Advanced study in business administration and product innovation is available through a dual degree program sponsored by the School of Business and da Vinci Center for Innovation.
The dual degree Master of Business Administration and Master of Product Innovation program allows students to earn two degrees with a minimum of 66 graduate credits rather than the 78 graduate credits necessary if the two degrees were pursued separately. This efficiency lowers the overall cost of tuition while also reducing time to earning both degrees.
Prerequisite and/or foundation courses may effectively increase the number of credits needed to earn the degrees.
Program goals
The objectives of this dual degree program are to:
- Prepare graduates from the product innovation program to be effective leaders and managers in organizations
- Equip graduates from the product innovation program with tools and techniques that optimize managerial decisions
- Provide the ability for product innovation graduates to show the demonstrable value and returns to the firm arising from product innovation and/or innovative ideas
- Develop interpersonal and professional skills critical to business including communication and presentation skills, leadership and management, and situational awareness, among others
Among the many benefits offered by participation in the dual degree program are the following:
- Complementing the technical knowledge obtained in the product innovation program with general management skills obtained in the M.B.A.
- Complementing the general management skills obtained in the M.B.A. with a high degree of specialization in product innovation
- Enhanced ability to effectively compete for managerial positions across a wide spectrum of levels in today’s organizations
- Enhanced job prospects particularly for candidates intending to switch careers or striving to move up within their organizations
- The ability to effectively complete both degrees within a shorter time frame with considerable time and tuition savings through the 12 dual-counted credits
The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded sequentially or simultaneously. Students are not required to begin both programs in the same semester, but must be enrolled in both degrees for at least one semester prior to graduation from either program for credits to be shared across programs.
Student learning outcomes
See each degree program page for student learning outcomes.
Other information
Advising
A program manager and/or faculty adviser from each program will serve as an adviser and administrative liaison for students. They will assist in developing a plan of study to meet the curriculum requirements of both programs.
Admission requirements
Students must officially apply and be admitted to each degree program separately before the pursuit of the dual degree program may begin. It is not required to begin both programs in the same semester. View the application requirements for each program for additional details.
Degree requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 66 total credits to earn the Master of Business Administration and Master of Product Innovation.
A total of 12 credits may be counted toward both programs:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers (core requirement for M.B.A.; satisfies M.P.I core requirement INNO 503) | 3 |
| INNO 501 | Arts Principles for Product Innovation (core requirement for M.P.I.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| INNO 590 | da Vinci Project (core requirement for M.P.I.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| INNO 600 | Integrative Design Studio (core requirement for M.P.I.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded sequentially or simultaneously.
Curriculum requirements for the dual degree
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| M.B.A. requirements | ||
| • Required courses | ||
| ACCT 507 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 608 | Managerial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| ECON 610 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management | 3 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers (satisfies M.P.I. core requirement INNO 503) | 3 |
| INFO 664 | Information Systems for Business Intelligence | 3 |
| MGMT 641 | Leading People and Organizations | 3 |
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| SCMA 524 | Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management | 3 |
| • Electives | ||
| Satisfied by INNO 501, INNO 590 and INNO 600 | 9 | |
| M.P.I. requirements | ||
| • Required courses | ||
| Select two or three of the following: 1 | 6-9 | |
| Arts Principles for Product Innovation (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | ||
| Business Principles for Product Innovation | ||
| Technology Principles for Product Innovation (satisfied by M.B.A. core requirement INFO 661) | ||
| INNO 590 | da Vinci Project (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| INNO 600 | Integrative Design Studio (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| • Technical electives | 6 | |
| Select two from the following: 2 | 6 | |
| Topics in Product Innovation | ||
| Innovation, Design Thinking and Change Management | ||
| Topics in Product Innovation | ||
| Guided Study in Product Innovation | ||
• Master's project | ||
| INNO 651 | Master's Project in Product Innovation I | 6 |
| INNO 652 | Master's Project in Product Innovation II | 6 |
| Total Hours | 66 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree and certificate is 66.
Sample plan of study
What follows is an example plan that meets the prescribed requirements. Students may work with their adviser to consider an individual enrollment plan that best meets their goals. Part-time enrollment and summer courses may be considered.
| Year one | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer semester | Hours | |
| INNO 600 | Integrative Design Studio (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| Technical elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 6 | |
| Fall semester | ||
| INNO 501 | Arts Principles for Product Innovation (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| INNO 502 | Business Principles for Product Innovation | 3 |
| INNO 590 | da Vinci Project (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| INNO 651 | Master's Project in Product Innovation I | 6 |
| Technical elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Year two | ||
| Summer semester | ||
| INNO 652 | Master's Project in Product Innovation II | 6 |
| Term Hours: | 6 | |
| Fall semester | ||
| ACCT 507 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | 3 |
| INFO 664 | Information Systems for Business Intelligence | 3 |
| SCMA 524 | Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 610 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers (M.B.A. core requirement; satisfies M.P.I. core requirement INNO 503) | 3 |
| MGMT 641 | Leading People and Organizations | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Year three | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ACCT 608 | Managerial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management | 3 |
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Total Hours: | 66 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree and certificate is 66.
Contact
Austen Gouldman
gouldmana@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
Additional contact
Graduate Studies in Business
gsib@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
Program website: business.vcu.edu/academics/mba-options