The Culverhouse College of Business offers one undergraduate degree, the Bachelor of Science (BS). The Manderson Graduate School of Business offers the following degrees: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Accountancy (MAcc), Master of Tax Accounting (MTA), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
The requirements specified in this catalog are intended for all students who begin their college careers during or after fall 2023. Students who have begun their careers prior to fall 2023 may choose to complete the requirements outlined in this catalog, but if they do so, they must complete all of the requirements listed here. Students are not permitted to choose requirements from this catalog and requirements from previous catalogs. The College offers majors in accounting, business cyber security, economics, finance, general business, management, management information systems, marketing, and operations management, in addition to minors and concentrations in a number of specialized areas in business. Business students must complete one major within the College. They may also pursue additional majors, minors, and/or concentrations based on their individual career goals. Earning majors and minors outside of the Culverhouse College of Business is permitted.
The Culverhouse College of Business is a lower division/upper division college, meaning that students must complete their lower division classes and earn 61 hours before they are eligible to declare a major and take upper division courses. Students are allowed to take functional field courses while they are still in lower division, if they meet the prerequisites. The Capstone course must be taken at the end of the student’s undergraduate academic career.
Student Responsibilities
- Select courses that will allow reasonable progress toward a degree in the College
- Meet with an advisor in the Asa H. Bean Undergraduate Student Services Center to select courses for the upcoming semester and develop a long-term academic plan
- Maintain current and accurate contact information (via the myBama portal) and respond promptly to all communications from the University and the College
- Adhere to all relevant University and College policies, procedures, and deadlines
Department and Program Requirements
A total of 120 hours is required for the degree of Bachelor of Science (BS) earned through the Culverhouse College of Business.
Major Programs
The following majors are offered in the Culverhouse College of Business:
- Accounting
- Business Cyber Security
- Economics
- Finance
- General Business
- Management
- Management Information Systems
- Marketing
- Operations Management
Business students must complete one major within the College. They may also pursue additional majors, minors, and/or concentrations based on their individual career goals. Earning majors and minors outside of the Culverhouse College of Business is permitted. Some majors require students to complete a concentration, double major, or approved minor. Students should consult with their advisor and major departments about approved courses of study.
Types of Required Courses
Lower Division Courses
These courses are typically taken by freshman and sophomore students and must be completed prior to declaring a major and taking upper division courses. A minimum grade of C- is required in each course. If a Culverhouse student attempts a lower division course and earns below the required C-, the attempt will not count toward their degree.
| Lower Division Courses | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum grade of C- is required in each course | ||
| GBA 146 | Professional Development Series I: Exploring Your Path | 1 |
| GBA 246 | Professional Development Series II: Choosing Your Path | 1 |
| EN 101 | English Composition (Freshman Composition Core Designation) | 3 |
| EN 102 | English Composition (Freshman Composition Core Designation) | 3 |
| MATH 121 or | Calculus & Applications (Mathematics Core Designation ) | 3 |
| MATH 125 | Calculus I | |
| EC 110 or | Principles of Microeconomics (Social/Behavioral Science Core Designation) | 3 |
| EC 112 | Honors Principles of Microeconomics | |
| EC 111 or | Principles of Macroeconomics (Social/Behavioral Science Core Designation) | 3 |
| EC 113 | Honors Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| MIS 200 | Fundamentals of Management Information Systems | 3 |
| ST 260 | Statistical Data Analysis (Computer Science Core Designation) | 3 |
| AC 210 or | Intro To Accounting | 4 |
| AC 211 | Honors Intro To Accounting | |
| LGS 200 or | Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| LGS 201 | Honors Legal Environment of Business | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Students with the required high school units in mathematics are classified by means of standardized placement tests; only those with satisfactory placement test scores are admitted to MATH 112 Precalculus Algebra or MATH 115 Precalc Algebra & Trig. Students who do not make satisfactory scores should complete MATH 100 Intermediate Algebra before taking MATH 112 or MATH 115. MATH 100, MATH 112, and/or MATH 115 may be counted toward the degree as electives. In certain cases, students with very weak backgrounds in mathematics may be required to complete MATH 005 Introductory Algebra, which is a non-credit course. Students who choose certain concentrations or wish to apply to the Accelerated Master’s Program in Finance or Economics are required to complete MATH 125 Calculus I, MATH 126 Calculus II, and MATH 227 Calculus III, which are each four-hour courses.
