Frequently Asked Questions
Other Dual Degree Option(s)
- What are Dual Degrees?
- Why should I pursue a Dual Degree option?
- Do I need prerequisite business courses to be successful in the MBA portion of this option?
- What makes this option unique?
- How does this option differ from the EMP Program?
- Under the Dual Degree Option would I take my MBA courses one year and other program courses the next, or, would I take a mix of both each year? And, how many units should I take each quarter?
- Will the MBA portion of this informal Dual Degree Program, with its optional summer short special session courses, hinder my ability to do a summer internship?
- Are there unique application processes to pursue a Dual Degree?
1. What are Dual Degrees?
Dual degrees informally link the Cal Poly Orfalea College of Business MBA with an MS or MA from another Cal Poly college. Students are required to apply to and be admitted to both the OCOB (accredited by the AACSB) and their other Cal Poly graduate degree program. Successful participants will be awarded both an MBA and MS or MA. The dual degree option is very flexible and can be used to link a number of Cal Poly graduate programs with the MBA program.
The most common dual degree combination is a linkage of the MBA with an MS in an Engineering discipline. For instance, this program would allow for the linking of the MBA and MS in Engineering degrees, thereby providing an informal interdisciplinary cooperative effort between the Cal Poly Orfalea College of Business (OCOB), accredited by AACSB, and the Cal Poly College of Engineering, accredited by ABET. Students could combine the MBA with an MS in mechanical, electrical, civil, aerospace, materials, manufacturing, environmental, biomedical, computer science, computer engineering or any number of other non-engineering related graduate programs. Students are however required to have (or will complete by June) a prerequisite degree in the discipline area for which they wish to pursue the Master of Science/ Master of Arts degree
2. Why should I pursue a Dual Degree option?
From the perspective of the business school, it's simple -- today's marketplace is competitive and regardless of your chosen profession, business is the glue that holds it all together and makes it work. In this environment learning graduate level business skills and competencies in areas such as finance, marketing, accounting, management, law, economics, etc., and integrating that knowledge into skills learned in your other graduate degree program will allow you to work more effectively with your colleagues, clients and external constituents. In fact, the ability to advance in your chosen career/field will depend on your mastery of these business skills. As recently highlighted by a former CEO of Raytheon, "Technology requires management for successful production. We need technologist who [possess business skills and] can actually manage. That fusion is what's so important. Do not think that engineers and management stay in their own little worlds and then the magic happens: It's the exact opposite." The key is integration between business and the skills learned in your other graduate degree program that adds value to your professional portfolio (a sum greater than the parts). Completing dual degrees will move you forward in this regard.
A second reason for pursing two graduate degrees simultaneously, through a dual degree option, is to take advantage of the potentially time-saving ability to have some courses used to satisfy both degree requirements. Although not always possible, many students pursing this option are able to reduce their combined program study time by as much as one quarter over pursing the programs separately.
3. Do I need prerequisite business courses to be successful in the MBA portion of this option?
No. This unique and informal program is specifically designed to provide students from a technical background with the necessary business skills to develop their ability to make data-supported ethical decisions. The MBA offers a full array of core courses and elective courses, along with a focus on our philosophy of "learn-by-doing", to provide essential business knowledge to students.
4. What makes this option unique?
This option allows a student to combine the strengths of the Cal Poly Orfalea College of Business with those of another Cal Poly college's graduate program to provide an interdisciplinary experience that meets the unique needs of each student. This informal integration of business with another discipline, allows participants the possibility to gain two graduate level degrees in two years.
5. How does this option differ from the EMP Program?
The EMP program is a formal dual degree option which is designed to develop graduates who can effectively integrate broad technical/engineering issues with business management issues. The program is clearly defined and the requirements for gaining the MBA and MS Engineering Management degrees are clearly established.
The various informal non-EMP dual degree options are designed to deepen your technical/engineering knowledge through the pursuit of the selected MA or MS degree while adding career enhancing business skills. Stated differently, the EMP focuses on integration (breadth) while the informal dual degree options tends to focus more on depth in the technical area.
6. Under the Dual Degree Option would I take my MBA courses one year and other program courses the next, or, would I take a mix of both each year? And, how many units should I take each quarter?
It depends on what you want, your schedule, and, the schedule of course offerings. The OCOB often recommends that you mix your business and other graduate program courses, and as a practical matter course offerings and availability require most students to do so. For most dual degree combinations, to finish in two years, a mix of courses totaling approximately 16 units each quarter is needed. (Note the OCOB will not allow you to take more than 16 units of courses per quarter). Upon admission we strongly recommend that you come in, meet with us, and plan your specific schedule.
7. Will the MBA portion of this informal Dual Degree Program, with its optional summer short special session courses, hinder my ability to do a summer internship?
Not at all. These two elective/optional summer short special sessions in the MBA program will run the first few weeks before the beginning of the regular Fall quarter, and, roughly 2 1/2 weeks after the June graduation. Thus, there will still be more than ample time for you to pursue an internship during the summer. Moreover, each of the elective four unit courses offered during these sessions (Commercial Development of Innovative Technologies; Effective Communication Skills for Managers; and the International Business Tour to China are intended to offer tremendous value to dual degree students in particular . I.e., they will be worth your while to pursue, and, allow you to complete a portion of your elective business courses. For example, the tech commercialization course provides students with conceptual frameworks and experiences necessary to understand the capabilities of a technological innovation and determine if a sustainable market opportunity exists for that innovation. The communication course builds upon the writing and speaking skills common to most undergraduate curricula, by providing additional concept and skill development specifically tailored to a managerial business environment. The China business study tour is designed to be a transformational personal and business experience for students integrating and applying what they studied and learned earlier in the program.
8. Are there unique application processes to pursue a Dual Degree?
Yes. For these informal dual degrees, the application process begins with applying to one of the desired programs via completing an application on the CSUMENTOR system. Once admission into one program is granted, students may begin to pursue admission into the second program. Traditionally, students adding a second program are held to the same admission standards as all other applicants, however, the submission of the materials may vary. If granted permission to add the second program, a "Change of Objective" form is completed to document the additional degree goal. It does not matter which degree program a student is admitted to first; however, because the admission requirements for the MBA program are more structured and often more rigorous, students often find it more beneficial (and are strongly encouraged) to apply to the MBA program first and then apply to and add the second degree .
Students wishing to pursue a dual degree may, in certain circumstances, be considered for admission during quarters other than Fall quarter (contact the OCOB Graduate Programs Office for additional details and approval).