Dual Degree Opportunities : South Asia

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and the Center for South Asian Studies within the Rackham School of Graduate Studies offer a dual degree program enabling a small number of qualified students to pursue concurrent work in business administration and South Asian 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 combined degree program is not open to students who have earned either the MBA or a Master’s degree in South Asian Studies. Students enrolled 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 South Asian Studies MA 24 credit hour degree program including:

  • Pro-seminar in South Asian Studies (3 credit)
  • 21 graduate credits with South Asia content from at least 3 different disciplines, with at least 12 credits at 500 level or above, 3 of  these at 600 or above.
  • Completion of at least two years of an appropriate area language or second-year language competence.
  • A Master’s essay on a South Asia topic, including registration in SAS 798. These credits do not count toward the total 24.

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 the core courses in the MBA program, most students will find it advantageous to start with year one in the Business School. During years two and three, courses may be taken in both schools. Students who wish to begin with South Asian 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.

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

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

SAMPLE PLAN 1

Starting at Business School

Year 1

Fall Term CoursesCredits
Accounting 5022.25
Marketing 5032.25
Business Economics 5022.25
Strategy 5022.25
OMS 5022.25
Finance 503 or 5132.25
MO 5032.25
Total15.75
Winter Term CoursesCredits
Accounting 5522.25
Operations Mgt. 5522.25
MAP BA 5537.5
Business Elective2.25
Total14.25

Year 2

Fall Term CoursesCredits
Strategy 5031.5
South Asia Requirements6
Business Electives3
Language0
Total10.5
Winter Term CoursesCredits
South Asia Requirement3
Business Electives6
Language0
Business Law or Ethics1.5
Total10.5

Year 3

Fall Term CoursesCredits
South Asia Electives9
Language0
Total9
Winter Term CoursesCredits
South Asia Elective6
South Asia MA Essay1-6*
Language0
Business Elective0
Total7-15

Note: At least three terms of full-time enrollment must be completed in Business Administration. Full-time enrollment is defined as 9 credit hours or more of coursework per term.

Sample Note: Credit per term will vary. Your credits per term may differ from sample.

* These credits do not count toward the 24 required for the MA.