OD/MBA Dual Degree

The first program of its kind in the nation, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s 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 a 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 through 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 will understand how to use innovation and strategic thinking to solve healthcare problems. Graduates will become fluent in the languages of science and business, putting them on the fast track to career advancement.

Why UAB MBA?

The UAB Collat School of Business offers a world-class business education in the heart of Alabama’s economic center and is fully accredited by AACSB International, the most prestigious accrediting agency for business education in the world. Students have unfettered access to Birmingham’s business elite, who provide real-world instruction in applying theoretical learning to actual business situations. Additionally, UAB’s MBA faculty include some of the most sought-after thought leaders in their fields, those pushing the boundaries with topical, practical research that goes beyond the “why” to also ask “what if”. The school’s location near downtown Birmingham provides endless opportunities to infuse experiential learning into the traditional classroom experience.