FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

• WHAT IS AN EXECUTIVE MBA PROGRAM?
• ARE THERE ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TUSCALOOSA & HUNTSVILLE EMBA PROGRAMS?
• WHO ARE YOUR STUDENTS?
• WHERE ARE CLASSES HELD?
• WHAT DEGREE DOES THE STUDENT EARN?
• HOW IS THE EMBA DEGREE DIFFERENT FROM A REGULAR MBA?
• HOW DO I VISIT A CLASS?
• IS FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE?
• WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL IMMERSION WEEK?
• DO YOU ACCEPT TRANSFER CREDITS?
• HOW DO I APPLY?
• DO I HAVE TO TAKE THE GMAT OR GRE BEFORE I APPLY?
• ARE WAIVERS AVAILABLE FOR THE GMAT OR GRE?
• ARE THERE ANY COURSE PRE-REQUISITES?
• IS AN INTERVIEW REQUIRED?
• WHEN ARE INFORMATION SESSIONS HELD?

Ask an EMBA student

• Is the program every other weekend? Where did you stay in Tuscaloosa? Is it very time consuming?
• Overall, do you feel like the program was worth the money and time?

WHAT IS AN EXECUTIVE MBA PROGRAM?
An Executive MBA Program is designed for mid- to senior-level business professions who are looking to broaden their knowledge base.  The program is lock-step, meaning that students begin the program together and attend all classes together.  Taught in a boardroom-style approach, participation facilitates rich discussion.  Beginning in 2008, The University of Alabama will add a new location, with two cohorts: Tuscaloosa and Huntsville. 

ARE THERE ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TUSCALOOSA & HUNTSVILLE EMBA PROGRAMS?
Students enrolled in these programs receive the same M.B.A. degree as our full-time M.B.A. students. Some of the key differences are outlined below in the comparison table of the two different programs:

*The Huntsville EMBA (HEMBA) Program is a University of Alabama degree offered in cooperation with The University of Alabama in Huntsville. Back to top

WHO ARE YOUR STUDENTS?
The program is designed for professionals with a record of achievement and demonstrated leadership ability. The program draws students with a range of cultural, personal and professional backgrounds. Student backgrounds include banking, health care, law, technology, manufacturing, engineering and healthcare, and they have an average of 13 years of work experience upon entering the program. (Click here for our class profile) Back to top

WHERE ARE CLASSES HELD?
For the Tuscaloosa EMBA Program classes are held at the Bryant Conference Center at The University of Alabama.   For the Huntsville EMBA Program classes are held in the Business Administration Building at UA-Huntsville.  All EMBA students have easy access to a wide-array of student services including professional leadership development, library resources, technical support plus many other cultural, academic, and recreational resources of the university. (For directions visit our contact page)

Students from the Tuscaloosa Program choosing to take advantage of our lodging option will stay at the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton adjacent to the Bryant Conference Center. For our Huntsville students, lodging will be avaiable at the Hilton Garden Inn in Huntsville. Back to top

WHAT DEGREE DOES THE STUDENT EARN?
The University of Alabama awards the same degree as the traditional full-time MBA program, with the same rigorous curriculum, and taught by the same world-class faculty. The degree is a UA degree. Back to top

HOW IS THE EMBA DEGREE DIFFERENT FROM A REGULAR MBA?
It is a general management degree designed for executives only.  This lock-step program is taught in an accelerated pace.  The fulltime M.B.A. degree offered by The University of Alabama is a two-year program that allows each student to specialize in one topic.  The fulltime M.B.A. program does not include an international study trip. Back to top

HOW DO I VISIT A CLASS?
Open Classroom Weekends are held four times throughout the year.  Our next Open Classroom Weekend can be found on our events page.  Back to top

IS FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE ?
Financial aid is available through federal and private educational loans. For more information on financial aid, contact Betty Teat in the Office of Student Financial Aid, Box 870162, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0162; 205/348-6756. Back to top

WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL IMMERSION WEEK?
This session integrates in the final semester many of the concepts participants have studied across a wide range of disciplines; provides a comprehensive understanding of economic, political and cultural issues in a particular country. Each course consists of a weeklong trip overseas. The seminar includes company visits and meetings with local business leaders and government officials. Recent destination for EMBA Class of 2008 was Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary. Back to top

DO YOU ACCEPT TRANSFER CREDITS?
Manderson EMBA Program generally does not accept transfer credits. Back to top

HOW DO I APPLY?
To optimize ease and convenience, the application process for the EMBA program can be handled online. For detailed instructions and an application, please visit http://emba.cba.ua.edu , or contact Donna Blackburn, Assistant Director, 205.348.8748. Back to top