General Education Courses
Students in Culverhouse College of Business are required to complete the Core Curriculum/General Education requirements of the university. Click here for a detailed description of these requirements. Students are encouraged to take these courses in their freshman and sophomore years. However, with the exception of the required lower division courses listed above, general education courses can be spread across the student’s entire undergraduate career. For business students, GBA 300 Business Communications and GBA 490 Strategic Management satisfy the core writing requirement and MUST be taken at UA. Business students often satisfy the foreign language/computer language requirement by completing ST 260 Statistical Data Analysis and OM 300 Intro Operations Management; some majors require a specific course to complete this requirement. See departmental sections for details.
Functional Field Courses
These courses are typically taken by sophomore and junior students and provide an overview of several major fields of study in business. A minimum grade of C- is required in each course. If a Culverhouse student attempts a functional field course and earns below the required C-, the attempt will not count toward their degree.
| Functional Field Courses | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum grade of C- is required in each course. | ||
| GBA 346 | Professional Development Series III: Pursuing Your Path | 1 |
| GBA 300 | Business Communications (Writing Core Designation) | 3 |
| MGT 300 | Organizational Theory & Behavior | 3 |
| MKT 300 | Marketing | 3 |
| OM 300 | Intro Operations Management (Computer Science Core Designation) | 3 |
| FI 302 | Business Finance | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
Upper Division Courses
Upper division courses include all 300 and 400 level courses in Culverhouse College of Business that are not defined above as lower division or functional field courses. These can include major program courses, concentration courses, minor courses and the required Culverhouse College of Business capstone course. Junior or senior standing is required to take upper division courses.
Enrollment in Upper Division Courses: In order to enroll in upper division courses, students must have completed all of their lower division courses with a C- or better and have junior standing (61 hours). Students who attempt to enroll in upper division courses in violation of any of these policies will be administratively removed from courses for which they are not eligible. Students may register for upper division courses while still enrolled in lower division courses, but they will be removed from all upper division courses if these requirements are not met prior to beginning the upper division courses.
Capstone Course: GBA 490 Strategic Management is the Capstone Course for Culverhouse College of Business. It must be taken at The University of Alabama and at the end of a student’s undergraduate academic career. A C- or better is required in GBA 490 and it satisfies 3 hours of the 6 hours of General Education Writing course requirement. If a Culverhouse student attempts GBA 490 and earns below the required C-, the attempt will not count toward their degree.
Additional Required Courses
Electives: Between 19 and 21 hours of electives are required for Culverhouse College of Business Students to reach the 120 hours needed for graduation. Courses taken to complete minors, concentrations, or second/third majors count as electives.
International Focus: All business students are required to take at least one course (three hours) with an international focus. The course may be selected from courses in international business or from approved courses with international content in other colleges. Students should consult with their advisor for a list of approved courses. Any course taken abroad will also satisfy this requirement.
Some departments may specify required elective courses. Consult your major department for further information.
Professional Development Requirement
All business students must satisfy the Culverhouse College of Business professional development program, UA Business LEAD, in order to stay eligible for enrollment in the College. Students must earn 250 UA Business LEAD points in Suitable each academic year, by the end of each spring semester. To earn points and complete the program, students are required to take the courses (GBA 146, GBA 246, GBA 346) in the professional development sequence. It is recommended that students take one professional development course per academic year, which will typically be GBA 146 (freshmen), GBA 246 (sophomores), and GBA 346 (juniors). In these courses, students can earn up to 200 LEAD points towards their annual 250 LEAD point requirement. Seniors can earn their required LEAD points through high impact experiences such as internships and study abroad as well as attending executive-style training sessions offered through the LEAD program. Information on additional ways to earn points, details on LEAD point activities, and the LEAD platform (called Suitable) can be found on the UA Business LEAD website at https://students.culverhouse.ua.edu/lead/.
