Wharton MBA Dual Degree Programs

Many Wharton MBA students choose to extend their education beyond the Wharton School. Whether it’s an MBA for Engineers,  a JD/MBA, or a dual MBA/Master of Science in Nursing, consider customizing your MBA experience with one of the MBA dual degree or interdisciplinary program options Wharton offers with the University of Pennsylvania and other schools below.

Dual Degree & Joint MBA Programs

A dual or joint MBA degree allows students to complement their business education with another area of study. Some students choose to combine their business degree with a professional program, while others combine their business education with another graduate degree in a particular area of interest to hone their expertise. Wharton offers three integrated interdisciplinary MBA programs at the University of Pennsylvania. These programs allow students to draw from different academic disciplines, pursue a variety of interests and become interdisciplinary thinkers who solve problems with both a creative and analytical approach.

MBA/MA LAUDER JOINT DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

The MBA/MA Lauder Joint Degree in International Studies combines foreign language skills with a passion for international business by integrating the Wharton MBA program with an MA program in international studies from Penn’s School of Arts & Sciences.

THE FRANCIS J. & WM. POLK CAREY JD/MBA

The Francis J. & Wm. Polk Carey JD/MBA Program is a fully integrated three-year joint MBA and JD program that combines the Wharton’s top business school program with Penn’s elite law school. This dual JD MBA program is unique in its three-year curriculum, allowing students to earn two degrees from prestigious schools just blocks away from each other at the University of Pennsylvania. As dual JD MBA programs become more popular, this program’s prestige shines more and more.

MBA IN HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT

The MBA in Health Care Management provides students with strengths in health economics and a focus in health management. As dual MBA and healthcare programs become more popular, this program has become increasingly competitive.APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS

Partnerships with Other Schools

Wharton offers established dual MBA programs with Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and Harvard Kennedy School.

WHARTON + SCHOOL OF ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL STUDIES DUAL DEGREE

This three-year, MA/MBA dual degree program, offered by Wharton and the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of The Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C., prepares students to operate in both business and the international political environment. Students earn an MBA from Wharton and an MA in international relations from SAIS, a program that pioneered area studies and the integration of international politics and economics. While in Washington, students have access to Washington’s resources and to leaders in foreign policy and international trade.

YEAR 1	YEAR 2	YEAR 3
Wharton	SAIS	Semester 1 Wharton
		Semester 2 SAIS

Applicants must begin the Wharton part of their program in Pre-Term, and conferral of each degree is contingent upon completion of all requirements for the other program. Students with less preparation in their chosen field of study or in their language requirement may need additional time to complete the SAIS degree.

Applicants should apply within the cycle directly preceding the year they would like to begin at Wharton. All requests for deferral will be considered within Wharton’s deferral policy.

WHARTON + HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL MPA/MBA AND MPP/MBA DUAL DEGREES

These three-year, dual-degree programs, offered by Wharton and the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) prepare students to operate in both business and public policy or public administration fields. For students with an interest in crafting solutions for public problems across business, government, policy, and more, the dual degree MBA in public policy may be the path for you.

The dual degree option with Wharton allows students to complete the HKS portion of their dual degree over three semesters. The below shows the pathway for students completing the MPA degree where they split the second year between the schools. The MPA/MBA dual degree, MPA/ID and MPP pathways differ in that they require a full year at each school with the third year split between the two.

YEAR 1	YEAR 2	YEAR 3
Wharton	Semester 1 HKS	HKS
	Semester 2 Wharton

• The Master in Public Administration (MPA) prepares its graduates for positions of significant responsibility in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. The program’s curriculum lends itself to individual tailoring with guidance from HKS faculty and administrators.
• Geared to the future leaders in the field of international development, the Master in Public Administration/International Development (MPA/ID) is an economics-centered, multidisciplinary program, combining analytical and quantitative methods with an emphasis on policy and practice.
• The Master in Public Policy (MPP) equips future leaders with a conceptual framework and the specific skills they will need to be successful in public service. The initial emphasis of the curriculum is on building a strong conceptual foundation for analysis, management, and advocacy. This MBA/MPP dual degree program is a good option for students interested in working in politics or government. 

Applicants must fill out applications to both schools during the first year at either school or simultaneously before enrolling at either school. The two degrees may not be completed sequentially. Applicants should apply to Wharton during the application cycle directly preceding their desired Wharton start date. All requests for deferral will be considered within Wharton’s deferral policy.

13+ Dual Degree and Interdisciplinary Programs at Wharton

You can combine your MBA with a degree from one of University of Pennsylvania’s top-rated graduate and professional schools. Listed below are some of the fully integrated programs available to students considering a dual MBA and another degree at the University of Pennsylvania.

Program	Schools	Degrees Conferred	Class Schedule
MBA/MA Lauder Joint Degree in International Studies	The Wharton School & Penn School of Arts and Sciences	MBA/MA in International Studies	24 months, begins in May with immersion
Joint MBA/JD Degree	The Wharton School Penn Law	MBA/JD	3 years, begins in Law School
MBA in Health Care Management	The Wharton School	MBA	22 months
Joint Dental MBA with Wharton and Penn Dental	The Wharton School Penn Dental Medicine	MBA/DMD	5.5 years, 4 years Dental & 3 semesters MBA
Joint Design MBA with Wharton and Penn Stuart Weitzman School of Design	The Wharton School & Penn Stuart Weitzman School of Design	• MBA/MArch • MBA/MLA • MBA/MCP • MBA/MH • MUSA	• 3 years • 4 years • 3 years • 3 years • 2 years
Dual Degree Wharton/Education	The Wharton School & Penn Graduate School of Education	• MBA/MSEd in Education Entrepreneurship • MBA/MSEd in Education Policy	• 13 months, begins in July with immersion bootcamp between years 1 and 2 of MBA program. • Concurrent
Wharton MBA for Engineering	The Wharton School & Penn School of Engineering and Applied Science	• MBA/MSE • MBA/MCIT • MBA/MIPD • DATS	• Varies, 4 to 6 semesters
Environmental MBA with Wharton and Penn SAS	The Wharton School & Penn School of Arts and Sciences	MBA/MES	Concurrent, 3 years or less
Dual MBA and Medicine	The Wharton School & Penn Medicine	MBA/MD	Varies
Dual degree Wharton MBA and Nursing	The Wharton School & Penn Nursing	• MBA/MSN • MBA/PhD	Varies
Dual degree Wharton MBA and Social Work	The Wharton School & Penn School of Social Policy and Practice	MBA/MSW	Concurrent
Wharton/Veterinary Medicine	The Wharton School & Penn Veterinary Medicine	• MBA/VMD • MBA/MS	Varies

Applying for a Dual MBA Degree Program

You can apply for one of the dual-degree programs if you are a current first-year student at one of our partner schools (except any of the Medical Sciences programs, which have different application guidelines) or you plan to pursue the first year of the dual degree at Wharton.

Candidates interested in applying to any other graduate program at Penn not listed above must apply to both programs separately and contact the other  program office for details on their courses. The Wharton MBA will be expected to be completed on a full-time basis, like all other degree candidates, with up to 4 courses being allowed to be taken at other Penn graduate schools.

Please review the specific application processes and requirements for joint and dual degrees.