Dual M.S.E. Electrical Engineering/Master of Business Administration

The mission of the Dual Degree M.S.E. in Electrical Engineering/MBA program is to educate working engineers and scientists in the engineering and business disciplines that will make them leaders of complex technical endeavors within their sponsoring organizations.

The dual degree M.S.E./MBA program will confer two degrees upon its graduates: an MBA and an M.S.E. in Electrical Engineering. Pursuing the dual degree program saves the student several courses compared to pursuing the two degrees separately.

The dual degree program is designed to be completed in approximately three years. Typically, electrical-engineering courses are completed first, followed by taking the required courses in the MBA program.

Learning Outcomes

For the MSE in Electrical Engineering:

Graduates will:

Possess in-depth expertise for a successful engineering career and/or a successful undertaking of further graduate level studies, including but not limited to:
- an ability to apply advanced knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems in a specialized area, such as electronic circuit design, telecommunications and networks, or digital and computer engineering
- an ability to apply both analysis and synthesis in the engineering design process, resulting in designs that meet constraints and specifications, which include societal, environmental, and ethical factors as appropriate to the design
- an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation and testing procedures using advanced analytical/numerical techniques and/or modern engineering tools, and to analyze and draw conclusions from data
- an ability to conduct graduate level research with adequate research skills including information literacy and self-learning
- an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences through various media
- an ability to plan and manage engineering projects, including goal establishment, task scheduling, and risk and uncertainty management
Meet the challenges of the future through continuing professional growth
Exhibit concern for social and environmental impact of engineering decisions

For the MBA:

Graduates will possess the knowledge and skills to be able to apply key business concepts in organizational settings. 
Graduates will possess the knowledge and skills to manage in a global economy 
Graduates will possess critical thinking skills and the ability to integrate concepts. 
Graduates will have the ability to communicate effectively. 
Graduates will have the knowledge and skills to function effectively as members, managers, and leaders in the organizations in which they are employed. 
Graduates will be able to incorporate ethical reasoning, social responsibility, and sustainability in making decisions in their organizations.

Admission Requirements

Both the MBA Program in the College of Business Administration and the Electrical Engineering Program in the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering must accept students applying to the dual degree program for admission.

Prospective dual degree students should apply first to the MSE in Electrical Engineering degree program. After receiving admission to the MSE in Electrical Engineering degree program and completing 12 semester hours towards the MSE degree, students interested in the MSE/MBA Dual Degree program should contact the Associate Director of Academic Affairs, Graduate Business Programs for admission to the MBA portion of the Dual Degree. Eligibility for the dual degree program is based upon good academic standing (minimum GPA 3.0) in the MSE in Electrical Engineering and approval from their respective Seaver College academic advisor. The preferred start term for the MBA portion of the Dual Degree program is the fall term.

The MSE in Electrical Engineering degree program application is online at: https://graduatestudies.lmu.edu/apply. Applicants must submit:

Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Statement of Intent describing the candidate’s background, career goals, and interest in the program
Essay discussing how the two degrees fit into applicant’s career development

Additional coursework may be recommended or required as a condition of admission for applicants that have not completed an undergraduate program in electrical or computer engineering.

Transfer Credit: Students may transfer six (6) semester hours for courses completed at another accredited college or university. Credits to be transferred must be taken prior to admission. Each transferred course grade must be at least B (3.0), and the course must not have been used to satisfy degree requirements at another college or university

Graduation Requirements

(60 Semester Hours)

Students enrolled in the Dual Degree MSE/MBA Program are jointly advised by their Seaver College academic advisor and the MBA Program Director in the College of Business Administration. It is recommended that incoming students take 12 semester hours of Electrical Engineering courses per fall and spring semester and complete the MSE in year one of the dual- degree program, then begin the MBA curriculum in year two.

