Launched in Fall 2016, 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 the completion of an undergraduate degree.
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 have the opportunity to 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.
Abi Brewer blends art and business through the Manderson CREATE Path to the MBA. Her dedication to painting and strategic approach are fueling her ambitions in the art world. As Brewer works to shape a dynamic future for the arts in Tuscaloosa, her story highlights what happens at the intersection of creativity and entrepreneurship.
You can apply to the CREATE Path to the MBA after being admitted to both The University of Alabama and the Honors College. Applications are open until the seats in the freshman class are full, at which point students are eligible to be placed on the waiting list. Therefore, it is better to apply for the CREATE Path to the MBA earlier rather than later to secure a spot in the freshman class.
Admission to the CREATE Path to the MBA is not automatic. You must fill out the online application here to be considered for admittance. Admittance will be communicated via your Crimson email address, typically within ten days.
Apply to the CREATE Path to the MBA for Entering Freshmen
The standardized test scores and GPA requirements match those of the Honors College (3.5 high school GPA and 28 ACT or 1250 old SAT/1310 new SAT), and you must also be a member of the Honors College to be eligible for the CREATE Path to the MBA.
In the fall of your junior year, you will apply separately to the MBA Program. The application process is similar to that of the traditional MBA path. You must have a 3.0 minimum undergraduate GPA and preferably a 600 GMAT/305 GRE. You will also secure several supporting documents, including a resume, statement of purpose, and recommendation letters. Consistent with the requirements of the Graduate School, you will need at least 91 credit hours completed before you can begin graduate-level coursework. So, by the end of your junior year spring semester, you must have at least 91 credit hours.
More information about the MBA Program’s admission requirements.
Running alongside the STEM Path to the MBA, you will take a STEM Business Honors course each semester worth 1.5 credit hours that meet for 75 minutes per week. The class size is limited to 35 students, and each semester covers a business topic like Marketing, Accounting, or Operations Management, among others. In addition, you will engage in several group projects, closing out each semester with a case study based on the semester’s business topic. You are encouraged to stay with the same faculty member for each STEM Business Honors course to develop a mentorship with your professor and a sense of camaraderie with your cohort. Additionally, the STEM Business Honors courses will fulfill your departmental honors credit requirement as a student in the Honors College.
After you are admitted into the MBA Program, you will take one summer semester of three online MBA classes between your junior and senior years. The courses are online to allow you to engage in study abroad, internship, or co-op experiences while staying on track academically. During senior year, you will take another set of 1.5 credit hour STEM Business Honors courses dedicated to your senior project. You will take another semester of three online MBA classes between your senior year and MBA year. Finally, you will return to campus and take five courses in the fall and five courses in the spring to complete the MBA.
Starting freshman year, you will be assigned group innovation projects every semester that involve developing business models for new products or businesses. These innovation projects are themed; some past examples include NASA IP, a project focused on creating a marketable application of NASA intellectual property, and SmartCampus, which focuses on integrating modern techniques and technologies into university campuses to solve everyday problems. Typically, there are two innovation projects per semester. Additionally, as a final project, there is a case study focusing on the business topic of the semester. During your senior year, you will work on a year-long group project sourced from actual companies on the STEM and CREATE Paths to the MBA Advisory Board.
Freshman Year:
Sophomore Year:
Junior Year:
Senior Year:
MBA Year:
*Assumes completion of 91 credit hours and admission to Graduate School
The faculty and staff of the program are shared between the STEM Path to the MBA and the CREATE Path to the MBA. For general questions, feel free to send an email to stemcreate@culverhouse.ua.edu or call 205-348-8958.
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