DO I HAVE TO TAKE THE GMAT OR GRE BEFORE I APPLY?
All applicants must take either the GMAT or GRE exam. The GMAT/GRE must be taken before a decision is rendered. We will accept GMAT/GRE scores taken no more than five years before application. If you take the GMAT/GRE more than once, we will consider the highest score, as long as that score falls within current test date requirements. We require a minimum score of 500 on the GMAT or 1000 on the GRE. Back to top

ARE WAIVERS AVAILABLE FOR THE GMAT OR GRE?
We do grant occasional waivers for the GMAT and GRE, for those candidates who have substantial senior management responsibility and have earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited university in a rigorous technical or quantitative discipline with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better, or they have earned a graduate or doctoral degree in a technical, quantitative, medical, law, or engineering field, with a GPA of 3.0 or better. For more information on GMAT/GRE waivers, contact our office at 205.348.8748. Back to top

ARE THERE ANY COURSE PRE-REQUISITES?
There are no pre-requisites for the EMBA program. Unlike a full-time M.B.A. program, the EMBA program requires 48 credit hours versus 60 hours. Foundation courses are covered in the first semester.  We do, however, expect students to have an understanding of basic math, accounting and statistical concepts.

See our Requirements page for the requirements for admission. Back to top

IS AN INTERVIEW REQUIRED?
Yes, an interview is a required part of the admissions process.  The in-depth interview will take one to one-and-a-half hours to complete.  The interview may be scheduled on campus or at a location closer to your home or work. You may arrange an interview by contacting Donna Blackburn, at 205.348.8748. Back to top

WHEN ARE INFORMATION SESSIONS HELD?
Recruiting & Networking events, Open House sessions and Open Classroom Weekends are held throughout the year in select cities.  Recruiting & Networking events allow for you to talk informally with alumni and students, Open Houses are more formal sessions that detail the program, and Open Classroom Weekends allow you to experience the program as a student. Register now for an upcoming event using the Events Calandar.  Back to top

The Manderson EMBA also provides up to 5 scholarships per class for applicants who obtain a GMAT/GRE score of 600/1200 or better. See Fee Schedule for more information. Back to top

For a downloadable version of our Frequently Asked Questions, click here.

Ask our EMBA Students

Is the program every other weekend? Where do you lodge? Is it very time consuming?

For the most part, the program is every other weekend (Friday evenings and all day Saturday). There are occasional conflicts during football season for the Tuscaloosa program that require adjustment in the class schedule, but the EMBA administration does an excellent job at arranging the schedule so to minimize effects on the student.

The EMBA classes are held in Tuscaloosa as well as Huntsville. The EMBA class stays at the Four Points Sheraton in Tuscaloosa, located next to the Bryant Conference Center where the classes are held. The Huntsville EMBA classes are held on the UA-Huntsville campus in the Business Administration Building.

The program itself can be time-consuming. This really depends on the student; however, on average I would say that if you can dedicate about 15 hours a week to the program, you will have no problem meeting the requirements for your MBA. As a married student with two children, I enjoy spending time with my family.  Typically I spent no more than 2-3 hours during the work week and 6 to 7 hours on the off Saturday and made it through the program with a 3.63 GPA.

The professors in the program are top-notch. I know you may hear this from other schools, but these instructors are the best. They have outstanding credentials. Dr. Morgan is the 10th most quoted marketing professor in the world, while Dr. Strickland writes the strategy book used at numerous universities around the globe including Harvard, and of course, Alabama.

The instructors are very helpful in working with the students and will help in whatever way they can to make sure you learn the material and reach your goal of graduation. Each professor is truly dedicated to their field of study and this shows in their enthusiasm for their class. Back to top

Overall, do you feel like the program was worth the money and time?

The program was definitely worth the time and investment. I have formed lasting friendships, learned from the some of the best professors in the business world, and did not have to worry about anything logistically.

As far as cost, I believe it was worth the money that I invested in the program. The value that the degree holds, being from the top ranked business school in the state, will pay for itself in a few short years. It has already opened the door for me to move back to Texas with a great job at a great salary - so to me, it has already paid for itself.

When compared to other EMBA programs, it is definitely worth every dollar that you spend.You will get a high quality degree from a prestigious Tier I university at half the cost of other programs.

Not to mention that the program is great because it allows you to attain your M.B.A. in 18 months. I would have been required to take numerous "catch-up" business courses just to start an MBA. program (my bachelor's was in nuclear engineering), not to mention the time and years (3) that it would have taken me to get my M.B.A. once I was admitted to a program.

Alabama will provide you with a high-quality degree, lifelong friendships, a great staff and instructors -and it does all of this for you in 18 short months. Back to top

To see what our alumni are saying about the program, visit the Testimonal page.

For any additional questions, please contact us.