Huntsville engineers + manufacturers now have a local MBA that’s made for them
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It’s no secret that Huntsville’s job market is unlike any other in the state—perhaps even in the Southeast. With a robust government contracting sphere, the Redstone Arsenal, FBI Growth and Space Command relocation, the Rocket City needs specific educational programs tailored to its needs.
That’s where a new local MBA offering is filling the gap. The University of North Alabama has expanded its online MBA program by adding two new concentrations designed specifically for engineers, blending advanced technical skills with management expertise to support career growth.
Watch the video below and read on to learn about the new Engineering Management and Manufacturing Engineering concentrations and how they will help Huntsville’s workforce reach new heights.
UNA’s new MBA concentrations: Engineering Management + Manufacturing Engineering
To learn more about the Engineering Management and Manufacturing concentrations, we spoke to one of the masterminds behind this new offering, Dr. Steven Puckett, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at UNA.
Dr. Puckett worked as an engineer before leaving his successful career to start his own business. His hands-on industry experience fuels his work at UNA, making him an effective professor and strategic thinker.
“Back in the day, I had an undergraduate degree in physics, and I didn’t want an MBA. I wanted a master’s degree, but I needed something more technical.
I actually found a program at a university that was taking engineers and technical people and providing the management and MBA skills to directly impact their work.”
Dr. Steven Puckett, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, UNA
Because this experience was so formative for Dr. Puckett, he and others in UNA Sanders College of Business and Technology knew they had to create something similar—especially with the strong government contracting sphere in North Alabama.
“Managing technical teams is very different than your traditional MBA leadership in finance, accounting and marketing. You have to understand processes and systems, and then be able to understand how they affect the team that you manage.”
Dr. Steven Puckett, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, UNA
The cherry on top? These MBA concentrations don’t even require an undergraduate degree in engineering, manufacturing or another technical discipline. That means that UNA’s MBA is an ideal path for anyone wanting to move up in leadership in Huntsville and lead technical teams.
How this MBA path is different than a standard MBA
Because this is not your average MBA, the coursework looks a bit different and includes a variety of technical classes, such as:
Manufacturing Engineering concentration:
- Process safety
- Six Sigma operations management
- Quality management
- And more
Engineering Management concentration:
- Utilizing AI in business processes
- Project management for technical teams
- Strategic leadership in engineering and technology
- Quality and innovation management
- And more
How these concentrations will fill a workforce development gap in Huntsville
We’ve mentioned that this degree can benefit anyone, even those without a background in engineering or a technical field. However, Dr. Puckett also underscored the particular benefit it has for North Alabama engineers:
“As an engineer, you get to the point where you think, ‘I’ve been an engineer for 5-10 years in a company now. What’s my next move? I can go get my master’s in engineering and be 100% technical, or I can go get an MBA and work in leadership, but then I miss all the fun of being an engineer.’
By meshing those two together, you get that MBA piece you need for a supervisory or management position, while still having the technical element that keeps you relevant in your field.”
Dr. Steven Puckett, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, UNA
The ultimate goal of these new concentrations, according to Dr. Puckett, is to fill the management labor gap in North Alabama.
“We feel very strongly that through our MBA concentrations, we can start creating next-level management. When these graduates set foot in their companies, they’ll be ready to go.”
Dr. Steven Puckett, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, UNA
Dr. Puckett also shared some potential career paths that folks could consider after completing UNA’s MBA with one of the Manufacturing Engineering and Engineering Management concentrations:
- Plant engineers
- Plant Managers
- Technical Sales
- Vice President or Director’s position at a government contracting/technical company, etc.
UNA’s MBA at a glance
One of the best benefits of attending UNA for Huntsville residents is its proximity to the university. Unlike enrolling in an online program across the country, UNA’s professors are just 1.5 hours away should students need an in-person meeting.
Plus, they bring real industry experience and interactive lesson plans to the table.
“The biggest differentiator for UNA’s MBA program is our faculty. The majority of them have industry experience.
Our MBA is an online program, but it’s also extremely high quality. You’re not just stuck in a room watching videos all day and answering some questions. It’s interactive. There are a lot of team projects, extra opportunities to learn outside the classroom with your cohort and real-world experiences you can gain.”
Dr. Steven Puckett, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, UNA
- Cost: $585 per credit hour + fees, meaning you can get your MBA for less than $21k
- Time to complete:
- Full-time: 12-18 months
- Part-time: 18-24 months
- Format: 100% online
- AACSB-accredited, putting UNA in the top 5% of business schools worldwide.
- No GMAT required.
- These Manufacturing Engineering and Engineering Management concentrations launched in August, and the next MBA start date is October 13 —apply now.
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