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 12 classes in the government program and 18 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:
- Three required MA in Government core courses
- Two customizable core courses for those pursuing applications of research
- Or
- One customizable core course for those pursuing thesis
- Two customizable core courses for those pursuing applications of research
- Seven or eight electives to meet the 12-course requirement
- Ten business foundation MBA courses
- Eleven MBA electives
MA in Government Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Course - Required: | 9 | |
| Government & Politics | ||
| Thesis and Applications of Research | ||
| Research and Thesis I: MA in Government | ||
| Core Courses - Customizable for Applications of Research | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Bureaucratic Politics | ||
| The Courts and Public Policy | ||
| Race, Politics, and Policy | ||
| Perspectives on the US Administrative State: Origins, Development, and Controversies | ||
| Models of Democratic Leadership in America | ||
| Democracy and Its Modern Critics | ||
| Separation of Powers and Democratic Governance | ||
| Corruption and Democratic Governance | ||
| Religion and American Political Culture | ||
| Political Debates and the US Constitution | ||
| Legislative Language and Policymaking | ||
| Political Institutions and the Policy Process | ||
| Comparative Democracies | ||
| Congress: Why the First Branch Matters | ||
| Hate Groups and Domestic Terrorism | ||
| Comparative Federalism: The United States and the European Union | ||
| Western Political and Constitutional Thought | ||
| The FBI and Information Sharing in the Post 9-11 World | ||
| American Political Development | ||
| Nationalism in the Democratic Age | ||
| Core Courses: Customizable for Thesis | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Probability and Statistics,Introduction to Data Analytics and Policy | ||
| Research and Thesis II: MA in Government | ||
| Fundamentals of Quantitative Methods | ||
| Electives (7 or 8 to reach 12 courses) | 21 -24 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Although not required, the following courses are recommended electives for students in the dual degree program:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Electives | ||
| Leadership Skills in the 21st Century | ||
| Political Ideas, Strategy, and Policy Implementation | ||
| Money and Politics | ||
| Congress and the Making of Foreign Policy | ||
| Negotiating as a Leadership Skill | ||
| Introduction to Advocacy and Lobbying | ||
| The Budgetary Process | ||
| Political Institutions and the Policy Process | ||
| Comparative Federalism: The United States and the European Union | ||
| Fundamentals of Nonprofits and Nonprofit Management | ||
| 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.
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.
| 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.121.610 | Negotiation | 2 |
| BU.680.620 | Operations Management | 2 |
| BU.510.601 | Statistical Analysis | 2 |
| BU.150.620 | Strategic Management | 2 |
| Electives (7 courses) | 14 | |
| Select seven 2-credit courses. Students may fulfill this requirement with any Carey courses for which they meet the pre-requisites and enrollment criteria. | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |