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The Graduate School at the University of Missouri–Columbia (Mizzou)

Dual Degrees: Master’s Students

Official Graduate Catalog Entry: go to Catalog index

Approved Dual Master’s Degrees

  • Business Administration — Health Administration
  • Business Administration — MS in Industrial Engineering
  • Health Administration — Public Affairs
  • Health Administration — MS in Industrial Engineering
  • Health Administration — MS in Health Informatics
  • Computer Engineering — Computer Science
  • Applied Mathematics — Economics
  • Economics — Statistics
  • Applied Mathematics — Electrical Engineering

All dual-degree programs require Graduate Faculty Senate approval.

Dual Degrees for Law Students

Several JD/graduate degree programs are available. Dual-degree programs enable students to earn two degrees concurrently, the Juris Doctor and the Master's or PhD. Dual-degree students must fulfill entrance requirements for both schools, including the graduate school's entrance exam (if required) and the LSAT.

  • Business Administration (JD/MBA)
  • Human Development and Family Studies (JD/MA or JD/MS)
  • Health Administration (JD/MA)
  • Journalism (JD/MA or JD/PhD)
  • Public Affairs (JD/MPA)

For more information on dual-degree programs, contact the Law School.

Dual Degrees for Medical Students

Information concerning medical dual degrees for both master’s and doctoral students can be found on the doctoral dual degree page.

Application Process

Students should be admitted to both degree programs at the same time using a separate application to each. Because some students may not be aware of an approved dual-degree program before their arrival at MU, the option to participate in an approved dual-degree program may be postponed to no later than the end of a student's second semester at MU. Students must fill out an Application for Dual Enrollment (pdf) by that time.

Counting Credits

In each degree field a minimum of 18 hours of graduate courses is required with a minimum of 3 hours of 8000-level courses.

The 18 hours of graduate course work is to be taken for each degree program respectively. For example, for a dual master's degree program in Applied Mathematics and Electrical Engineering, a student’s plan of study must show 18 hours of Applied Mathematics graduate course work that applies only to the Applied Mathematics degree and 18 hours of Electrical Engineering graduate course work that applies only to the Electrical Engineering degree.

Twelve hours of shared 8000-level graduate credit, which can include thesis/project research credit, as applicable.

18 + 18 + 12 = 48 hours of graduate credit which is the minimum total hours for a dual master's degree program.

Transfer Credit

Up to eight hours of transfer credit may be applied as follows: to one of the two degree programs, or divided between the two degree programs. The eight hours of transfer credit cannot be applied to each degree program separately.

Advising & Committees

There will be a separate adviser and committee for each degree program.

Dean's Note: the option of a combined committee structure may be included in proposals for Senate consideration, e.g., co-advisers who would also serve as outside members, plus one additional member from each degree program, for a total of four committee members.

Dual Degree Progress Forms

Special dual master's degree program forms will be used to certify plans of study, committee members and final defense/examinations. The forms are available from the Master’s Requirements Time Line.

Conferral of Degrees

There will be two separate diplomas awarded upon completion of all degree program requirements.