Government, MA/MBA

MA in Government/MBA Dual Degree

Management education typically addresses the public and private sectors separately, with universities offering the MBA degree for business leadership and the MA, MPP, or MPA for public-sector management. The assumption is that managers working in the public and private sectors are involved with completely different sets of issues and problems. The reality is that they face similar challenges, and managers frequently move between the public and private sectors.

The Master of Arts in Government/MBA dual degree program uniquely prepares individuals for the combination of public and private sector responsibilities they are likely to face during their careers. This program enables those working in government to expand their knowledge and skills in business and management, preparing them to take on leadership roles in non-profit, public sector, or commercial enterprises. Students in these degrees complete both the professional managerial education requirements of the MBA and the advanced disciplinary requirements of a specialized MA in Government. Graduates of the Johns Hopkins University MA in Government/MBA dual degree program are capable of integrating rigorous scholarship with business acumen in bringing both intellectual and strategic leadership to the complex challenges of management in government and business in today’s global economy.

The MA in Government/MBA dual degree program is designed with class schedules to accommodate working adults and may be taken onsite or online. Students who pursue the dual degree will take classes in the government program in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and in the MBA program at the Carey Business School. They are assigned an adviser from each school who will oversee their coursework. To earn the MA in Government/MBA dual degree, students must take 10 classes in the government program and 21 classes in the Carey Business School. Dual degree recipients receive both diplomas upon completion of both programs.

Admissions Criteria for All Advanced Academic Programs 

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the materials and credentials required for all programs, the MA in Government/MBA dual degree program requires:

• GRE or GMAT exam*
• At least two years of progressive, full-time, professional experience after the completion of undergraduate studies for the MBA.
• A writing sample of five to seven pages that is research-focused. The purpose of the writing sample is to demonstrate your ability to make and support an argument.

If you do not have an existing research paper that you wish to submit, you may write a five-page paper on the following question:

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”

– James Madison, Federalist 51

In this well-known quote, Madison points toward the age-old problem of reconciling democracy and political power. Discuss this problem in reference to some recent policy issues or political events, citing at least three references.

*A waiver from the required exams may be approved if a candidate has:

• Completed a graduate degree and can demonstrate quantitative ability through coursework of B or better in statistics, corporate finance, or microeconomics.
• Completed an undergraduate degree and has at least five years of professional experience. Applicant has also taken at least one course in statistics, corporate finance, and microeconomics, earned a B or better, and earned an overall GPA of 3.0 or better.
• A professional designation, such as CPA or CFA

Program Requirements

Students pursuing the MA in Government/MBA dual degree program must complete:

• Two required MA in Government core courses
• Eight MA in Government electives
• Ten business foundation MBA courses
• Eleven MBA electives

MA in Government Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Core Course - Required:		6
AS.470.602	Government & Politics
AS.470.695	Proseminar: Essentials of Public and Private Management
Electives (Eight courses)		24
Total Credits		30

Although not required, the following courses are recommended electives for students in the dual degree program:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Electives
AS.470.609	Leadership Skills in the 21st Century
AS.470.616	Political Ideas, Strategy, and Policy Implementation
AS.470.622	Money and Politics
AS.470.630	Congress and the Making of Foreign Policy
AS.470.638	Negotiating as a Leadership Skill
AS.470.641	Introduction to Advocacy and Lobbying
AS.470.645	The Budgetary Process
AS.470.688	Political Institutions and the Policy Process
AS.470.721	Comparative Federalism: The United States and the European Union
AS.470.728	Fundamentals of Nonprofits and Nonprofit Management
AS.470.736	Methods of Policy Analytics
AS.470.744	Trade and Security

Students wishing to earn a concentration must complete four of their electives in the concentration area. Concentrations are offered in Political Communication, Security Studies, and Democracy and Governance Studies. For MA/MBA students, the thesis requirement is optional. If you wish to write a thesis, you must take:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
AS.470.850	Research and Thesis I: MA in Government
AS.470.852	Research and Thesis II: MA in Government
AS.470.800	Thesis and Applications of Research

These three classes would count toward the eight government electives you must take to complete the MA/MBA. MA/MBA students who successfully complete and defend their thesis will be awarded honors at graduation.

MBA Courses

All dual-degree students are required to complete the following MBA courses. Dual degree recipients receive both diplomas upon completion of both programs.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Business Foundation Courses - Required:
BU.210.620	Accounting and Financial Reporting	2
BU.520.601	Business Analytics	2
BU.120.601	Business Communication	2
BU.220.620	Business Microeconomics	2
BU.231.620	Corporate Finance	2
BU.142.601	Leadership and Organizational Behavior	2
BU.410.620	Marketing Management	2
BU.680.620	Operations Management	2
BU.510.601	Statistical Analysis	2
BU.150.620	Strategic Management	2
Electives (11 courses)		22
Select 11 two-credit courses. Students may fulfill this requirement with any Carey courses for which they meet the pre-requisites and enrollment criteria.
Total Credits		42