McCombs School of Business at University of Texas-Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is putting engineering and business on the same five-year track.
Beginning in fall 2027, students in select engineering majors will be able to earn both a bachelor’s degree from UT Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering and a specialized master’s degree from the McCombs School of Business.
The Cockrell-McCombs B.S./M.S. Honors Program is designed for students who want to pair deep technical training with business skills before entering the workforce. UT calls it one of the first programs of its kind in the country. Applications for the program opened this month.
Rather than earning an engineering degree, working for several years, and later returning for graduate business education, students will build the two skill sets simultaneously.
“Many of the world’s most successful CEOs began their careers as engineers but often had to return to school or learn business on the job. Our new program changes that paradigm,” says Roger Bonnecaze, dean of the Cockrell School of Engineering.
“From the beginning, students will develop both technical mastery and business fluency, ensuring they are ready to lead in any sector upon graduation.”
ENGINEERING MEETS SPECIALIZED BUSINESS
The program will initially be open to incoming students admitted to either mechanical engineering or petroleum and geosystems engineering.
On the business side, students can choose among four specialized Master of Science tracks at McCombs: business analytics, finance, marketing, or information technology and management.
That structure distinguishes the program from a traditional engineering-plus-MBA pathway. Instead of a generalist management degree, students will pair their engineering major with a focused graduate credential in a specific business discipline.
Coursework from the two schools will be integrated throughout the five-year curriculum, allowing students to develop technical and commercial skills alongside one another rather than completing the degrees sequentially.
Bradley R. Staats, dean of McCombs and himself a Cockrell School graduate, says the goal is to prepare students to operate at the intersection of the two disciplines.
“This program is about more than just earning two degrees — it’s about shaping leaders who can drive change at the intersection of technology and business. Our students will graduate with the analytical mindset of an engineer and the strategic vision of a business leader, ready to tackle the world’s most complex challenges from day one.”
STUDY ABROAD, INTERNSHIPS BUILT IN
The new honors program also puts a heavy emphasis on experiential learning.
Students will participate in a study abroad experience during their first year, giving them early exposure to international business and different cultural environments.
They’ll also complete multiple internships over the course of the program, including a hands-on engineering internship and a business-focused internship tied to their longer-term career interests.
The combination is intended to produce graduates who have already worked in both technical and business environments before completing their degrees.
UT Austin says students admitted to the program will also be eligible for dedicated scholarships.
Admission will be selective, with cohorts intentionally kept small to provide students with more personalized advising and support.
Applicants must demonstrate strong academic performance, leadership potential, interest in both engineering and business, and what the university describes as a drive to make an impact at scale. Once enrolled, students must maintain at least a 3.5 GPA to remain in the program.
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