Dual Degree Opportunities

Dual Degree Programs

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and the Center for Japanese Studies within the Rackham School of Graduate Studies offer a dual degree program enabling a small number of qualified persons to pursue concurrent work in business administration and Japanese studies leading to the MBA and MA degrees.

The program is arranged so that all requirements for both degrees are completed in three years of enrollment. The degrees are awarded simultaneously.

This dual degree program is not open to students who have earned either the MBA or MA in Japanese Studies degree. Students registered in the first year of either program may apply.

Students admitted to this dual degree program must satisfy the following degree requirements:

1) The MBA 57 credit hour degree program including:

• 45 Business Administration Credits, made up of:
  • Roughly 30 credit hour MBA core (no credit is awarded for Business Administration core courses successfully waived; credit must be earned with Business electives);
  • Roughly 15 elective hours in Business Administration;
  • MBA communication requirement.

2) The required Center for Japanese Studies courses, including:

• 24 hours of Japanese Requirements;
• Japanese language requirements: third year level Japanese language competency must be achieved for the dual degree—students whose language competence is beyond third year level will be encouraged to continue language training throughout the program (language level is determined at the beginning of the program via a test administered by the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, using University of Michigan standards; please see the student services representative in the Center for Japanese Studies to determine an appropriate course plan after language has been assessed).

The total credit hours for the dual degree program must be at least 69.

The dual program may begin with studies in either school; however, because of the sequenced nature of core courses in the MBA program, most students will find it advantageous to start with year one in the Business School. During year two, students will complete courses in the Center for Japanese Studies. In year three, courses might be taken in both schools. Each school will apply its own deferred admissions standards to students who elect to take the first year in the other school. Students who wish to begin with Japanese Studies should see a counselor in the Business School to arrange an appropriate plan of study. No course work completed prior to admission in either of the two halves of the dual program may be counted toward the MBA requirements of the dual program. No transfer of credit from other institutions will be accepted for any part of this program.

Applicants interested in the MBA/MA in Japanese Studies combined program must file separate applications to be admitted by both schools. Applicants must indicate on both applications that they are applying for this specific dual degree program.

For basic information on the MA/MBA in Japanese Studies and Business program, please visit the Center for Japanese Studies web site.

Please see below for a sample plan of this dual degree program.