The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business has announced two new dual degree programs. In conjunction with the College of Pharmacy and the School of Dentistry, the dual degree programs will be offered this academic year. As an increasing number of students explore career opportunities in the medical/healthcare field, the programs are designed to help them become more marketable and knowledgeable across disciplines. MBA applications will be handled through Ross Admissions. While courses begin next spring/summer, students can begin applying this fall.

The College of Pharmacy and Michigan Ross will now offer a Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Business Administration (PharmD/MBA) degree. To qualify, students must already be admitted in the College of Pharmacy and apply to Ross their third year of enrollment in CoP. This will allow students to complete their degrees within a five-year span.

“The College of Pharmacy has a long history of alumni becoming entrepreneurs and innovators in business, but much of this business acumen was learned after graduation,” said Dr. Bruce Mueller, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the College of Pharmacy. “This dual degree program combines the strengths of the highly esteemed Ross School of Business and College of Pharmacy, and packages them in an accelerated five-year program that will give our graduates a fantastic head start as they begin their professional careers.”

There is also a Doctor of Dentistry and Master of Business Administration (DDS/MBA) degree being offered through the School of Dentistry and Michigan Ross. This program was initiated, in part, because several dental students advocated for an MBA concentration in the dental school curriculum. Through various surveys and research, they found that other students desired high-level business leadership training that only a MBA degree could offer.

“The advantage of this joint MBA program goes beyond helping our dental graduates operate their private practices. The real benefit is that it will provide in-depth leadership and business training for our students who aspire to leadership roles in dentistry,” said Dr. Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the School of Dentistry. “That could include corporate dentistry, public health or transforming health systems. It will prepare students to be a CEO, to be a leader of the profession, and the great part is that we are utilizing the world-class business school we have on this campus.”

Michigan Ross has more than 20 dual degree offerings, including several healthcare-related joint programs. Ross and the U-M Medical School offer a MD/MBA degree, and MPH/MBA and MHSA/MBA degrees are offered through Ross and the U-M School of Public Health. The business school also offers a healthcare management concentration, providing a suite of electives for Full-Time MBA students.

Ross’ action-based and experiential learning curriculum is ideal for the DDS/MBA and PharmD/MBA. Programs including the Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP), Impact Challenge, and Crisis Challenge provide students the opportunity to utilize their business and communication skills to strategize, analyze and develop leadership skills applicable to their careers.

"Michigan Ross' partnership with the College of Pharmacy and School of Dentistry meets the needs of today's array of global talent," said Brad Killaly, Associate Dean of Full-Time and Global MBA Programs at Michigan Ross. "The new PharmD/MBA and DDS/MBA degrees give students the opportunity to have a multifaceted background and explore various career options in the pharmaceutical industry, medical, healthcare, business and beyond. As the medical and business sectors become increasingly connected, students will need the skill set and experience to become effective, impactful leaders in both areas."

To learn more about Michigan Ross MBA admissions deadlines and information, visit www.michiganross.umich.edu.

About Michigan Ross

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is a vibrant and distinctive learning community grounded in the principle that business can be an extraordinary vehicle for positive change in today's dynamic global economy. The Ross School of Business’ mission is to develop leaders who make a positive difference in the world. Through thought and action, members of the Ross community drive change and innovation that improves business and society.

Ross is consistently ranked among the world's leading business schools. Academic degree programs include the BBA, MBA, Part-time MBA (Evening and Weekend formats), Executive MBA, Global MBA, Master of Accounting, Master of Supply Chain Management, Master of Management, and PhD. In addition, the school delivers open-enrollment and custom executive education programs targeting general management, leadership development, and strategic human resource management.