Types of Students in Culverhouse College of Business
Lower Division Student
A lower division student is a freshman or sophomore student who is working to complete lower division courses and general education requirements. See here for a suggested course sequence based on math placement. Lower division students in their sophomore year can take functional field courses if they meet the course specific prerequisites and are advised to do so by their Culverhouse academic advisor.
Upper Division Student
An upper division student is a student who has completed all lower division courses, has achieved junior standing (61 hours), and has declared their major. Please see the section below for the policies and procedures regarding admission to the College’s upper division.
Admission to the College’s Upper Division
Business students are eligible for admission to the College’s upper division upon completion of all lower division requirements outlined below. After the semester in which these requirements are satisfied, students may declare their major, concentration, and minor via the Student tab in myBama. Students who are unable to declare a major should visit an on-call advisor in the Asa H. Bean Undergraduate Student Services Center, 10 Bidgood Hall.
Note: In order to be officially admitted to the College’s upper division, students must declare at least one business major.
Requirements
Students are eligible for admission to the upper division and are therefore able to enroll in upper division business courses if they meet the following standards:
- Students must have achieved junior standing (61 hours). Credit earned by such means as Advanced Placement (AP), CLEP, or departmental placement is counted toward the 61-hour requirement. Students who have completed coursework at another institution and wish to have that work applied to the 61-hour requirement must ensure that transcripts from the other institution(s) are forwarded as soon as possible to The University of Alabama. Any hours completed that are not officially transferred to the student’s University of Alabama record cannot be included in the calculation of the 61-hour requirement. Courses (and hours) in which a student has earned a grade of Incomplete (I) cannot be included in the calculation of the 61-hour requirement until the grade has officially been changed to a passing grade.
- Students must have completed the following required courses with grades of "C-" or higher:
| Lower Division Courses | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| GBA 146 | Professional Development Series I: Exploring Your Path | 1 |
| GBA 246 | Professional Development Series II: Choosing Your Path | 1 |
| EN 101 | English Composition (Freshman Composition Core Designation) | 3 |
| EN 102 | English Composition (Freshman Composition Core Designation) | 3 |
| MATH 121 or | Calculus & Applications (Mathematics Core Designation) | 3 |
| MATH 125 | Calculus I | |
| EC 110 or | Principles of Microeconomics (Social and Behavioral Sciences Core Designation) | 3 |
| EC 112 | Honors Principles of Microeconomics | |
| EC 111 or | Principles of Macroeconomics (Social and Behavioral Sciences Core Designation) | 3 |
| EC 113 | Honors Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| MIS 200 | Fundamentals of Management Information Systems | 3 |
| ST 260 | Statistical Data Analysis (Computer Science Core Designation) | 3 |
| AC 210 or | Intro To Accounting | 4 |
| AC 211 | Honors Intro To Accounting | |
| LGS 200 or | Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| LGS 201 | Honors Legal Environment of Business | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- Except for the general business major, which requires a minimum GPA of 2.0, students are required to have a GPA of at least 2.5 for all college level coursework attempted and a minimum GPA of 2.5 for all University of Alabama coursework attempted in order to be admitted to the upper division of the College and approved to begin upper division coursework. A student whose GPA falls below these standards may petition the Director of Undergraduate Student Services for admission to the upper division if the student’s GPA for the last 30 hours attempted at The University of Alabama is at least 2.5. In order to petition for major declaration based on the student’s last 30 hours, their UA and overall GPAs must be above a 2.0.
Program Types
Majors
The college offers nine major areas of study (Majors): Accounting, Business Cyber Security, Economics, Finance, General Business, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Operations Management. See departmental catalog pages for information on major requirements.
Minors
A minor is a secondary area of study beyond the major. Minors are open to both business and non-business students. Each department offers a number of minors. See departmental catalog pages for information on minors and minor requirements.
Concentrations
Concentrations are specialized areas of focus tied to, or associated with, a specific major. A student must choose the specific major tied to a given concentration. See departmental catalog pages for information on concentrations, concentration requirements, and the major to which each concentration is tied.
