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MBA/MA
Double Degree Program
Overview
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Katz Graduate School of Business, in cooperation with the University Center for International Studies, offer students an opportunity to earn two degrees simultaneously—an MBA and an interdisciplinary MA with a world-region focus (currently East Asia, Latin America, Russia/Eastern Europe, and Western Europe). The MA will be granted only in conjunction with an MBA from the Katz Graduate School of Business. Students will receive both an MBA awarded by the Katz Graduate School of Business (KGSB) and an MA in one of the area programs awarded by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS).
In the rapidly expanding world of international business, specialized knowledge of a country or a world region acquired through graduate-level courses in the humanities and social sciences, as well as demonstrated competence in a relevant foreign language, will clearly enhance participating students' capacities to manage in multinational settings. Additionally, companies that are active in a particular region should regard such preparation especially favorably. The proposed program, moreover, will meet the scholarly needs of students who wish to acquire a measure of regional expertise through a degree program. The interdisciplinary MA program will foster the acquisition of the needed knowledge and understanding in an integrated and efficient manner.
Double Degree Program Structure
The existing requirements for completion of the MBA at the University of Pittsburgh are 51 credit hours. Full-time MBA students accomplish this in an 11-month, 3-term program. All MBA course requirements will remain the same for students in the double degree program except for 6 MBA elective credits, which may be replaced by an equal number of credits of approved MA course work.
In the MBA/MA double degree program, students will be required to complete 30 credits for the MA degree. As part of the 30-credit requirement, students will complete a 6-credit research paper. This paper must be interdisciplinary, focus on a country or a world region within the chosen area studies program and incorporate source materials in a language of the area of concentration. In order to receive the MA degree, students must also pass a written comprehensive examination based on the content of their area studies course work. The examination and research paper committees for each MA student will be nominated by the relevant area studies director and appointed by the Dean of FAS Graduate Studies.
The nature of the area MA course work will vary depending on the interests of the student. Programs of study will be developed in consultation with and approved by the administration of the chosen area program. The courses taken as part of the MA requirements must be chosen from a minimum of two disciplines.
Students enrolled in the double degree program will take MBA and MA course work concurrently. Existing course cycles in FAS and a full range of day and evening MBA courses will be utilized. The assistant director of the International Business Center (IBC) will consult with the participating students and the area studies directors to devise overall programs of MBA/MA study which are compatible with the sequencing of courses in both academic units.
A non-credit multidisciplinary seminar will be offered for students in the double degree program as an aid to integration and exchange of their experiences. Seminar participants will include both FAS and KGSB faculty.
Students will normally be expected to complete the program in five consecutive terms, beginning in the fall term of the first academic year and ending in the spring term of the following year. Students may, however, extend their program of study in order to pursue further language acquisition or an internship.
Foreign Language Competence
In addition to specified area course work, students may need to take language acquisition courses until they have attained a competence level in a relevant foreign language. Credits earned in language acquisition courses will not count towards the MA degree. The typical student will begin the program with substantial foreign-language background. The competence level acquired must, as a minimum, enable the student to use foreign-language sources in research and to communicate satisfactorily in routine social or work environments. Students will be evaluated for language competency by the area studies units, in cooperation with the relevant language department in FAS. The competency evaluations will make use of standardized test scales already in place.
Foreign Internship Possibilities
Up to 6 of the 30 MA credits may be earned in connection with a foreign internship, if work done during the internship is approved as part of the basis for papers prepared for an independent study course or courses. An internship also can be used to provide input for the required research paper: however, the number of credits earned in this case is limited to the 6 credits for the research paper.
Admissions Procedures
Prospective students must meet the full set of admission requirements for MBA study in the Katz Graduate School of Business and for MA study in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Students should first apply for admission to the MBA program. After admission to the MBA program, applicants to the MA program will be assessed by review panels of appropriate FAS faculty. |
