International Policy Added to Stanford GSB’s Dual Degree Mix: MBA News

By Tim Dhoul Updated Dec 04, 2019

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Introduction
Analyzing global 21st C. challenges through international policy

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Stanford GSB has announced the launch of a new dual degree that combines its MBA program with an MA in International Policy Studies from the university’s School of Humanities and Sciences.

Culminating in two qualifications after three years, the dual degree format shaves a year off the time it would take to pursue these two degrees separately.

The dual or joint degree format is growing in popularity at Stanford GSB, with the school estimating that one in six MBA students are now choosing to take on a second degree in a bid to secure greater breadth in their skillsets.

“More and more we find that students benefit from a multidisciplinary learning experience. With Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences just down the street from the business school, it is possible to bring together the best resources in multiple fields for our students,” Madhav Rajan, senior associate dean for academic affairs at Stanford GSB, said in a press release.

Analyzing global 21st C. challenges through international policy

The international policy/MBA dual degree is aimed at those who want to pursue careers that bridge the work of businesses with that of governments across the world – for example, with international organizations or NGOs.

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Students need to have been accepted onto both programs independently and kick off with Stanford GSB’s MBA core modules before combining MBA electives with the international policy program in the second year and finishing their MA requirements in the third.

The MA segment is a multidisciplinary degree in itself, and addresses 21st century issues affecting countries around the world through the study and analysis of international policy systems. Students can also specialize in particular areas – in international economic systems, for example, or in global approaches to issues of development, security or the the environment.

It is therefore quite distinct from the university’s existing dual degree that combines a public policy degree (MPP) with an MBA, a degree also available at Harvard – alongside its similarly-themed MBA with a Master in Public Administration-International Development.

Other comparable offerings to Stanford GSB’s latest addition include the Master’s in Global Policy Studies and MBA dual degree from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin and Georgetown’s public policy partnership with the University of Geneva’s International Organizations MBA. Meanwhile, Chicago Booth offers an MBA with an international relations MA.

Back at Stanford GSB, the new program joins a joint/dual degree roster that includes a JD/MBA, an MD/MBA and an MBA/MS in Computer Science.

Written by

Tim Dhoul

Tim is a writer with a background in consumer journalism and charity communications. He trained as a journalist in the UK and holds degrees in history (BA) and Latin American studies (MA).