Transfer Credit Policies and Procedures
Students in the Culverhouse College of Business may transfer courses from two-year colleges, four-year institutions and international institutions. Click here for more information about The University of Alabama's transfer credit policies and procedures. Culverhouse College of Business will make the final decision as to the applicability of transfer credits toward a student’s degree program.
- For Business programs other than Accounting, Management Information Systems, and Operations Management, a maximum of six semester hours of coursework taken at another institution may be applied toward a student's major program requirements. All major program courses required by the Culverhouse School of Accountancy must be completed in residence. All Management Information Systems and Operations Management major program courses must also be completed in residence.
- Prerequisites for functional field courses cannot be taken in transiency the semester prior to enrolling in the functional field courses, unless all other lower division requirements have been completed and the student has earned 61 hours.
- The following courses must be completed in residence:
Credit Overlap Policy
For the purposes of this Credit Overlap Policy, the three Management concentrations (Entrepreneurship, Healthcare Analytics, and Human Resources) are each considered part of the Management major.
Adding Majors
Business students are required to complete one major. For Business students who want to complete additional majors, the requirements and restrictions are:
- all requirements of each additional major must be met
- each additional major beyond the first must consist of at least 12 unique credit hours
Adding Minors
For students who want to complete one or more minors, the requirements and restrictions are:
- all requirements of each minor must be met
- each minor must consist of at least 9 credit hours that are unique from each of the other minors or concentrations taken
- no overlap between major and minor classes is permitted
Adding Concentrations
For students who want to complete one or more concentrations, the requirements and restrictions are:
- all requirements of each concentration must be met
- each concentration must consist of at least 9 credit hours that are unique from the major(s) (with the exception of Management, where the concentration is considered part of the major)
- each concentration must consist of at least 9 credit hours that are unique from each of the other minors or concentrations taken
- concentrations are limited to one designated major and students taking a concentration must be in the specific major designated for that concentration
Graduation Requirements
In order to qualify for a bachelor’s degree in the Culverhouse College of Business, a student must earn a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit as specified in this catalog. Click here for more information regarding The University of Alabama's graduation requirements.
The following minimum standards of academic achievement must be met by each student who expects to earn a bachelor’s degree from the Culverhouse College of Business. (These standards are subject to change.)
- Each student must earn a GPA of at least 2.000 for all coursework attempted in the major program.
- To earn a concentration, each student must earn a GPA of at least 2.000 for all coursework attempted in the concentration.
- To earn a minor, each student must earn a GPA of at least 2.000 for all coursework attempted in the minor.
- Each student must earn a grade of “C-“ or better in each of the lower division business courses.
- Each student must earn a grade of “C-” or better in each of the functional field courses.
- Each student must earn a grade of “C-“ or better in the Capstone Course
It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that each of the above requirements has been met. Students should meet with an academic advisor each semester and utilize DegreeWorks, the online academic planning system, to ensure that they are making adequate progress toward the degree. The Culverhouse Registrar (culverhouseregistrar@culverhouse.ua.edu) is also available to students who wish to verify their records.
Non-Business Majors in Upper Division Business Courses
Students from other colleges within the university may enroll in upper division Culverhouse College of Business courses (see Types of Required Courses section above), subject to the following conditions:
- Students must have earned a minimum of 61 credit hours. Declared economics majors and economics minors in the College of Arts and Sciences may enroll in 300-level economics (EC) courses before earning 61 hours.
- Students must adhere to the course-specific prerequisites for each course in which they enroll.
Students who attempt to enroll in upper division business courses in violation of this policy will be administratively removed from courses for which they are not eligible.
NOTE: For non-business students not pursing a second major in Business who wish to enroll in upper division business courses, course-specific pre-requisites are generally fewer than those listed in the catalog for business students. Students should visit with an academic advisor in the Asa H. Bean Undergraduate Student Services Center in 10 Bidgood Hall or contact the Culverhouse Registrar (culverhouseregistrar@culverhouse.ua.edu) for more information.
