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Stanford Engineering
Computer Science
Engineering

Joint Programs | MS/MBA

Overview

The joint MS in Computer Science/MBA degree program (CS/MBA) enables students to pursue simultaneously a Master of Business Administration at the Graduate School of Business (GSB) and a Master of Science in Computer Science at the Stanford School of Engineering. Joint MS/MBA degree students will have interests in technology and leadership with a desire to become managers or entrepreneurs in technologically-inclined businesses. 

Program Overview

  • The joint MS/MBA program requires a combined total of 129 units, enabling completion of the joint degree in nine quarters. 
  • Students must successfully complete 84 units of instruction, 80 of which must be at the GSB, which includes successful completion of the Core and Distribution area requirements. Additionally, at least 70 GSB units for the MBA must be completed for a letter grade (not on a pass/fail basis). Rules concerning independent study, grade point average, the Global Experience requirement, and so forth will match those set for students in the regular MBA program, as specified annually on the MBA policies and Standard's tab on the MyGSB website.
  • Students must successfully complete at least 45 unduplicated units of instruction approved by CS. Some of these courses (not to exceed 12 units) may be applied from approved GSB coursework. CS Foundations may be waived if equivalent coursework has been completed at another institution.

CS Foundations Areas (10 units towards the 45 may apply)

  • Logic, Automata, and Complexity (CS 103, 3-5 units)
  • Probability (CS 109, Stat 116, EE 178, CME 106 or MS&E 220, 3-5 units)
  • Algorithmic Analysis (CS 161, 3-5 units)
  • Computer Organization and Systems (CS 107 or 107E, 3-5 units)
  • Principles of Computer Systems (CS 111, 3-5 units)

Significant Implementation Requirement 

  • CS 140: Operating Systems and Systems Programming
  • CS 140E: Operating Systems Design and Implementation
  • CS 143: Compilers
  • CS 144: Introduction to Computer Networking
  • CS 145: Introduction to Databases
  • CS 148: Introduction to Computer Graphics and Imaging
  • CS 151: Logic Programming
  • CS 190: Software Design Studio
  • CS 210B: Software Project Experience with Corporate Partners
  • CS 212: Operating Systems and Systems Programming
  • CS 224R: Deep Reinforcement Learning
  • CS 227B: General Game Playing
  • CS 231N: Convolutional Neural Networks for Visual Recognition
  • CS 239: Advanced Topics in Sequential Decision Making
  • CS 243: Program Analysis and Optimizations
  • CS 248A: Computer Graphics: Rendering, Geometry, and Image Manipulation
  • CS 248B: Fundamentals of Computer Graphics: Animation and Simulation
  • CS 330:  Deep Multi-task and Meta Learning
  • CS 341: Project in Mining Massive Data Sets

Depth Requirement

Important Note: Completion of at least 21 units within a single specialization: Artificial Intelligence, Biocomputation, Computer and Network Security, Human-Computer Interaction, Information Management and Analytics, Mobile and Internet Computing, Software Theory, Systems, Theoretical Computer Science, Visual Computing.

Note: All coursework must be taken for a letter grade and no more than 9 units of independent study may be included. Remaining units may be applied from the student’s specialization, from another specialization, or from approved GSB coursework (up to 12 units). At most 3 units of Computer Science/Electrical Engineering/Engineering seminars may be counted. CS courses numbered 112 and above, excluding CS 161A, CS 196 or CS 198 may be counted as electives. Other electives must be technical and numbered above 100, related to the degree program, and approved by an advisor and the MS Program Administrator. Maintaining a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale across all courses counting toward the MS is required.

All coursework must be taken for a letter grade and no more than 9 units of independent study may be included. Remaining units may be applied from the student’s specialization, from another specialization, or from approved GSB coursework (up to 12 units). At most 3 units of Computer Science/Electrical Engineering/Engineering seminars may be counted. Students are expected to complete the joint MS/MBA Program in nine quarters.

Approved Graduate School of Business (GSB) Courses

  • FINANCE 341 - Modeling for Investment Management (3 units)
  • FINANCE 350 - Corporate Financial Modeling (4 units)
  • OIT 356 - Electronic Business (2 units)
  • STRAMGT 330 - Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital: Partnership for Growth (3 units)
  • STRAMGT 353 - Entrepreneurship: Formation of New Ventures (4 units)
  • STRAMGT 354 - Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital (4 units)
  • STRAMGT 356 - The Startup Garage: Design (4 units)
  • STRAMGT 366 - The Startup Garage: Testing & Launch (4 units)
  • STRAMGT 572 - Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation (2 units)
  • FINANCE 620 - Financial Markets I (3 units)
  • FINANCE 622 - Dynamic Asset Pricing Theory (4 units) (not offered 2022-23)
  • FINANCE 624 - Corporate Finance Theory (4 units)
  • FINANCE 625 - Empirical Asset Pricing (3 units)
  • GSBGEN 641 - Advanced Empirical Methods (3 units)
  • MGTECON 600 - Microeconomic Analysis I (4 units)
  • MGTECON 601 - Microeconomic Analysis II (4 units)
  • MGTECON 602 - Auctions, Bargaining, and Pricing (4 units)
  • MGTECON 604 - Econometric Methods II (3 units)
  • MGTECON 608 - Multiperson Decision Theory (3 units)
  • MGTECON 610 - Macroeconomics (4 units)

Planning Policies

  • For students starting at the GSB, joint MS/MBA students spend most of their first year fulfilling requirements of the MBA curriculum. Students may begin taking CS courses once they begin taking electives, typically during Spring quarter of their first year. During their second and third year, students have the opportunity to take a variety of electives at the GSB and the CS Department.
  • For students starting at CS, joint MS/MBA students spend most of their second year fulfilling requirements of the MBA curriculum. During their third year, students have the opportunity to take a variety of electives at the GSB and the CS Department.
  • Visit the Computer Science specializations page for options. For assistance with program and course planning, please contact the Course Advisor (advisor@cs.stanford.edu).

Course Registration

  • Students will have two open programs (known as "careers" in Axess) under which they may register for courses: the GSB career and the graduate (CS) career.
  • Students must pay close attention to the career in which they register for a course. All GSB courses (whether applied to the MBA or the MS) should be enrolled under the GSB career.
     

Getting Started

For more information, please contact the CS Department or the Associate Director for joint & dual degree programs at the Graduate School of Business. 

GSB Application