Joint Degree Programs

Accelerate your academic and professional trajectory at Dartmouth across the worlds of engineering, business, and medicine. With advance planning, students in Dartmouth's graduate engineering programs can pursue joint master's or doctoral degrees with the Tuck School of Business or the Geisel School of Medicine, significantly shortening the time required to achieve dual credentials.

Joint Degrees with Tuck School of Business

Main entrance of Tuck School of Business

MEM-MBA

With proactive planning, a first-year Master of Business Administration (MBA) student at Tuck School of Business may be able to earn both an MBA and Master of Engineering Management (MEM) from Thayer School of Engineering in as little as 2.5 years (a total of eight terms, including the summer). Students must apply to and be admitted to both Tuck and Thayer, and complete the admissions and financial aid processes for each school. It is recommended that students apply to and enroll at Tuck first, then apply to Thayer during their first year of studies at Tuck. See an MEM-MBA example study plan.

Explore the MEM Admissions Process

Explore the MBA Admissions Process

Thayer graduates gathering in front of Tuck School of Business

MEng-MBA

The Master of Engineering (MEng) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, offered jointly by the Thayer School of Engineering and Tuck School of Business, is designed for students interested in pursuing careers where the combination of business and engineering skills would prove beneficial. With advance planning, a first-year MBA student at Tuck School of Business may be able to earn both an MBA and MEng in a total of seven terms. For the MEng degree, 3 of the 9 required courses will be satisfied by successful completion of 3 of Tuck’s core courses: Analytics 1 (AN1), Analytics II (AN2), and Operations Management (OM). For the MBA degree, 12 of the required 76.5 credits will be awarded automatically for participation in the joint degree program. Applicants must apply to both programs, either at the same time or in sequence.

It is recommended that students apply to and enroll at Tuck first, then apply to Thayer during their first year of studies at Tuck.

Note: This joint program is currently available only for the on-campus MEng program.

Explore the MEng Admissions Process

Explore the MBA Admissions Process

Joint Degrees with Geisel School of Medicine

MEng-MD

The MEng-MD program is designed for students intending to pursue clinical practice, who also want to develop engineering skills and acquire specialized knowledge within a specific area of engineering that covers both basic science and its application to practical problem-solving. MD students from Geisel may apply to Thayer in the first, second, or third year of medical school and carry out their MEng studies in the fourth year of study, completing the MD program in their fifth year of matriculation at Geisel.

Note: This joint program is currently available only for the on-campus MEng program.

Typical Academic Sequence

The schedule provides nine months to complete the MEng degree, beginning in September, annually. This preserves time in July and August, following the third year in the MD program, to complete important Geisel elective activities in preparation for residency applications.

The overview of a typical academic schedule for a student completing the MD and MEng degrees is as follows:

  • Years 1 and 2: Geisel Phase 1 curriculum
  • Year 3: Geisel (through August) Phase 2 and early Phase 3 curriculum
  • Year 4: Thayer (September-June)
  • Year 5: Geisel (July-June) Phase 3 curriculum and application to residency training

Explore the MEng Admissions Process

Explore the MD Admissions Process

PhD-MD

The combined Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD-MD) degree is for students seeking to conduct in-depth research and receive extensive training in both medicine and biomedical engineering. You must apply and be admitted to both Thayer School of Engineering and Geisel School of Medicine and complete requirements for both the MD and PhD. You'll earn the PhD and MD degrees simultaneously, after typically seven to eight years of study.

Course of Study

There are three major phases of study. Broadly stated, students spend the initial phase at Geisel, the second phase at Thayer fulfilling the requirements for the PhD, then the final phase at Geisel to complete the requirements for the MD. Students who are registered and enrolled in two or more courses per term (or ENGG 298) are considered full-time and as being “in residence.”

Initial MD Phase at Geisel School of Medicine (years one and two)

  • Complete M1 and M2 requirements
  • Up to three 8-week laboratory rotations

First-Year PhD Phase at Thayer School of Engineering (year three)

  • Completion of six graduate engineering courses
  • ENGG 195: Seminar on Science, Technology, and Society (two terms; attend 14 seminars)
  • ENGG 198: Research-in-Progress Workshop (one term)
  • Initiation of dissertation research with thesis advisor
  • Qualification for PhD candidacy

Second-Year PhD Phase at Thayer School of Engineering (year four)

  • Oral examination
  • Completion of additional graduate courses
  • ENGG 195: Seminar on Science, Technology, and Society (two terms; attend 14 seminars)
  • ENGG 197: PhD Professional Workshops
  • ENGG 198: Research-in-Progress Workshop
  • Thesis proposal and dissertation research

Final PhD Phase at Thayer School of Engineering (year five)

  • Dissertation research
  • Completion of thesis defense

Final MD Phase at Geisel School of Medicine (years six and seven)

  • Complete M3 and M4 requirements

Explore the PhD Admissions Process

Explore the MD Admissions Process

Multiple Master's Degrees at Thayer School of Engineering

MEM-MEng

Students interested in specialized training within an engineering track along with technical and business leadership skills may benefit from joint Master of Engineering Management (MEM) and Master of Engineering (MEng) degrees from Thayer School of Engineering. Students must first apply and be admitted to the MEM program, and then apply for admission to the MEng program during the spring or summer term just prior to starting their second MEM year. Joint degree students may count up to three graduate-level electives towards both MEM and MEng degrees, and complete both degrees in as little as two years.

Explore the MEM Admissions Process

Explore the MEng Admissions Process