Non-Business Students Pursuing Second Majors in Business
Students from other colleges within the university can pursue a second major in the College of Business. These students must complete the same required courses as students who are earning the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from the Culverhouse College of Business. This includes all required lower-division courses, functional field courses, major program courses, the international focus course, and the Capstone course (see Types of Required Courses section above). Students must meet the requirements to be admitted to the upper division of the College in order to take upper division courses. Any student who is considering a second major in Business should contact both the Culverhouse Registrar and the Registrar for their home college to make sure that all requirements are met.
The academic departments offer concentrations, which are only available to students in a specifically designated business major. Students should consult with their advisor and major department about current offerings and requirements, as these are subject to change. A minimum GPA of 2.0 for all required courses in a concentration is necessary for the concentration to be awarded.
Non-Business Students Pursuing Minors in Business
Students from other colleges within the university can pursue a minor in the College of Business. Students outside of the College wishing to earn a business minor should declare it through myBama as early as possible. Each non-business student can earn only one business minor.
A GPA of 2.0 or higher within the minor must be achieved in order to earn it.
Non-business students must complete the course-specific prerequisites for each minor course and must have earned credit for a minimum of 61 semester hours at the time they enroll in upper division courses (see the Types of Courses section above). Failure to comply with this policy will result in administrative removal from business courses.
Students are responsible for ensuring that they have met all requirements to earn a minor through Culverhouse College of Business. If a non-business student has questions about their minor, they are welcome to visit with an academic advisor in the Asa H. Bean Undergraduate Student Services Center in 10 Bidgood Hall.
NOTE: For non-business students not pursing a second major in Business who wish to pursue a business minor, course-specific pre-requisites are generally fewer than those listed in the catalog for business students. Students should visit with an academic advisor in the Asa H. Bean Undergraduate Student Services Center in 10 Bidgood Hall or contact the Culverhouse Registrar (culverhouseregistrar@culverhouse.ua.edu) for more information.
Admission as a Freshman Student
A student who meets the criteria for admission to The University of Alabama as a freshman is eligible for admission to the Culverhouse College of Business as a student with the intent to major in one of nine different major programs. Specific information about these criteria is available from The University of Alabama Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Box 870132, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0132; 205-348-5666 or toll-free 1-800-933-BAMA in the continental United States.
Entering freshman students will be designated as lower division and will remain as such until all lower division courses have been completed and they have earned 61 hours. All lower and upper division students are housed in the College.
Admission as a Transfer Student
A student who meets the criteria for admission to The University of Alabama as a transfer student is eligible for admission to the Culverhouse College of Business as a student with the intent to major in one of nine different major programs. Culverhouse College of Business will make the final decision as to the applicability of transfer credits toward a student’s degree program.
Transfers from Two-Year Colleges
Undergraduate business programs in this catalog require 120 semester hours for the bachelor's degree. At most, 50 percent of those hours may be taken at two-year colleges and applied toward graduation requirements. Therefore, the maximum number of two-year college hours applicable to a degree in the Culverhouse College of Business is 60 hours.
Only courses that are equivalent to those numbered 100 or 200 at the University (freshman- and sophomore-level courses) may be transferred to the Culverhouse College of Business from two-year colleges. Two year college transfer students may transfer courses equivalent to the following:
- Lower Division courses
- General Education courses
- Electives
Transfers from Four-Year Institutions
Transfers from senior colleges and universities must complete a minimum of 30 credits in residence at The University of Alabama in order to earn a degree from Culverhouse College of Business.
A maximum of six semester hours of courses taken at another institution may be applied toward a student’s major program requirements. All major program coursework required by the Culverhouse School of Accountancy must be completed in residence. All Management Information Systems and Operations Management major program courses must also be completed in residence.
Transfers from Other Divisions of The University of Alabama
Students who wish to transfer from another college into Culverhouse College of Business should consult staff members in the Asa H. Bean Undergraduate Student Services Center in 10 Bidgood Hall to discuss the procedures involved in transferring and the applicability of previous and present coursework.
