TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Culverhouse College of Business and its Manderson Graduate School of Business have introduced a new accelerated program designed to prepare business students for graduate study and career success.
Launched in spring 2026 and targeting incoming freshmen for fall 2026, the BIZ Path to the MBA allows high-achieving undergraduate business majors to earn their MBA just one calendar year after completing their bachelor’s degree. The program joins the STEM Path and CREATE Path to the MBA, expanding Culverhouse’s interdisciplinary academic portfolio. Blending hands-on learning, global exposure, and an accelerated timeline, the BIZ Path to the MBA is designed to prepare Culverhouse students to lead in an increasingly complex business world.
“The BIZ Path to the MBA prepares undergraduate students personally and professionally to move into graduate study and be ready for their careers,” said Dr. Rob Morgan, program coordinator for the Path to the MBA portfolio of programs. “Students are exposed to multiple business disciplines while working in teams with peers from engineering, science, and creative fields.”
Through cohort-based coursework, students engage in innovation projects, explore global markets, and develop critical professional skills. The program includes virtual study abroad experiences, where students collaborate with consumers and business leaders in developing markets such as Colombia, Kenya, and India.
“These experiences help students understand global business environments and how important emerging markets are to their future employers,” Morgan said.
A key advantage of the BIZ Path is its accelerated structure. Students complete their MBA in one additional year rather than the traditional two, while building long-term relationships with faculty and peers.
“Students develop connections over several years, creating strong mentorship and collaboration opportunities,” Morgan said.
Although newly launched, the program is rooted in a vision first proposed in 2015 to create a collaborative learning ecosystem across disciplines.
“The idea was to bring together students from business, science, engineering, and creative fields for a five-year experience that prepares them for almost anything,” Morgan said.
Early interest has been strong. BIZ Path students already account for 28% of the fall Path to the MBA cohort, just months after the program’s debut.
Students interested in the program may learn more here or contact Dr. Rob Morgan at rmorgan@ua.edu.