Dual degree students will take a total of 24 semester hours of Electrical Engineering graduate-level coursework (i.e., 5000- level or 6000-level courses) and 36 semester hours of MBA courses. 15 semester hours from the Electrical Engineering courses will also count towards the emphasis/concentration requirement for the MBA degree. 6 semester hours of the MBA courses that are taken as part of the MBA coursework will also count toward the MSE in Electrical Engineering. Separately, the MSE degree requires 30 semester hours and the MBA degree requires 51 semester hours, for a total of 81 semester hours. The Dual Degree program lessens the load by 21 (15+6) semester hours.

Suggested Curriculum Flowchart for all Dual Degrees with Seaver College of Science & Engineering

During the first semester of attendance, the student should prepare a program of study with an academic advisor. The 24 semester hours of required coursework is allocated as follows:

Year 1 (Summer, Fall, and Spring)

Required courses:

EECE 5120 Microwave Engineering and Antennas 4 semester hours
EECE 5140 Computer Architecture with VHDL 4 semester hours
EECE 5210 Random Processes 4 semester hours
EECE 5000 level or EECE 6000 level course 4 semester hours

One of the following two options:

Option 1:

EECE 6000 level course 4 semester hours
EECE 6901 Graduate Capstone Project I 2 semester hours
EECE 6902 Graduate Capstone Project II 2 semester hours

Option 2:

EECE 6994 Thesis I 2 semester hours
EECE 6995 Thesis II 2 semester hours
EECE 6996 Thesis III 2 semester hours
EECE 6997 Thesis IV 2 semester hours

Master’s Thesis Option

Preparation of a Master’s Thesis is optional and can fulfill 8 semester hours of EECE course requirements. The student selecting the thesis option must obtain a thesis advisor before Departmental consent will be considered, and the thesis must conform to the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering requirements. The thesis and associated work is intended to advance the state of knowledge in the thesis subject, not “rehash” previous work by others nor a serve as a “literature search.” To the extent possible, there should be some experimental work involved. The thesis ideally will form the basis for a paper or article, produced by a student, which would be submitted and hopefully published in a peer-reviewed journal or presented at a professional organization’s conference. A thesis is completed after being successfully defended to the thesis committee. The thesis committee consists of the student’s thesis advisor, a full-time faculty member from the student’s department, and a third member from other than the student’s department.

Total MSE Degree Requirement:

24 semester hours + 6 semester hours from MBA, satisfying the MSE degree requirement of 30 semester hours

Year 2

Fall Semester - 12 units

MBAW 6400 MBA Orientation 0 semester hours
MBAA 6020 Financial and Managerial Accounting 3 semester hours
MBAA 6030 Global Economic Structures and Systems 1.5 semester hours
MBAA 6040 Managing Markets and Customer Relationships 3 semester hours
MBAA 6050 Managing Operations 1.5 semester hours
MBAA 6090 Managing Information Systems 3 semester hours

Spring Semester -12 units

MBAA 6010 Managing People and Organizations 3 semester hours
MBAA 6060 Strategic Management 3 semester hours
MBAA 6070 Managing Financial Resources 3 semester hours
MBAA 6080 Data, Models, and Decisions 3 semester hours
MBAW 6402 The Elements of Becoming A Strategic Leader 0 semester hours

Summer Session - 6 units

Business & Society Core 3 semester hours
MBA Elective 3 semester hours

Spring Semester - 3 units

MBAA 6100 Managing International Business 3 semester hours
MBAW 6307 Management Leadership Workshop: Planning Your Future 0 semester hours

Summer Session - 3 units

MBAI 691 Comparative Management Systems (CMS) 3 semester hours

Total MBA Degree Requirement:

36 semester hours + 15 semester hours from MSE in Electrical Engineering, satisfying the MBA degree requirement of 51 semester hours

The overall minimum GPA required for graduation is 3.0. Students who receive a grade of less than “B” in any 500/5000-level course or a grade of less than “C” in any 600/6000-level course will not have the course count toward their degree.

When the course requirements outlined above are completed, the student should submit an application for degree to be awarded both the MBA and the MSE in Electrical Engineering.