Students with Bachelor’s Degrees
Students who have completed an undergraduate degree in another discipline and are interested in completing a second degree in business should contact the Culverhouse Registrar to determine their eligibility to earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) from the Culverhouse College of Business. If eligible for the degree, students must meet the requirements described for business majors in this catalog. A minimum of 30 hours of coursework beyond the first degree is required to earn a second bachelor’s degree. For more information, students should consult with the Culverhouse Registrar in the Asa H. Bean Undergraduate Student Services Center in 10 Bidgood Hall.
Academic Second Opportunity
Culverhouse students who are approved for Academic Second Opportunity (ASO) must complete at least 6 hours in residence post-ASO with a 2.500 or higher GPA to declare any of the following majors in the upper division: Accounting, Business Cyber Security, Economics, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, or Operations Management. To declare General Business in the upper division, students must complete 6 hours in residence post-ASO with a 2.000 or higher GPA. More information about Academic Second Opportunity can be found here.
Auditing Courses
A student may register for a course as an auditor with the approval of the both the professor and the department offering the course. The deadline for registering as a course auditor coincides with the deadline for adding courses at the beginning of each semester. Consult the College Registrar for more information.
The requirements that auditors are expected to meet in an audited course are left to the discretion of the instructor. Audited courses do not count toward degree requirements.
Graduation
The following graduation policies and procedures apply to each student wishing to earn a bachelor’s degree in the Culverhouse College of Business:
- A student must be granted admission to the College’s upper division at least one semester prior to graduation. A student who is still listed in the system as lower division will not be able to submit a degree application.
- Each candidate for graduation from Culverhouse must submit an application for degree via MyBama, the online student portal. Students should submit their degree applications online once they have earned 90 hours. Please see the University’s academic calendar at registrar.ua.edu for the graduation application deadlines for each term.
- All transient work should be transferred to the University before a student’s final semester on campus. Students wishing to take courses on another campus during their final semester must seek approval before registering for transient courses and must generate a Letter of Transiency via MyBama.
- Any transient work taken during a student’s final semester must be transferred by the deadline stated on the University’s Academic Calendar.
- All CLEP exams should be taken and the results submitted to the University before a student’s final semester on campus.
Mathematics Courses
Minimally, College of Business students must successfully complete either MATH 121 Calculus & Applications or MATH 125 Calculus I. However, some programs of study, and some graduate programs, require completion of some or all of the standard calculus sequence: MATH 125 Calculus I, MATH 126 Calculus II, and MATH 227 Calculus III. Students should discuss their math courses with their academic advisor.
Below are specific rules that govern mathematics requirements for business students:
- Once a student has earned credit for MATH 112 Precalculus Algebra and/or MATH 121 Calculus & Applications or MATH 125 Calculus I, the student may not earn credit, including CLEP, for lower-numbered mathematics courses.
- A student must take the highest MATH course for which they are eligible, except with special permission from the Department of Mathematics.
- The College will not grant degree credit for any mathematics course numbered lower than MATH 100 Intermediate Algebra at The University of Alabama.
- Per the Department of Mathematics, students cannot earn degree credit for both MATH 121 Calculus & Applications and MATH 125 Calculus I.
Online Courses
An online course with the same course number as a regularly scheduled on-campus course fulfills the same degree requirements as an on-campus course.
Pass/Fail Option
The University and the Culverhouse College of Business offer students the opportunity to pursue University of Alabama courses on a pass/fail basis. Click here for The University of Alabama's policy regarding the option to take a course on a pass/fail basis.
Repeating Courses
Click here for details regarding The University of Alabama's policy on repeating courses.
Students in the Culverhouse College of Business have a maximum of three attempts to successfully complete each required Culverhouse course. If the third attempt is unsuccessful, the student will not be allowed to register for a fourth attempt without permission from the Director of Undergraduate Student Services. If that permission is not granted, the student may change to another division within the University.
Some programs have their own rules for repeating courses required in their majors. Consult department pages for more information.
Accelerated Master's Program
The Accelerated Master's Program allows students to pursue graduate and undergraduate degrees concurrently. These programs are available in several business disciplines and serve students who have exceptional ability. Students should contact their major department for details.