Dual M.S. Computer Science/Master of Business Administration

Program Details

Department: Computer Science, multiple departments in the College of Business Administration
Modality: In-Person
Concentrations: Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, International Business, Marketing
Semester Hours: 60

The mission of the Dual Degree M.S. in Computer Science/MBA program is to educate working professionals in the computer-science and business disciplines that will make them leaders of complex technical endeavors within their sponsoring organizations.

The dual degree MS/MBA program will confer two degrees upon its graduates: an MBA and an MS in Computer Science. Pursuing the dual degree program reduces a student’s total number of required semester hours for the two degrees compared to pursuing the two degrees separately.

The dual degree M.S. in Computer Science/MBA program is designed to be completed in approximately three years. Computer Science classes should be completed first, followed by taking the required classes in the MBA program.

Learning Outcomes

For the Computer Science M.S.

Graduates will:

Demonstrate technical skill in advanced computer programming and applications
Demonstrate deep technical computing skills in at least one specialty area within computer science
Apply system design and integration skills to effectively integrate software intensive systems throughout their life cycle
Conduct graduate level research with adequate research skills including information literacy and self-learning
Utilize project management skills to effectively manage complex software development and integration activities
Apply state-of-the-art technologies in computing

For the MBA

The program learning outcomes are to create leaders who can:

Bring an ethical and diverse perspective to their management of organizations, teams, and individuals through a deep understanding of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and SDG’s (Sustainable Development Goals) and what it means to lead “business for good” and create societal impact.
Demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset, through creative approaches to managing change, innovation and opportunities emerging on the business landscape. Leaders with this mindset can pivot and understand the importance of strategic agility.
Apply financial savvy and “know-how” to ensure that the business can operate profitably while making a triple bottom-line impact.
Build a deep understanding of brand, markets, and customers to analyze and apply principles related to the value chain of product and service development from conception to implementation.
Utilize advances in technology and operations to impact organizational effectiveness and manage technological change to ensure value creation in the firm.
Develop organizational and interpersonal skill sets and competencies to effectively lead people and organizations.
Advance their critical thinking skills and abilities and demonstrate strategic and systems thinking for identifying organizational opportunities and solving business challenges.
Demonstrate significant advances in communicating and collaborating with a diverse set of stakeholders within and across organizations and communities in which they do business.
Apply a global perspective to understand and manage opportunities and challenges faced by business in a globally connected world.

Both the MBA Program in the College of Business Administration and the M.S. in Computer Science 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 M.S. in Computer Science degree program. After receiving admission to the M.S. in Computer Science degree program and completing a minimum of  12 semester hours towards the M.S. degree, students interested in the MS/MBA Dual Degree program should contact the Director of Academic Affairs, Graduate Business Education 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 M.S. in Computer Science program 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 M.S. in Computer Science degree program application is online at: https://graduatestudies.lmu.edu/apply/

Please refer to the Program Admission page of the Computer Science M.S. program for specific admission requirements.

Graduation Requirements

Students enrolled in the Dual Degree MS/MBA Program are jointly advised by their academic advisor for Computer Science in Seaver College and the MBA program Director in the College of Business Administration. It is recommended that incoming students take 12 semester hours of Computer Science courses per fall and spring semester and complete the MS 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 Computer Science courses and 36 semester hours of MBA courses. 15 semester hours from the Computer Science 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 count toward the MS in Computer Science. Taken separately, the MS degree requires 30 semester hours and the MBA degree requires 42 semester hours, for a total of 72 semester hours. The Dual Degree program lessens the load by 12 semester hours, resulting in a required 60 semester hours rather than 72.

Suggested Curriculum Flowchart for the M.S. in Computer Science/MBA Dual Degree Program

Course List
Code	Title	Semester Hours
Year 1 (Summer, Fall, and Spring)
Required Core Courses
CMSI 583	Computability and Complexity	3
CMSI 585	Programming Language Foundations	3
Electives		3
Electives		3
Electives		3
Select one of the following: ¹		9
Option 1
Elective
Elective
CMSI 694	Graduate Capstone Project
Option 2
Elective
CMSI 695	Master's Thesis I
CMSI 696	Master's Thesis II
Option 3
CMSI 695	Master's Thesis I
CMSI 696	Master's Thesis II
CMSI 697	Master's Thesis III
Note: 500/5000-level courses taken as an undergraduate may not be repeated for graduate credit. If a 500/5000-level course is cross-listed with a 600/6000-level course, graduate students must enroll in the 600/6000-level course.
*Subtotal* ²		24
Year 2 and beyond
MBAA 6011	Leadership and Organizational Dynamics	3
MBAA 6021	Financial and Managerial Accounting	3
MBAA 6031	Ethics and the Entrepreneurial Mindset	3
MBAA 6041	Marketing Management	3
MBAA 6061	Global Strategic Management	3
MBAA 6071	Corporate Finance	3
MBAA 6081	Business and Performance Analytics	3
MBAA 6091	Technologies in Business Management	3
MBA Electives		12
*Subtotal* ^{3, 4}		36
Total Semester Hours		60

¹: Preparation of a master’s Thesis is optional and can fulfill up to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours of elective course requirements. The student electing the thesis option (option 2 or option 3 above) must obtain a thesis advisor and the thesis must conform to the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering requirements. With direction from the academic advisor, a thesis committee will be formed. Typically, 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. The thesis is a report on the results of the student investigation of a problem in computer science under the supervision of the thesis committee, which approves the subject and plan of the thesis and reads and approves the complete manuscript.
²: Total MS Degree Requirement: 24 semester hours + 6 semester hours from MBA, satisfying the MS degree requirement of 30 semester hours.
³: Total MBA Degree Requirement: 36 semester hours of MBA courses
⁴: Dual Degree Application: When the course requirements outlined above are completed, the student must submit an application for degree to be awarded both the MBA and the MS in Computer Science.