Collat School of Business

Programs

Male student in a UAB baseball cap writing at a table.

To enhance the overall educational experience of high ability learners, the UAB Collat School of Business designed three paths for students to earn a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in an accelerated time-period with lower costs compared to the independent completion of these two degrees.

Once admitted, students can take up to 12 shared credit hours of approved graduate courses that help complete both degrees. Students in ABM programs study, work, and learn with similar high caliber students — much like they would in an honors program — and are prepared for a challenging career when they graduate.

Learn about ABM Admissions

ABM Requirements

In addition to UAB's ABM requirements opens a new website, the Collat School of Business ABM programs require the following:

  • Receive course approval by undergraduate academic advisor and graduate program advisor.
  • A minimum of 60 credit hours (45 must have been taken at UAB).
  • Maintain a GPA of 3.25 or higher in all undergraduate coursework.
  • Receive a B (or higher) in graduate classes taken while still an undergraduate student.
  • Maintain full-time student status at UAB. The MAc program will waive this requirement for terms when an internship causes a drop below the full-time student hour requirement.
  • ABM MBA program only:
    • UAB GPA of 3.7 or higher required for entry.
    • Complete a precalculus course with a grade of “B” or better. Students who have not completed a precalculus class will be required to enroll in a free online Quantitative Analysis review course. This not-for-credit course contains tutorial videos and a short proficiency quiz. Students must achieve a 70% or above pass rate before enrolling in MBA classes.
    • All non-business undergraduate students must complete BUS 101 or BUS 102 with a B or better before beginning MBA courses.
    • Complete a graduate level internship, which counts as one of the two required electives. For students pursuing a concentration, the internship must be in the area of concentration, unless waived by the MBA Director due to previous work experience within their field of study.

Students will be withdrawn from the ABM program if they fail to meet these requirements, but will retain credit for courses already taken in the program.

Once the student has completed all courses required for their undergraduate degree, they will continue in the graduate program and must maintain the requirements of that program. Tuition is then charged at the graduate rate.

Curriculum/Graduate Courses Allowed for Credit Sharing

ABM MAc curriculum

See the MAC program opens a new website in the UAB Graduate Catalog for course descriptions and any prerequisite requirements.

  • AC 514: Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting
  • AC 523: External Auditing
  • AC 530: Financial Accounting III
  • AC 573: Fraud Examination
  • AC 580: Advanced Accounting
  • AC 600: Financial Accounting Research
  • AC 612: Governance and the Business Environment
  • LS 557: Business Law for Accountants

ABM MBA curriculum

See the MBA program opens a new website in the UAB Graduate Catalog for course descriptions and any prerequisite requirements.

  • MBA 601: Accounting and Finance for Managers
  • MBA 608: Strategic Cost Analysis and Decision Making
  • MBA 619: Information Technology and Business Strategy
  • MBA 621: Topics in Corporate Finance
  • MBA 631: Management and Organizations
  • MBA 634: Strategic Management
  • MBA 637: Operations and Supply Chain Management
  • MBA 642: Economics for Managers
  • MBA 651: Marketing Strategy
  • MBA 662: Quantitative Analysis for Business Managers

ABM MSMIS curriculum

Graduate courses allowed for credit sharing are listed below but vary by MSMIS concentration. See the MSMIS program opens a new website in the UAB Graduate Catalog for course descriptions and any prerequisite requirements.

MSMIS with Business Analytics Concentration

  • IS 617: Data Science for Business
  • IS 619: Advanced Business Analytics
  • IS 651: Data Management & SQL for Analytics
  • IS 652: Data Visualization for Business

MSMIS with Cybersecurity Management Concentration

  • IS 613: Information Security Management
  • IS 620: Cyber Attacks and Threat Mitigation
  • IS 621: Incident Response and Business Continuity
  • IS 644: Digital Forensics

MSMIS with IT Management Concentration

  • IS 612: IT Governance and Management
  • IS 621: Incident Response and Business Continuity
  • IS 640: Technology Planning and Capital Budgeting
  • IS 641: Leadership in IT

