Dec 05, 2025  
2025-2026 Graduate Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

Master of Arts in Design and Innovation/Master of Business Administration (M.A.D.I./M.B.A.)


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Offered in partnership between the Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, and Cox School of Business, the Master of Arts in Design and Innovation/Master of Business Administration (M.A.D.I./M.B.A.) dual degree offers a comprehensive Design and Business experience. This degree integrates the full M.A.D.I. and One-Year M.B.A. experience in their entirety in a way the bridges design competencies and business acumen. The field of Design and Innovation, Human-Centered Design, Design Research and Design Thinking are all being recognized as having a viable business application and are being sought out from all sectors of business. This dual degree would include a One-Year M.B.A. plus the full Master of Arts in Design and Innovation (M.A.D.I.) program where students would earn both degrees within three years.

The M.A.D.I. degree offers a hands-on, interdisciplinary approach to creative problem-solving through Human-Centered Design and innovation strategies. This program equips students with essential design methodologies; fostering critical creative thinking; hands-on graphic design and maker space opportunities; and the chance to work on applied, real-world projects.

The One-Year M.B.A. degree delivers the full M.B.A. experience across six consecutive terms during 24 months. During the first three terms, required core courses help develop a strong foundation in fundamental business principles. To build on this foundation, students may choose electives to gain expertise in a specific area or choose a more broad-based selection of electives. Each 14-week term is divided into two seven-week modules, A and B, with each module course earning two credit hours.

Students are required to apply and be accepted to both M.A.D.I. and the One-Year M.B.A. to start. The first Fall and Spring are taken within the M.A.D.I. program. The One-Year M.B.A. would start in the first summer, second fall, and second spring. And then students’ final year is spent back in the M.A.D.I. program for the third fall and third spring. The Dual Degree allows students to fulfill all requirements for both degrees in three years and be enrolled full time.

Curriculum - Fall Entry:


Spring 1: MADI + 1 Elective (10 Credit Hours)


Summer 1: MBA (14 Credit Hours)


Fall 2: MBA (10 Credit Hours)


Spring 2: MBA (14 Credit Hours)


Mod A


Mod B


  • MBA Electives - 6 Credits

Summer 2 - No Required Credits


Fall 3: MADI (10 Credit Hours)


Total for Joint MS-MBA: 72 Credit Hours


Tuition:

The tuition rate of the Lyle School of Engineering shall apply to the courses taken at the Cox School of Business.

Admission Requirements:

Candidates will need to complete the regular admissions processes for both the MADI program and the One-Year MBA.

There is no GRE requirement, but students need to provide a specific MADI application personal statement and two letters of recommendation. An undergraduate degree with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA is required.

For more information about the MADI/MBA please reach out to Jessica Burnham at jburnham@smu.edu or Julie Mass at jmaass@mail.cox.smu.edu.

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