The Haslam College of Business and the Tickle College of Engineering offer an integrated program leading to the conferral of the Master of Science with a major Materials Science and Engineering and the Master of Business Administration degree with a major in Business Administration.

The establishment of the dual degree program addresses the critical need for personnel trained in both engineering and management who can integrate an increasingly complex body of knowledge for rapid introduction of new products to the marketplace. The objective of the dual degree program is to prepare graduates to take a leading management role in companies that must react quickly to a dynamic market where forces of competition require rapid changes via short cycles in design, manufacturing, and product development.

Options Available

Materials Science and Engineering — Thesis, Project

Business Administration — Course Only without Comprehensive Exam

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures

Applicants for the MS-MBA program must make separate applications to and be accepted by Graduate Admissions for the Materials Science and Engineering for the Master of Science, and for the Master of Business Administration, and by the Dual Program Committee.

Students accepted for both the MBA and Materials Science and Engineering will be assigned an advisor in each of the two majors, who will be responsible for course approval and supervision of the students’ progress through the dual program.

Applications by United States citizens and permanent residents received after the MBA application deadline (February 1) will be considered as space allows. Additional information is required and different application dates are established by Graduate Admissions for international students.

Academic Standards

Dual degree candidates must satisfy the curriculum and graduation requirements of the Tickle College of Engineering and the Haslam College of Business.

Credit Hours Required

• 60 to 63 graduate credit hours
  • 36 graduate credit hours of course work in the Haslam College of Business.
  • 24 or 27 graduate credit hours in the Materials Science and Engineering curriculum depending on the option chosen for the Master of Science:
    • Thesis Option (27 credit hours): 21 credit hours of course work plus 6 credit hours of MSE 500 .
    • Project Option (24 credit hours): 21 credit hours of course work plus 3 credit hours of MSE 580 .

Required Courses

• Students meet the degree requirements as defined in the Master of Business Administration  major and the Master of Science in the Materials Science and Engineering major , including
  • Thesis Option: MSE 500  (6 credit hours)
  • Project Option: MSE 580  (3 credit hours)

Non-Course Requirements

• Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
  • Thesis Option – write and defend the thesis
  • Project Option – culminating experience in MSE 580  
• The student’s guidance committee should have representation from both the Materials Science and Engineering and Business faculty to ensure that degree requirements for both the MS and MBA are fully met.