All Other MSMIS Courses

  • IS 607: Introduction to Cyber Security
  • IS 608: Desktop Analytics with IT Tools
  • IS 611: Information Technology and Business Strategy
  • IS 618: IT Project Management
  • IS 650: Business Intelligence Strategy
  • IS 660: Emerging IT Trends & Technologies
  • Professional Education Faculty
    Alicja Foksinska Arnold MS
    Certified Tableau Desktop Specialist, CISA, CFE
    Teaching Areas: Data Visualization
  • Professional Education Faculty
    Greg Cottrell MBA
    PMP, CSSBB
    Teaching Areas: Project Management, Agile Project Management
  • Co-Director, HLA; Senior Instructor
    Joel Dobbs PharmD, MPH
    Teaching Areas: Leadership, Innovation and Design Thinking, Talent Development, Strategic Planning
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    CSB 372
    View Profile
  • Professional Education Faculty
    Susan Irwin PhD
    PhD, PfMP, PgMP, PMP, PMI-ACP, PMI-SP
    Teaching Areas: Project Management, Agile Project Management
  • Professional Education Faculty
    Sarah Jamison MA
    Certified DISC Behavioral Analyst, Situational Leadership II Certified Trainer
    Teaching Areas: Emotional Intelligence, DISC, Leadership
  • Internship Coordinator: Industrial Distribution; Instructor
    Rush Neil MBA, MIBS
    Teaching Areas: Leadership, Corporate Strategy, Professional Selling
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    CSB 252
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  • Professional Education Faculty
    Mark Sims
    Teaching Areas: Professional Selling, Marketing, Leadership
  • Professional Education Faculty
    Archie Tew
    Teaching Areas: Leadership, Talent Development
  • University Professor
    Molly Wasko PhD, MBA
    Teaching Areas: Innovation and Design Thinking, Project Management, Leadership, Strategic Planning
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    CSB 351
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  • Professional Education Faculty
    Elizabeth Wright MBA
    PMP, PMI-ACP, PAHM, CSPO, CSM
    Teaching Areas: Project Management, Agile Project Management, Leadership
A femal optometrist performing an eye exam.

The first program of its kind in the nation, the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Doctor of Optometry opens a new website/Master of Business Administration (OD/MBA) program exposes students to a truly interdisciplinary approach to learning. Here, the fundamental and advanced principles of both optometry and business converge to provide a greater understanding of the business of eye care.

Why an MBA? 

Some of the greatest challenges in healthcare today are business related. As optometrists find themselves in an increasingly complex business environment, many are choosing to pursue a business education in order to navigate the healthcare system with efficiency and effectiveness. Combining a business degree with an optometry degree can help future healthcare leaders learn to manage rapid change and traverse the uncertainties of management with flexibility.

Students who choose the OD/MBA option often plan careers with both clinical and administrative responsibilities, perhaps opening their own practices. OD/MBA graduates can manage group practices and clinics more effectively and efficiently. Students successfully completing the program should understand how to use innovation and strategic thinking to solve healthcare problems and become fluent in the languages of science and business — putting them on the fast track to career advancement.

Program Specifics

An integrative, four year degree that combines business courses with the OD curricula. Students start their business classes the summer before optometry school and the remaining courses are offered at key times during the remaining four years. Degree plans are also available for those students who decide to pursue the MBA after beginning their OD courses.

The dual degree is a unique offering designed for the ease of the busy optometry student, including a comprehensive all services included approach from start to finish. The dual program is structured around the OD curricula and includes a concierge approach to integration and completion of the MBA dual degree requirements. As a Collat School of Business MBA student, all participants will benefit from an array of services to manage all enrollment requirements, including:

  • Administrative registration for all required MBA courses
  • Professional development seminars
  • Access to faculty mentors
  • On-site tutoring
  • Opportunities for hands-on learning

How to Apply

Students interested in pursuing the dual OD/MBA degree must complete an application through the UAB Graduate School.

Admissions Information

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OD/MBA student spotlight: Nicole Roddy

Glasses resting on black leather portfolio; cover says UAB MBA.

Nation's first joint OD/MBA degree program opens at UAB

Program Contacts

Woman in a blue suit speaking in front of a display with health-related data.

