| THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA GRADUATE CATALOG | |
| Table of Contents > Manderson Graduate School of Business | |
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7.4.4 MASTER OF
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA) DEGREE PROGRAM
Admission Requirements. Admission to the MBA program requires a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Applicants also must show evidence of career interest in management. Relevant employment experience may be considered in the admissions decision but is not a prerequisite. GMAT or GRE scores are required. Candidates who have already completed a post-baccalaureate degree or who have seven years or more of appropriate full-time post-baccalaureate work experience may request a GMAT/GRE waiver. Strong quantitative and verbal skills are required. Students are encouraged to provide evidence of those skills, especially if they are not evident in other application materials. Students whose native language is not English are required to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Following an initial review of completed application materials, qualified applicants are asked to arrange campus interviews. When campus interviews are not feasible, phone interviews may be substituted. Admission recommendations are made by a faculty admissions committee after reviewing a candidate's application materials and are based on an assessment of the candidate's suitability for the Manderson MBA program; the Graduate School makes the final determination on each applicant's recommendation by the faculty admissions committee. A strong academic record is a necessary but not a sufficient criterion for admission. Applications should be submitted by April 15 prior to the fall of the year of intended enrollment. Applications received prior to February 15 will receive priority for financial assistance. Students must begin the program in the fall semester and must be enrolled for four consecutive semesters plus the summer of the intervening year. During the summer, students are expected to be involved in meaningful internships to further enhance their professional experiences.
A student entering the MBA program is expected to have a good working knowledge of word-processing and spreadsheet software.
See the Graduate Catalog's section on admission criteria for additional information.
Program and Degree Requirements. The MBA is a full-time, two-year program in which students take core, concentration and elective courses. The number of hours required for the degree varies by concentration with a minimum of 48 hours. Students take a prescribed program of courses and cross-discipline work that blends the analytical tools of management and the functional areas of business into a general management perspective. Topics include accounting, economics, finance, management, marketing, operations, strategy, communications, information systems, and statistics. In addition, each student pursues elective courses leading to a mandatory area of concentration. All course selections for the area of concentration must be made with the advice of a designated graduate faculty member in the concentration. Teaching methods combine cases, lecture-discussion, and projects. The small size of the program allows faculty members to utilize a variety of techniques for enhancing learning.
Concentration Requirements. The MBA Program offers students a variety of established concentrations, as well as the opportunity to design an individualized study program. Admission to the MBA program does not guarantee acceptance to a specific concentration. Admission to certain concentrations may require a student to participate in additional application procedures including faculty interviews, completion of specific degree requirements, minimum test scores/GPA, and/or specific work requirements. More information about admission to concentrations may be obtained by contacting the director of the MBA Program.
Executive MBA (EMBA) Weekend Program. The Executive MBA program provides working professionals with the tools, skills, and knowledge essential for expanding and/or pursuing new career options in business. Weekend classes allow students to pursue the MBA degree without sacrificing current employment. This program requires 48 hours of course study in a cohort, general management format. Classes meet on Fridays and Saturdays usually twice a month, including an international trip/experience in the fourth term where students will visit with the senior management of global companies of a particular country. Technology is used to enhance classroom learning and to facilitate student and faculty interaction when students are away from campus. On occasion, classes may be held in nearby cities.
Dual Degrees:
JD/MBA Joint Degree Program in Law and Business. The University of Alabama School of Law and the Manderson Graduate School of Business offer students who are interested in combined business and legal career opportunities a law and MBA curriculum culminating in the awarding of the juris doctor (JD) and MBA degrees within four years. Admission is required into both programs. Further information about the joint JD/MBA Program may be obtained by contacting the director of the MBA Program and/or the Law School admissions office as well as by visiting the respective websites.
MBA Dual Degrees in Engineering. The Manderson Graduate School of Business and the College of Engineering offer students from an engineering background an opportunity to receive both their MBA and Master's in Engineering (Civil or Mechanical) within two calendar years. Prospective students must be admitted to both programs before being allowed to pursue the dual curriculum. Further information about the dual MBA/ENG programs may be obtained by contacting the director of the MBA Program and/or the Engineering admissions office as well as by visiting the respective websites.
MBA/MFA Dual Degree. The Manderson Graduate School of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences offer students an opportunity to receive both their MBA and their Master's in Fine Arts (Theater Management) within four years. Prospective students must be admitted to both programs before being allowed to pursue the dual curriculum. Further information about the dual MBA/MFA program may be obtained by contacting the director of the MBA Program and/or the Theater Management office as well as by visiting the respective websites.
Admission is Selective. Five years of work experience at a significant level of responsibility are recommended for applicants. Applicants should have access to a computer when away from campus and a working knowledge of electronic communication and data management. A satisfactory score on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or GRE, and a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university of fully recognized standing (or equivalent) are required for admission. Candidates who have already completed a post-baccalaureate degree or who have seven years or more of appropriate full-time post-baccalaureate work experience may request a GMAT/GRE waiver. Further information may be obtained from the director of Manderson Graduate School of Business.
Admission to Candidacy. Admission to the Graduate School does not imply admission of a student to candidacy for a degree. Admission to candidacy is contingent upon the recommendation of the student's department and the approval of the graduate dean.
The application for Admission to Candidacy for the Master's Degree should be filed after 12 semester hours of graduate credit have been earned at The University of Alabama. It must be approved by the time of registration for the semester in which requirements for the degree are completed.
See the online Graduate
Catalog's section on
Degree
Requirements for information on
Admission to Candidacy
and details of requirements for all degrees offered in the Manderson Graduate School of Business. |
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