March 12 is a date that is especially significant for the Michael E. Stephens College of Business at the University of Montevallo. At 9:22 a.m. on that day, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education approved the master of business administration degree program at UM, ending a four-year quest to bring graduate education to the Stephens College of Business.

Since that time, the college of business has been busy spreading the word about this addition. Classes began this fall, and the program features small classes, an outstanding faculty that engages students intellectually and personally and the challenge of working with other well-qualified students. The Michael E. Stephens College of Business offers the MBA in a flexible program format designed to serve a variety of student groups.

The full-time MBA option is available to students who can make a full-time commitment to an intensive educational experience. At this commitment level, the 30-hour evening program takes 12 months to complete.

This option lets accounting students who are required to have 150 credit hours to sit for the CPA examination to complete the BBA and MBA with just a few more semester hours.

The part-time MBA option is for the mid- and upper-level professional with work experience, who manages people and projects, and who is employed full-time. The program allows students to take one to four courses each semester. The part-time program can generally be completed in fewer than three years.

Moreover, the UM-MBA not only benefits the business student, but also liberal-arts students from political science or psychology or other fields who will have an opportunity to gain a business skill set.

Combining oral and written communication skills with an extensive well-rounded knowledge base and the ability to see the big picture with an MBA will give students cross-disciplinary integration and a valuable perspective. The MBA can put them over the top, perhaps giving them an advantage over other students.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accredits all programs in the Michael E. Stephens College of Business, including the MBA.

To enroll, prospective students should contact the Office of Graduate Studies at 665-6350 or graduate@montevallo.edu. Visit UM-MBA.com or contact Dr. Tom Sanders, Stephens College of Business, at sanderstj@montevallo.edu or 665-6536 for program details.

Cynthia Shackelford is director of public relations at the University of Montevallo.