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JDP_ED-MA_GSB-MBA - Education (MA) & Business Administration (MBA) Joint Program

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Graduate School of EducationGraduate School of BusinessMA-MBA - Master of Arts - Master of Business Administration

Program Overview

The mission of the MBA degree is to create ideas that deepen and advance our understanding of management and, with those ideas, to develop innovative, principled, and insightful leaders who change the world.

As a member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business community, students are expected to:

  • Engage intellectually. Demonstrate curiosity, question your assumptions, develop new insights, seek out diverse perspectives, and learn continuously about business and the world.

  • Strive for something great. Pursue meaningful goals, persevere through setbacks, and aim to achieve a better future through a substantial and sustainable impact on the world.

  • Respect others. Assume the best intentions, model empathy, and value differences. Act toward others with compassion and goodwill.

  • Act with integrity. Be honest, open, and fair. Deliver on your commitments and adhere to the highest principles.

  • Own your actions. Consider the consequences of your actions and take responsibility for the intended and unintended results. 

Minimum Units in the Program

90

Degree Requirements

Completion requirement

Students must complete at least 45 units of instruction for the MA portion of their MA/MBA joint degree. The following constraints are placed on those 45 units:

  • All courses must be at or above the 100 level - courses numbered below 100 do not count toward the MA degree

  • At least 23 units must be at or above the 200 level (course and course can count toward this requirement)

  • At least 15 units must be completed for a letter grade (as opposed to Credit/No Credit or Pass/Fail)

  • At least 35 of the 45 units must be from courses offered by the Graduate School of Education (EDUC units). If a student wishes to earn the remaining 10 units outside of the Graduate School of Education (non EDUC units), the student is expected to submit a petition by the end of week one of the quarter during which the student enrolls in the course, explaining how these units relate to and support the student’s educational goals. GSB courses are not eligible for approval by petition

  • All petitions for non-EDUC units must be finalized by the final study list deadline of spring quarter in the second year

  • A maximum of 10 cross-listed units may count toward both degrees

  • A maximum of 6 independent study units (e.g., internship, directed reading, directed research) from the Graduate School of Education may be applied toward the MA degree

  • A 3.0 GPA must be maintained for all letter-graded courses applied to the MA degree

  • Students may not enroll in Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP) courses

  • Any other course policies outlined in the MBA Student Handbook apply

Requirements for Entering Students

Beginning in their first year, students are expected to discuss a coherent program of study with Academic Advisor Geoff Cox (gcox@stanford.edu) and must complete their Preliminary Program Proposal during the Autumn quarter of their second year of study. The Preliminary Program Proposal is due no later than the end of the second week of Autumn Quarter of the second year at 5 p.m., and students will schedule individual meetings with Geoff Cox to discuss their plans the following week. Students may deviate from their Preliminary Program Proposal during the academic year, but must be careful to fulfill all requirements. The Final Program Proposal, indicating courses actually taken, is due no later than the end of the second week of spring quarter of the second year at 5 p.m. 

Completion requirement

Students are required to enroll in EDUC 393 in winter quarter of their first year.

Complete ALL of the following Courses:
  • 2036781

The two schools will offer a menu of cross-listed courses particularly suited to the program, and students can earn up to 10 of their Education units from cross-listed courses. These 10 cross-listed units will count towards both degrees as long as the student enrolls in the GSB listing and their GSB career in Axess. Students who enroll in cross-listed courses which add up to more than 10 units should indicate their plan to count up to 10 units of their cross-listed courses on their Master’s Program Proposal form.

It is imperative that students pay close attention and register for courses under the correct career:

  • Students should register for courses counting toward the MA under the Grad career and courses counting toward the MBA under the GSB career. 

  • Students wishing to count up to 10 cross-listed units toward the MA and MBA degrees must register for them under the GSB course number in the GSB career.

Complete ANY of the following Courses:
  • 2239701
  • 2173241
  • 2158731
  • 1020151
  • 2182291
  • 2239931
  • 2177731
  • 2226921
  • 2250031
  • 2258681
  • 2257721
  • 2173411
  • 1010411
  • 2151171

Students may take up to 6 units of independent study (including course, course, and course) from the Graduate School of Education, which may be applied toward the 45 units needed for the MA in Education. Students interested in an internship during the academic year should consult the EdCareers database for opportunities and review the MA/MBA Internship Guidelines

Completion requirement

To earn an MBA, a student entering the 2024-2025 academic year must be in good academic standing and fulfill the following list of requirements:

  • Successfully complete (with passing grades) 90 units of academic credit at Stanford University

    • At least 70 must represent GSB units taken for a letter grade

    • At least 80 units must be completed at the GSB (no more than 4 non-GSB units)

    • At least 80 units must be completed for a letter grade (not on a Pass/Fail, +/U, or CR/NC basis; no more than ten pass/fail units)

  • Successfully complete (grade of LP or better, or +, when applicable) all required courses, defined as Core Requirements courses, in the first year

  • Successfully complete (grade of LP or better) at least 15 units of Distribution Requirements courses; only one course from each subject area can count toward the requirement.

  • Achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) for all GSB courses, not less than 2.65.

  • Complete an approved Global Experience by the start of winter quarter of the program's second year.

Students are expected to complete these requirements according to the timeline stated above and in six consecutive quarters, excluding summer. A different timeline requires approval from the MBA Program. It is unlikely to be granted except for students who have received approval for a leave of absence, childbirth accommodation, or a joint or dual degree. Students who do not meet the requirements according to the timeline stated above and do not have approval from the MBA Program for a different timeline are disqualified and subject to immediate dismissal.

Completion requirement

All students in the MBA Program are required to take on the grading basis mandated and pass (with a grade of LP or higher, or +, when applicable) the Core Requirements courses in the first year. There are nine Core Requirements courses for students beginning the first-year MBA curriculum at the GSB in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Complete ALL of the following Courses:
  • 1007341
    OR
    2055791
    OR
    1008611
  • 2090781
    OR
    2187401
    OR
    2198841
    OR
    2265681
  • 2078711
  • 1007251
    OR
    2003881
    OR
    2248051
  • 1008131
  • 1008071
  • 2126151
  • 2186451
    OR
    2186471
    OR
    2137231
  • 1007711
    OR
    2078881
    OR
    2187191

In addition to the Core Requirements courses, students must fulfill the Distribution Requirements courses by the end of their first year. There are nine subject areas of Distribution Requirements courses. A student must successfully complete at least 15 units of Distribution Requirements courses; only one course from each subject area can count toward the requirement.

Fulfill ANY of the following requirements:
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
  • 2198831
  • 2139601
  • 2226901
  • 2230231
  • 2089371
OR
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
  • 2211751
  • 2265141
OR
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
  • 2187971
  • 2248041

NOTE: OIT 280 (Operations) is a prerequisite of OIT 281.

OR
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
  • 1008241
OR
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
  • 2016241
  • 2238461
  • 2079761
OR
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
  • 1009571
  • 2171721
  • 2267281
OR
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
  • 2248061
OR
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
  • 2230661
  • 2211791
  • 2236091
OR
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
  • 1007581
  • 2127331

To successfully complete a Distribution Requirements subject area, students must pass (with a grade of LP or higher) at least one course selected from a list of courses communicated by the MBA Program on MyGSB. Students who fail to fulfill the above course requirements by the end of the first year will be disqualified and subject to immediate dismissal from the program.