Dual Degree Opportunities : Asian Studies

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and the Center for Chinese 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 Chinese studies leading to the MBA/MA degrees.

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

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 awarded for Business Administration core courses successfully waved, credit must be earned with Business electives);
    • Roughly 15 elective hours in Business Administration;
    • MBA Communication Requirement.

2) The Center for Chinese Studies 24 credit hour degree program, including:

  • The interdisciplinary seminars in Chinese Studies: CCS 501 (social science) and CCS 502 (humanities)
  • One course from the history department on Chinese history
  • One course focusing primarily on the imperial or pre-imperial period
  • Once course focusing on modern China
  • MA thesis (may register for Strategy 750 or CCS 700)
  • Third year level Chinese language competency

Chinese Language
Students in the MA program in Chinese Studies must complete 3rd year competence in reading and speaking Chinese. Students are encouraged to apply for summer language study fellowships which can enable students with limited prior language training to fulfill the language requirement. Under special circumstances MBA/MA dual degree students can petition to be allowed to satisfy this requirement with only one semester of 3rd year Chinese. Note that only 4th year level language classes can count toward the CCS degree credit requirement.

Total credit hours must be at least 69 (24 MA credits + 45 Business Administration credits). Under most circumstances the MBA/MA dual degree can be completed in 3 years.

Applicants interested in the MBA/MA in Chinese Studies combined program must obtain applications directly from the Business School and the Center for Chinese Studies. Applicants must file the appropriate applications to and be admitted by both units. Applicants should indicate on both applications that they are applying for this specific dual degree program.

For basic information on the MA/MBA joint program, please visit the Center for Chinese Studies web site.

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

(First-Level Language Skills)*

SAMPLE PLAN 1

Starting at Business School

Year 1

Fall Term CoursesCredits
LMT of BCC*0
Accounting 5022.25
Marketing 5032.25
Business Economics 5022.25
Strategy 5022.25
Finance 503 or 5132.25
OMS 5022.25
MO 5032.25
Total15.75
Winter Term CoursesCredits
LMT of BCC*0
Accounting 5522.25
Operations Mgt. 5522.25
MAP BA 5537.5
Strategy 5031.5
Total13.50

Year 2

Fall Term CoursesCredits
3rd Level Chinese0
CCS 501-Social Science Seminar3
China Requirements6
Total9
Winter Term CoursesCredits
3rd Level Chinese0
CCS 502 – Social Science Seminar3
China Requirement6
Total9

Year 3

Fall Term CoursesCredits
Business Electives8.25
Business Law or Ethics1.5
Chinese History3-4
Total12.75-13.75
Winter Term CoursesCredits
Business Electives6
Chinese Requirement3
Total9

* This is the plan for First-Level Language Skills starting at the Business School. A plan does exist for students with Second-Level Language Skills as well as a different track starting from the Center for Chinese Studies.

** Language Maintenance Tutoring; could be completed in one semester.

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. Additionally, business electives should primarily be courses pertaining to international business.

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