Joint and Collaborative Degree Programs
The CoB offers joint programs, as well as programs in collaboration with a number of departments across campus, to allow non-business students to expand their understanding of business and also reduce MBA requirements if they later choose to pursue the degree.
Joint Degree Programs
Joint Degree Programs with the School of Law
Joint degree programs with the School of Law provide an unparalleled opportunity for both J.D. and MBA students. The programs include the J.D./MBA, the J.D./M.Tax in legal and taxation studies, and the J.D. and Master of Science in Accountancy (J.D./M.S.A.) in financial forensics or financial reporting and compliance. These programs prepare students for careers in a wide range of areas, from business management and corporate and commercial law, to wealth management, accounting, tax accounting, financial reporting and legal practice in government.
Individuals with undergraduate degrees in any field of study are eligible to apply for these joint programs. The programs permit students to transfer courses between the law school and the business school to reduce the total amount of time and credits required to complete both degrees. Students can transfer up to 10 credits of business to fulfill law requirements and up to nine credits of law to fulfill business requirements, thus reducing total credit requirements for completing both degrees by 19 credits.
Akron’s School of Law is an ABA-accredited institution that provides a broad-based legal education and cutting-edge skills-training in both daytime and evening classes. Akron Law is among the top schools in Ohio for bar passage and provides a comprehensive bar preparation program at no additional cost. The employment rate for Akron Law graduates has been over 90% in recent years, above the national average.
Learn more about Joint Programs with the School of Law.
Collaborative Degree Programs
Pre-MBA Business Minor for Undergraduate Students
While many programs described on this page are more formal in nature, students in any undergraduate degree program also can take electives or pursue a pre-MBA business minor to achieve the same goals.
Pharmacy D-MBA
The Pharm. D/MBA program is a collaborative program between the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and The University of Akron College of Business (CoB). Students of NEOMED who wish to attain a Master of Business Administration (MBA) would be eligible for articulated course credits at Akron.
The College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering Professional Masters
The Master of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering Professional Masters program is ideal for applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline. The 30 credit program allows students to complete a combination of polymer, business and law courses to achieve the professional degree. Students take six credits of required business coursework and may take an additional three credits of business courses for electives.
Arts Administration
The School of Dance, Theatre, and Arts Administration offers an Arts Administration degree that also includes business courses. Students in this program may then go on to pursue the MBA with reduced course requirements because Gateway courses may be waived and up to nine credits of graduate level coursework may be used to fulfill degree requirements for both programs.
UA Army Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC)
New students accepted into the UA Accelerated Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program would be eligible to compete for international summer internships which may be used to fulfill program requirements in the MBA and MSM degree programs. Recent internships have been in Poland, Bulgaria, Latvia and Hungary.
To learn more about Army ROTC, write to tpm16@uakron.edu to talk with a scholarship advisor.