Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree / Master of Computer Science (MCS) Degree

Program Learning Outcomes for the MBA Degree

Upon completing the MBA degree, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding and application of the foundational frameworks and tools of all business disciplines, including accounting, finance, marketing, organizational behavior, and strategic management.
  2. Develop, evaluate, and implement complex business strategies and operational solutions holistically, integrating management principles across the functional areas.
  3. Function effectively in a team setting both as a leader and a contributor.

Program Learning Outcomes for the MCS Degree

Upon completing the MCS degree, students will be able to:

  1. Solve advanced Computer Science problems. Students will acquire and apply a graduate-level understanding of material in sub-areas of Computer Science.
  2. Design and implement complex software systems. Students will demonstrate skill in their design and implementation and function effectively in teams.
  3. Communicate effectively to a client and user.

Requirements for the MBA/MCS Coordinated Degrees Program

Students may earn a coordinated MBA degree and a non-thesis Master of Engineering degree from the George R. Brown School of Engineering in the following fields:

  • Chemical Engineering (MChE)
  • Computational and Applied Mathematics (MCAAM)
  • Computer Science (MCS)
  • Industrial Engineering (MIE)
  • Materials Science and Nanoengineering (MMSNE)
  • Mechanical Engineering (MME)
  • Statistics (MStat)

For the coordinated MBA/Master of Engineering degrees, students must complete:

  • A minimum of 69 credit hours in approved coursework*, including:
    • A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level study (coursework at the 500-level or above) to satisfy the Master of Engineering degree requirements
      • A minimum of 24 credit hours in the corresponding engineering discipline
      • A minimum of 6 credit hours in elective requirements*
    • A minimum of 45 credit hours of graduate-level study (coursework at the 500-level or above) to satisfy the MBA degree requirements
      • A minimum of 45 credit hours of business coursework
      • All MBA core requirements, the global field experience, custom core requirements, and coordinated elective requirements
  • *Note: A maximum of 6 credit hours of the Master of Engineering degree elective requirements may be selected from business course offerings (MGMP, MGMT, or MICO) and used to fulfill the requirements for both the MBA and the Master of Engineering degrees.

Students plan their course schedules in consultation with the George R. Brown School of Engineering department in which they are enrolled and with the Jones Graduate School of Business Registrar Department. Coordinated degrees candidates can fulfill requirements for both degrees within 2 academic years.

For general university requirements, see Graduate Degrees. For additional requirements, regulations, and procedures for all graduate programs, please see All Graduate Students. Candidates in the MBA/Master of Engineering coordinated degrees program must complete all requirements as listed for both degrees, and must apply and be accepted in both degree programs. 

The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this degree program. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the program's academic advisor, or where applicable, the department or program's Director of Graduate Studies. Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the department or program's Official Certifier. Additionally, these must be approved by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.

Summary

Total Credit Hours Required for the Coordinated Master of Engineering DegreeMinimum of 30
Total Credit Hours Required for the Coordinated MBA DegreeMinimum of 45

Coordinated MBA Degree Requirements

Students in the coordinated MBA/Master of Engineering degrees program or in the coordinated MBA/Master of Science degree from the Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degrees program must complete the Core Requirements, Global Field Experience, and Custom Core Requirements of the full-time MBA degree program and the Coordinated MBA Elective Requirements below. 

Full-time MBA Core Requirements25.5
Full-time MBA Global Field Experience Requirement1.5
Full-time MBA Custom Core Courses3-6
Coordinated MBA Elective Requirements
Select an additional 12-15 credit hours from departmental (MGMP, MGMT, or MICO) course offerings at the 500-level or above to reach 45 total credit hours. 112-15
Total Credit Hours45

Footnotes and Additional Information

Coordinated MCS Degree Requirements

Students in the coordinated MBA/MCS degrees program must complete the Core Requirements, Area of Specialization, and Design Project of the MCS degree program and Coordinated MCS Elective Requirements below.  

MCS Core Requirements9-12
MCS Area of Specialization6-8
MCS Design Project4
Coordinated MCS Elective Requirements6-11
Select a minimum of 0-5 credit hours from departmental (COMP) course offerings at the 500-level or above
Select a maximum of 6 credit hours from approved course offerings (MGMP, MGMT, or, MICO) from the Jones Graduate School of Business at the 500-level or above
Total Credit Hours30

Policies for the MBA/MCS Coordinated Degrees Program

Additional Information 

For additional information on these two degrees:

  1. Please see the Jones Graduate School of Business website: https://business.rice.edu/
  2. Please see the Computer Science website: https://www.cs.rice.edu/

Opportunities for the MBA/MCS Coordinated Degrees Program

Additional Information 

For additional information on these two degrees:

  1. Please see the Jones Graduate School of Business website: https://business.rice.edu/
  2. Please see the Computer Science website: https://www.cs.rice.edu/