Business Honors Program Print E-mail

Application

The School of Business has a selective Honors Program that offers an honors-level academic experience and enhanced credentials to students seeking top positions in business and related fields after graduation.

The focus of the Honors Program is leadership.  The program allows students to explore their potential roles as leaders at all levels of an organization, from CEO to project team leader, and at all stages of the students’ future careers.  The program also invites students to consider less direct aspects of leadership, such as thought leadership within an organization or industry and the attributes of good “followership.”

The courses taken by students in the Honors Program provide opportunities for involvement in class discussions and exposure to the relevant literature and practice in leadership and in business communications, beyond that which is possible in most other course offerings.  The program offers a shared learning experience which simulates real-world working and learning environments.  It is these characteristics that distinguish the honors experience, not necessarily a greater quantity or more difficult level of work.

The Honors Program provides outstanding career development advantages and opportunities for students interested in accounting, banking, business law, entrepreneurship, finance, general management, graduate study, international business, investment management, and marketing. In recent years, CEOs and senior executives from prominent companies have traveled to our campus to meet with Honors Program students as part of a required course on corporate strategy. These CEOs and senior executives have represented the following companies:
ACIPCO (American Cast Iron Pipe Co.) Medical Properties Trust, Inc.
AT&T, Inc. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
BE&K, Inc. (now part of KBR, Inc.) NCR Corp.
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. PricewaterhouseCoopers
Birmingham Southern College ProAssurance, Inc.
Books-A-Million, Inc. Protective Life Corp.
Children's Health Systems Regions Financial Corp.
Coca-Cola Bottling Company United Russell Corp. (now part of Berkshire Hathaway)
Colonial Properties Trust Southtrust Corp. (now part of Wells Fargo & Co.)
Energen Corp. Synovus Financial Corp.
Ernst & Young, LLP
 Time Warner Cable, Inc.
HealthSouth Corp. Vantage Associates
Hibbet Sports
 Vulcan Materials Co.
Iberia Bank
KPMG, LLP
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

 

Curriculum

The Program consists of a three-course sequence focusing on leadership, corporate strategy, and business ethics:

Junior Year Spring Semester
HON 300 Introduction to Leadership Seminar
What makes for success as a business leader

Senior Year Fall Semester
HON 495 Business Honors Seminar I (cross-listed with BUS 450: Strategic Management Capstone and MBA 634, Strategic Management)
The role of leaders in setting corporate strategy

Senior Year Spring Semester
HON 496 Business Honors Seminar II
Preparation and presentation of a final thesis or project selected by the student


The curriculum offers the advantages of seminar-based learning within a large university, including increased interaction with faculty members dedicated to teaching and providing valuable academic and career guidance. The courses utilize a discussion-driven style centering on case analysis, real-world business experiences and examples, and students’ own insights and perspectives. Through a mentored program format, participants develop the high-level communication, analysis, writing, presentation and research skills exhibited by successful business leaders.

As part of the three-course sequence, students prepare a final thesis or project selected by the student and completed in the senior year spring semester. Students are encouraged to participate in the UAB Undergraduate Research Expo in April.  Upon completing the program, students who are majors in a School of Business discipline receive the special designation of graduating from UAB “With Honors in Business” or “With Honors in Economics.”


Eligibility

Participation is by invitation. Students wishing to be considered for invitation must either declare a major or minor in the School of Business or otherwise have demonstrated a commitment to a business education, and meet the following minimum eligibility requirements:

3.5 GPA in Pre-Business and Business Courses, and

3.0 GPA Overall

Students meeting these requirements should complete and submit an application by October 1 of their junior years (students graduating other than immediately following a Spring semester should contact the Program Director about eligibility). The School of Business Honors Program invites applications from avid students who wish to receive the most from their UAB School of Business educations and enhance their career opportunities by being part of a community of business scholars.


Contact

For additional information, please e-mail the Program Director at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 205. 934.8845.