Business / LSA Dual Degree Information

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Topics Covered

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• Overview of Dual Degree/MDDP
• MDDP Eligibility
• MDDP Requirements
• MDDP Application Process
• Home School Information
• LSA Requirements
• MDDP Advising Resources
• Is MDDP Right For You?
• Next Steps

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Overview of MDDP/Dual Degree

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MDDP = Multiple Dependent Degree Program = dual degree = joint degree

MDDP is a program which allows students to earn two degrees concurrently. MDDP students:

• Must graduate with both degrees in the same term, even if they finish one degree requirements before the other.
• Are allowed to exit MDDP & pursue one degree in either school.
• Must complete ALL requirements for both schools, including earning 100 LSA credits & 58 Business credits. Most commonly students earn a minimum of 158 credits total. [For students admitted into the BBA program beginning Fall ‘23, this will be 161.]

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More Overview

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MDDP students must earn 30 credits while enrolled in LSA.

• If you started in LSA & then went to Business, the credits you earned in your first year in LSA count toward this requirement.
• If you started in Business, you must enter MDDP with enough time to earn 30 more credits. Functionally this means you probably want to enter MDDP prior to your senior year. Most students enter MDDP in late sophomore or junior year.

MDDP Declaration Eligibility

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1. 3.000 cumulative GPA
2. Able to declare LSA Major (ie: completion of prerequisite coursework) at the time of the application to the dual degree program.
3. Students admitted as BBA First Years or Preferred Admission, or Cross-Campus Transfer must also have completed at least 30 credits at UM-Ann Arbor.

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MDDP Application Process

1. If you are currently in LSA: Apply & be admitted to BBA. If you are currently in Business, you may apply if you meet the eligibility criteria.
2. Attend LSA/BBA Dual Degree Information Session.
3. Meet with LSA Major Advisor.
• Talk about your interest in the major. Make sure you understand what is required & how long it will take for you to complete. Get signature. You may need to return later to official declare the major.
4. Meet with LSA General Advisor. (Joel Beebe \ Mischelay Roberts \ Jordan Ross)
• Talk about your interests. Review your plan to complete all LSA degree requirements. Make sure you understand what is required & how long it will take for you to complete. Get signature.
5. Meet with Business Advisor. (Katrina Vegter \ Ashley Lawrence \ Jeff Wing)
• Talk about your interests. Review your plan to complete all BBA degree requirements. Make sure you understand what is required & how long it will take for you to complete. Get signature.

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MDDP Application is available on the UM Registrar’s Undergrad Dual Degree Programs page.

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Home School

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When you apply to MDDP, you must pick one school to be your Home School. What does this mean?

Business has an excellent FAQ about this here.

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An analogy: It’s like having 2 parents with 2 different sets of rules. One parents lets you eat dinner in front of the TV. Another makes you sit at a table. You can’t follow both of them simultaneously, so you must choose one set of rules to follow. They are both still your parents – but you only listen to the rules one of them.

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LSA Requirements

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If you’re in the School of Business now, this is a good time to make sure you understand the LSA Degree Requirements.

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The 3 most common degrees for MDDP students:

1. Bachelor of Arts (A.B.)
2. Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
3. Bachelor in General Studies (B.G.S.)

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For all of them, you need a minimum of 120 credits, including at least 100 LSA credits. You also need a GPA of 2.0 or better in both your major and overall.

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Bachelor in General Studies (BGS)

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Requires 120 credits:

• 60 credits must be upper-level (300 and above)

Plus these Skills:

• First Year Writing (FYWR)
• Upper-Level Writing (ULWR)
• Race and Ethnicity (R&E)
• Quantitative Reasoning (QR/1 or QR/2)

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Please review BGS degree requirements on the LSA website.

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MDDP Advising Resources

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There is not ONE person at UM who knows all of the requirements for you to complete two degrees. You’ll have to use several advisors:

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• LSA Dual Degree Advisor (Joel Beebe \ Mischelay Roberts \ Jordan Ross)
• BBA Dual Degree Advisor (Katrina Vegter \ Ashley Lawrence \ Jeff Wing)
• LSA Major Advisor
• If you have a minor or a second LSA major, you’ll use advisors in those areas, too.

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Is MDDP Right For You?

Pursuing dual degrees is a significant commitment which requires careful thought. 

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• Why do I want two undergraduate degrees?
• What are my personal, professional and educational goals?  Would two degrees promote them, and if so, how?
• What do I want to get out of a dual degree course of study?
• Do I want to commit the extra time, effort and money needed to complete a second degree?
• Will I be able to focus simultaneously on two degree programs?
• Can I balance dual degree studies with other important commitments in my life such as internship and job recruiting, club and extracurricular activities, work, and other endeavors that help me be a well-rounded and unique individual?
• Would pursuing dual degrees leave me less time to pursue my business interests and to take business electives?
• What kind of credentials will help me in the career in which I’m interested?  Is it important to have a second degree, or is the intrinsic value of taking classes in an area of interest enough?
• What are the pros and cons of pursuing a BBA, dual degrees, or perhaps a minor in my other area of interest?

We encourage students to engage in serious reflection on the issues relevant to pursuing a dual degree.  Additional guidance can be sought from your academic advisors.

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Next Steps / Resources

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Review the excellent information on the Ross School of Business BBA Dual Degrees page.

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Begin to plan your classes so that you can see how long it will take for you to meet all degree requirements. Ross has a planning tool for this.

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Meet with advisors to ask questions and learn more. Advisors will help you know if you’re ready to apply and can help you begin the formal process.

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Thank You

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If you want to make an appointment after attending this presentation, please request an appointment online.

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1255 Angell Hall, 435 S. State Street

734.764.0332

lsa.umich.edu/advising