The Master of Science in Health Administration & Master of Business Administration Program (MSHA/MBA) is offered cooperatively by the UAB School of Health Profession's Department of Health Services Administration opens a new website and Collat's Graduate School of Management. The coordinated MSHA/MBA program is a 30-month program, including 21 months of courses on campus plus a 9-month administrative residency.

The program blends academic coursework and directed experience in institutional operations and policy. Students acquire a broad base of knowledge and skills that empower them to successfully lead and manage as top-level executives in health service organizations. The administrative residency is conducted under the preceptorship of a high-level administrator in the host institution and provides the student with a top-notch applied learning experience along with a stipend.

The program has a diverse faculty with expertise in health services applications such as accounting, economics, finance, human resource management, law, management information systems, marketing, organizational behavior and theory, and quantitative methods.

Why an MBA

If your career aspirations include leadership or executive positions in healthcare organizations including startups or launching your healthcare-related business, an MBA can provide a broader set of business skills that can be valuable. Combing business skills in financial management, strategic planning and decision-making and entrepreneurship with your healthcare administration knowledge makes you a well-rounded candidate for a variety of leadership roles in the healthcare sector. 

Program Specifics

View the curriculum opens a new website for the MSHA/MBA dual degree program. 

Funding

Limited scholarship and traineeship funds are available. These funds are awarded based on need and scholastic record. The number of awards varies from year to year.

How to Apply

Students who wish to pursue coordinated MSHA/MBA degrees must apply and be admitted to the MSHA program and the MBA program independently.

Admissions Information

Program Contact

For specific questions concerning the MSHA program, please reach out to Heather Lee, MPH opens a new website with UAB School of Health Professions.

Young male teacher in charcoal shirt and black and white tie in front of a class.

The coordinated Master of Public Health (MPH) / Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program is offered through UAB's School of Public Health opens a new website and Collat School of Business. Changes in the health care delivery system in the United States have created a substantial demand for persons with both public health backgrounds and business administration skills, making the pursuit of the MPH and MBA degrees an attractive option. 

Why an MBA?

Combining an MBA with an MPH can be particularly beneficial if you are interested in healthcare management, policy or leadership roles requiring you to balance financial, organizational, and public health considerations. Having a strong business foundation with management and leadership skills, and public health expertise equips you with a competitive advantage to develop a deep understanding of complex healthcare issues and how to improve them.

Program Specifics

Learn more about the MPH/MBA program and curriculum requirement opens a new website

How to Apply

Students who wish to pursue coordinated MPH/MBA degrees must apply and be admitted to the MPH program and the MBA program independently.

Admissions Information

Related News

MPH/MBA student spotlight: Kathryn McGriff

Program Contact

For specific information concerning the MPH program, contact the School of Public Health at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  
A female faculty member instructing a female student in an engineering lab.

UAB's Collat School of Business and School of Engineering opens a new website partner to empower students to combine the analytical and technical skills taught in the Master of Engineering program (MEng) with critical skills needed to lead teams, manage projects, and solve business problems. Students can concurrently pursue a MEng and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a balanced course schedule and reduced total credit hour requirement through our MEng/MBA Dual Degree.

Why an MBA?

While engineering professionals often possess analytical capability that is highly valued in the business world, they often lack the business skills to leverage this capability. Leaders need to synthesize diverse information and repackage it so that people can understand it. Management requires the ability to connect with others, collaborate on projects, and influence your co-workers to meet organizational goals. Those interested in management or starting their own companies need to be able to tackle larger and more abstract strategic problems such as project management, budgets, forecasting, cost estimation, and proposal development.

Program Specifics

In this dual degree program, students can apply two courses from the MEng program as electives towards the MBA program requirements. This leaves MEng/MBA students with ten courses to take in the MBA program. All MEng courses are taught online. MBA courses can be taken online or in the classroom, meeting once a week in the evenings.

Students select from the following MEng specialized concentrations: Construction Engineering Management, Information Engineering Management, Sustainable Smart Cities, Structural Engineering, and Advanced Safety Engineering Management. Learn more about the MBA dual degree curriculum requirements and see the MEng program website opens a new website for details on the related MEng program of your choice. 

How to Apply

Students who wish to pursue the MEng/MBA dual degree program must apply and be admitted to the MEng and MBA programs separately.

Admissions Information

Program Contact

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Collat School of Business