At Michigan State University, there are many ways to combine areas of study into one or two degrees.
For a better understanding of the below items, review this guidance from the University Curriculum Committee.
| Cross-Disciplinary Graduate Degrees | One Degree, One Major | One Degree, Two Majors | Two Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| One Institution (MSU) | Inherently Cross-Disciplinary Major | Dual Major Doctoral Degree | Two MSU Degrees |
| Two Institutions (MSU+) | Joint Degree | N/A | Dual Degree |
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MSU has strong cross-disciplinary graduate and professional programs in every college. These programs count as a single major, resulting in a single degree.
Interdepartmental graduate programs let students tap into the unique disciplinary cultures and resources of two or more departments while pursuing a single graduate degree.
Doctoral students can develop expertise in two different programs while getting a single degree from MSU.
This is a "dual major doctoral degree," sometimes called a "dual degree" for short. This is different from the official "dual degree," which is with another institution.
These graduate programs are only available as a secondary or “dual” major, alongside a different doctoral program. A student can only be admitted to them after they enroll in their primary program at Michigan State University.
MSU's official "dual degree" is a dual degree with another institution. It awards two degrees for a single program of study, one degree from MSU and the other from another institution. A dual degree with another institution can only be pursued through an existing program.
A "joint degree" is a single degree awarded by MSU and another institution.
Students can take advantage of the variety of graduate and professional degrees offered at MSU by getting two degrees at once. With some exceptions, students must complete all requirements for both degrees separately.
A graduate specialization or graduate certificate expands your repertoire through a small program of study you take along with your degree requirements. Some overlap in requirements is allowed.
For programs that require a guidance committee—plan A master's and most doctoral programs—you have options for including committee members from different disciplines. Most programs allow students to include committee members from outside of their program. With approval, you can even include experts from outside MSU on your committee. Being co-advised by co-chairs from two disciplines is also an option. So is a different dissertation committee.
If your program approves, consider being co-advised by faculty in two different disciplines. The faculty members can be from any unit across the University.
If your guidance committee approves, you can have a (slightly or completely) different dissertation committee that includes faculty from other disciplines. For instance, you can have a different dissertation chair from your guidance chair. Learn more in Graduate Student Rights & Responsibilities 2.4.2.2.
The Biomolecular Sciences admissions gateway invites students in the biological sciences looking for studies that might not fit the simple disciplinary titles of departments and programs. Students rotate through labs and select a major after their first year.
MSU is home to an array of world-class facilities, centers, and institutes—many of which cross disciplinary boundaries. Graduate students and faculty mentors can affiliate with or participate in these vibrant communities for an afternoon, a side project, or an entire thesis or dissertation.
These facilities include, but are not limited to: