Interdisciplinary Academics and Dual Degrees

A first-rate policy school, a world-class university

One of the world’s premier research universities, the University of Michigan is home to eighteen graduate schools and colleges; top ranked professional schools in Law, Business, Social Work, Natural Resources and Environment, Urban Planning, and more; and world-class academic departments and international area studies centers.

That makes the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy a small policy school with a big difference: housed at one of America’s great public universities, we offer our students ready access to the full breadth and depth of the University of Michigan’s intellectual, cultural, and social resources.

About 30% of Ford School masters students pursue dual degrees while on campus. And even for non-dual degree MPP students, fully one-quarter of Ford School credits can be taken outside of the school.

Ease of access

The Ford School makes it easy for students to work across schools and departments. As a result of the U-M’s longstanding commitment to interdisciplinary education, administrative boundaries between units and schools are low, making it simple to select coursework from offerings across the campus.

Not sure whether a dual degree is in your future? No need to decide before coming to Michigan; our students can apply to other schools after enrollment in the Ford School. The application process is straightforward, and our academic advisors—who work closely throughout the year with colleagues from the other schools—are here to help.

Established dual degree programs

The Ford School has formalized dual degree programs with many schools and departments, enabling students to complete work on two degrees simultaneously in less time than it would take to pursue each degree separately.

Applied Economics and Public Policy (MAE/MPP)

Business Administration and Public Policy (MBA/MPP)

Chinese Studies and Public Policy (MA/MPP)

Health Services Administration and Public Policy (MHSA/MPP)

Higher Education and Public Policy (MA/MPP)

Information and Public Policy (MSI/MPP)

Law and Public Policy (JD/MPP)

Medical Degree and Public Policy (MD/MPP)

Natural Resources and Environment and Public Policy (MS/MPP)

Public Health and Public Policy (MPH/MPP or MHSA/MPP)

Russian and East European Studies and Public Policy (MA/MPP)

Social Work and Public Policy (MSW/MPP)

Southeast Asian Studies and Public Policy (MA/MPP)

Urban and Regional Planning and Public Policy (MUP/MPP)

Self-initiated dual degrees

We encourage students to create individualized dual degree programs if their interests fall outside our formal offerings. In recent years, student initiated dual degrees have included:

Statistics (MA in Statistics/MPP)

Mechanical Engineering (MS in Mechanical Engineering/MPP)

Certificates

The U-M hosts a wide variety of non-degree certificate programs that can enhance a graduate degree. Among those our students have pursued in recent years:

Graduate Certificate Program in Science, Technology, and Public Policy (STPP)—This program is housed at the Ford School.

Graduate Certificate in Russian & East European Studies

Graduate Certificate Program in Industrial Ecology

Graduate Certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Graduate Certificate Program in Women's Studies

Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development

Graduate Certificate Program in Museum Studies