MBA Academic Options
What We Offer:
- A variety of focus areas and dual degrees options
- State-of-the-art facilities and technology
- Team-based approach
- High return on investment
- Strong network of professional connections
At Manderson, there are several ways to gain an MBA. Our Traditional MBA program is a two-year, campus-based, face-to-face, fixed curriculum program open to all interested candidates. The STEM Path to the MBA offers a flexible program for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math undergraduate majors to obtain a bachelor’s and a graduate degree in five years. Like the STEM Path, the CREATE Path to the MBA allows students in creative undergraduate majors to obtain a bachelor’s and a graduate degree in five years. Lastly, we also partner on campus with several colleges for students to pursue a joint graduate degree option such as JD/MBA, MBA/MS Fine Arts, MBA/MS Civil Engineering, MBA/MS Mechanical Engineering, and MBA/MS Aerospace Engineering. More details on these programs are listed below.
MBA Class Advising
Current or admitted students with questions on MBA class advising are welcome to reach out to student services for assistance.
- Meaghan James, Assistant Director of Student Services: mmjames@cba.ua.edu
- Schedule a meeting: https://calendly.com/meaghanjames
Curriculum & Paths
Traditional Path to the MBA
Our traditional full-time MBA program is lock-step, so students take courses with their classmates in sequential order as a cohort. Students can select one of the following areas of focus as part of their MBA experience: Business Analytics, Finance, Financial Risk, NEW: Cyber-security/Management Information Systems, Real Estate, Strategic Management & Marketing, Supply Chain & Operations Management. Scroll down this page to learn about these curriculum options and the required classes that must be taken each semester. Additional information on degree requirements and course overview can also be found here: https://catalog.ua.edu/graduate/business/masters-of-business-administration-program-mba/#requirementstext
Demographics:
- The overall enrolled class size for the traditional path MBA program is typically around 50 students
- The overall enrolled class size for our STEM/Create MBA path group is typically around 110 students
- Average Age: 21
The STEM Path to the MBA allows high-achieving undergraduate students majoring in STEM disciplines to complete coursework to earn an MBA from the Manderson Graduate School of Business in only one calendar year beyond completing an undergraduate degree. The program is centered around innovative solutions to real-world problems. Using nontraditional classroom methods and experiential learning opportunities, you have the opportunity to grow both academically deep into your major of study and functionally broad across different areas like communication, leadership, and professionalism. The resulting sum of experiences develops a solid foundation for you to grow into management roles in high-tech companies. Click here for for more details on this program and the specialized two-phase application process. Please note: Students must apply for phase 1 as a freshman at the University of Alabama for the pre-requisite coursework and then apply for phase 2 in the fall of their junior year for the MBA portion. Acceptance for phase 1 does not guarantee approval for the phase 2 MBA portion.
The CREATE Path to the MBA offers high-achieving undergraduate students majoring in traditionally creative disciplines the opportunity to complete coursework to earn an MBA from the Manderson Graduate School of Business in only one calendar year beyond completing an undergraduate degree. (Example: Art, Music, Design, Theatre, etc.)
The program is centered around innovative solutions to real-world problems and runs parallel to its sister program, the STEM Path to the MBA. Using nontraditional classroom methods and experiential learning opportunities, students on the CREATE Path to the MBA can grow both academically deep into their chosen major and functionally broad across different areas like communication, leadership, and professionalism. An added benefit of running parallel to the STEM Path to the MBA is that CREATE-MBA students will gain exposure to the technical backgrounds of their peers, further diversifying their frame of reference for problem-solving. Click here for more details on this program and the specialized two-phase application process. Please note: Students must apply for phase 1 as a freshman at the University of Alabama for pre-requisite coursework and then apply for phase 2 in the fall of their junior year for the MBA portion. Acceptance for phase 1 does not guarantee acceptance for the phase 2 MBA portion.
The Traditional MBA Course Overview
| First Year Fall | First Year Spring |
|---|---|
| Leadership/Ethics | Spreadsheet Analytics |
| Statistics for Business Application | Financial Management |
| Survey of Marketing | Managerial Economics |
| Operations Management | Project and Process Management |
| Managerial Accounting | Area of Focus Elective (1) |
| Second Year Fall | Second Year Spring |
|---|---|
| Business Communications | International Business Administration |
| Business Strategy | Area of Focus Electives (3-4) |
| Area of Focus Electives (3) |
Traditional MBA Area of Focus Options:
Business Analytics
Manderson offers one of the few graduate business programs to prepare students for certifications in SAS, the premier software for the data mining industry. By detecting hidden patterns and relationships among massive amounts of raw information, data mining produces knowledge that reveals how organizations can improve performance. Data mining and analysis require application experience and specialized data skills. As a graduate of our program, you should possess this unique combination of knowledge, skill, and experience that qualifies you to work for major players in business industries. This focus area also features an optional international trip during the summer.
Finance
The Finance option offers a comprehensive understanding of financial markets, banking, personal finance, and corporate finance, in addition to the strategic implications of each. This challenging concentration provides a broad understanding of corporate finance, financial restructuring, securities analysis, portfolio management, and financial institutions and markets. You will gain the expertise necessary to make important financial decisions pertaining to all types of firms.
Financial Risk
Any business or nonprofit organization can be exposed to a variety of risks. Put simply, business is risk. Financial risk management is a complex, dynamic process requiring quantitative measurement. In recent years, there has been explosive growth in the need to manage financial risk and the firms that provide it. People managing financial risk must be quite comfortable with quantitative concepts and must have the ability to handle large amounts of information. You will be prepared to effectively manage risk for your companies.
Cybersecurity/Management Information Systems (MIS)
Cyber security is a burgeoning discipline requiring skills and knowledge across multiple dimensions, including technology, human behavior, and organizational policies. The Cyber Security/Management Information Systems (MIS) focused area of study in the University of Alabama’s Manderson MBA program focuses on these skills and knowledge, providing students with a general introduction to the principles and practices of cybersecurity in business and organizational settings. Through this focus of study, students will gain the skills necessary to participate in the full spectrum of security program planning, including security policy development and planning for incident response, business continuity, disaster recovery, and crisis management. Students will also be provided with the skills required for the more applied practices of threat detection, analysis, prevention, and remediation. Cybersecurity professionals are in great demand and are experiencing unprecedented job market advantages. The Cyber Security/MIS focused area of study provides the background needed to be a part of this fast-growing profession
Real Estate
The Real Estate Focus continues The University of Alabama's real estate legacy that began over 80 years ago. Designed to provide students with a background in real estate fundamentals and decision making, the Real Estate focus combines many different academic disciplines including economics, finance, sales, management, and law. Students have a unique opportunity to be eligible to take the Alabama Real Estate Salesperson License exam after completing two real estate courses, and a Real Estate focus qualifies graduates for the Institute of Real Estate Management’s Certified Property Manager (CPM) fast track program. Another benefit to students is the Alabama Center for Real Estate's (ACRE) Collegiate Career Assistance Program (CCAP). Housed within the Culverhouse College of Business, CCAP provides student support and resources for professional development and real estate internship/employment opportunities.
Strategic Management and Marketing
As organizational needs become increasingly dynamic, there is a growing demand for problem solvers who can deliver across industries. The option provides an opportunity for students to study in the management, marketing, healthcare or entrepreneurship fields. This area of focus covers an organization’s internal operations and includes business partners, appraisal of present and future partners, and strategic implementation.
Supply Chain and Operations Management
Supply chain and operations management (SCOM) is a discipline focused on activities that aim to improve the efficiency and productivity of firms that compose a complex supply chain. Activities falling within the scope of SCOM include the planning and management of logistics, sourcing, procurement, and production. SCOM also addresses the coordination and collaboration among partners, which can be suppliers, customers, and everything in between. SCOM prepares you to make optimal decisions about a firm’s operation, both internally and as part of a modern and complex global pipeline, from the time a need arises until it is satisfied.
Joint Degrees
JD/MBA
Backed by the world-class faculty and influential alumni networks of both the University of Alabama School of Law and Alabama’s Manderson Graduate School of Business, the JD/MBA program offers a four-year curriculum. Participating students emerge from the cross-disciplinary course of study with highly marketable skills positioning them for success in today’s global environment. Alabama’s JD/MBA students are immersed in a rigorous set of classes. They are involved in real business and legal situations, with the opportunity to interact with key executives and practicing attorneys. If you are searching for a new and strategic way to explore the intersecting worlds of business and law, if you seek a balance of team- and case-based learning, and if you desire unparalleled value for your higher education dollar, you belong at Alabama. Additional details can be found at: https://www.law.ua.edu/academics/jdmba/about/
MBA/MFA – Theatre Management
The combination of theater management and business gives students an edge in the arts. One of three in the country, this unique blend produces top-quality candidates ready to make intelligent management decisions in the challenging and always entertaining world of theater and beyond.
MBA/MS Civil Engineering or MBA/MS Mechanical Engineering or MBA/MS Aerospace Engineering
Engineering and MBA graduates from the University of Alabama offer more than just technical knowledge to their future employers — they combine essential financial skills with engineering through two innovative dual degree programs. Students earn master’s degrees in civil engineering (Civil Engineering, MS – College of Engineering | The University of Alabama (ua.edu)) or mechanical engineering (http://me.eng.ua.edu/graduate/), in addition to an MBA. As Alabama’s automotive, manufacturing, energy, construction, and civil engineering industries continue to expand, financial business skills are essential to guiding engineering projects. As a result, you will be able to immediately impact your future employers through both engineering technical knowledge and the bottom-line financial goals.