policy (EMGM-Space) is a one-of-a-kind degree for professionals seeking executive management expertise in the booming space sector.

Designed and taught by industry-leading faculty and experts, this 12-month graduate program is tailored for individuals pursuing careers in commercial spaceflight, defense and civil aerospace, AI and big data, and next-generation manufacturing. Being a graduate will open doors across the aerospace and technology sectors.

The cutting-edge curriculum prioritizes industry immersion and focuses on modern practices, principles, and case studies for corporate, startup, nonprofit and governmental organizations operating in space. To build cross-disciplinary skills, select courses feature renowned practitioners and scholars from ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration (in addition to our stellar Thunderbird faculty). 

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Class profile

Average age:

42 years old

Average experience:

16 years

Women:

33.3%

Prior Degrees:
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Business
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Juris Doctor
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Political Science
  • English
Employers:
  • Blue Origin
  • ISRO Aerospace & Defense
  • NASA contractor
  • NASA Endeavor
  • U.S Space Force
  • KPMG
  • U.S. Air Force
  • Raytheon Technologies
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • Bank of America

Who should attend?

  • Professionals who want to keep up with their rapidly changing industry in a flexible master's degree program while continuing to work full-time.
  • Engineers aspiring to advancement in the aerospace sector and supplying industries.
  • Professional managers and executives looking to enter the booming space economy.
  • Industry, policy, and military leaders looking for insight and connections to the space sector.

Curriculum

Curriculum

The EMGM-Space Leadership curriculum consists of 31 credit hours, including nine (9) 3-credit courses, a 1-credit professional development course, and a 3-credit global field seminar to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

*Students must complete an applied learning experience during the first academic year of their program. To fulfill this requirement, students may choose one of the following: (1) Global Field Seminar, (2) Global Challenge Lab, (3) applied learning-based academic course or (4) Internship registered for academic credit. Each of these options will satisfy the applied learning experience for the program.

There are additional program expenses associated with (1) and (2) as they require travel.

 

Course Credits
TGM 598 Global Technological Leadership/Global Personal Leadership 3
Specialization course #1: Space for Future Global Leaders 3
TGM 598 Global Technological Strategy 3
Specialization course #2: Global Space Policy and Law 3
TGM 506 Navigating Global and Regional Business Environments/Communicating and Negotiating Across Cultures 3
Specialization course #3: Space and Global States and Markets 3
TGM 557 Data in the Global Economy/Global Marketing 3
Specialization course #4: Global Space Entrepreneurship and Sustainability 3
TSGM 517 Global Finance and Accounting 3
TSGM 597 Global Personal Leadership Development 1
TSGM 596 Global Field Seminar or Global Challenge Lab 3

 

Financial aid and costs

Financial aid

Program costs

Apply early for priority admissions and financial aid consideration.

Fees USD$
Application fee (domestic) $70
Application fee (international) $115
Non-refundable deposit $250
Program cost $67,207

 

Faculty and campus

Faculty

 

David Thomas

Director of the Thunderbird Initiative for Space Leadership, Policy and Business and Professor of Practice

Our campus

The EMGM-Space Leadership degree is delivered in Phoenix and online. There will be excursions to Los Angeles, California, and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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Requirements and deadlines

Application requirements

Application deadlines

Apply early for priority admission and financial aid consideration.

Deadline Dates
Early consideration October 30
First round November 30
Second round and international student deadline January 30
Third round and international student deadline March 30
Final deadline July 30

 

Program calendar

Program calendar 2024-25

Course Week 1 Location Week 2 Location
Space for Future Global Leaders Aug 26-30 LA N/A N/A
Communicating and Negotiating Across Cultures Sept. 14-15 PHX Sept. 28-29 OL
Global Leadership and Personal Development Oct. 12-13 OL Oct. 26-27 PHX
Global Accounting and Financial Management Nov. 16-17 PHX Dec. 7-8 OL
Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation Jan. 11-12 PHX Jan. 25-26 OL
Global Marketing and Data Analytics Feb. 1-2 PHX Mar. 22-23 OL
Global Field Seminar: Space Coast Excursion Feb. 9-15 KSC N/A N/A
Global Space Policy and Law Apr. 12-13 PHX Apr. 26-27 OL
Global Space Entrepreneurship and Sustainability May 17-18 OL May 31 - Jun. 1 PHX
Space and Global States and Markets June 14-15 PHX July 7-8 DC
Global Personal Leadership Development: Space Capstone July 9-12 DC N/A N/A

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