Leaders
Luakena Tolbert: Luakena is a first year SAIS/Wharton student focusing on African Studies and Development Economics at SAIS. He will be focusing on International Finance at Wharton. He has prior work experience as an Analyst at a Development Finance Institution in West Africa, a Research Associate in Portfolio Management at a Quantitative Mutual Fund in Maryland and as an Associate in Emerging Markets Private Equity in Washington DC.
Samantha Perry: Samantha is a first year student at SAIS/Wharton. She is currently concentrating on International Development at SAIS and plans to major in Marketing at Wharton. Before coming to SAIS, she worked in youth leadership and community development in Tanzania and Panama, as well as with a start-up media company in Boulder, CO. Club Overview
The MBA/MA dual-degree program offered by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of The Johns Hopkins University prepares students to operate in today’s global business and political environment. Graduates earn an MBA from Wharton and an MA in International Relations from SAIS in a three-year period. Degree candidates spend three semesters at the Wharton campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and three semesters at one or a combination of the SAIS campuses in Washington, D.C., Nanjing, China and Bologna, Italy. The joint degree program provides a unique opportunity to gain insight into the economic, political, and cultural drivers of an increasingly globalized world along with the necessary management training to lead a private- or public-sector organization effectively. http://www.sais-wharton.org/ SAIS/WHARTON DUAL DEGREE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are some reasons why students choose the SAIS/Wharton dual-degree program?
1. Students intend to pursue international work and want a regional specialization.
2. Students want a deeper understanding of the political and economic factors that affect international business.
3. Students are interested in social or environmental impact work, and recognize the value of honing their business acumen as well as deepening their understanding of social and environmental issues on a global scale.
Do you have to apply to both programs at the same time?
Students must be admitted separately into each program. This can be simultaneously, or students can apply to the other program during their first year at one of either schools.
Do the graduation requirements for dual-degree students differ from non-dual-degree students?
Both Wharton and SAIS recognize one semester of credits from the other program in fulfilling graduation requirements. Therefore, dual-degree students complete three semesters in each program.
Is it possible to waive out of core requirements in one program if a similar course was completed in the other program?
If you have taken a course at SAIS that is equivalent to one of the core requirements, Wharton will often allow you to waive the course outright or take an exam in order to do so. After completing a year at SaAIS, students typically waive out of Managerial Economics (microeconomics) and Finance 602 (macroeconomics) by credential at Wharton. SAIS will allow this in certain circumstances, but it often depends on the rules set by the department associated with your concentration.
How is the SAIS/Wharton program structured?
Students decide how they want to structure their program. The only requirement is that Wharton requires you to do a full year beginning in the fall. This could either be your first or second year of the three year program.
What factors do dual-degree students take into consideration when deciding how to structure the program?
1. How they want to leverage each degree for their first and second summer internships. For example, students looking to work in industries with formal on-campus recruiting may prefer to start at Wharton during the second year of the program and continue there for three consecutive semesters (enabling them to take advantage of on-campus positions for full time employment during their final fall semester).
2. Whether they would prefer to graduate with their Wharton or SAIS class.
3. Logistics (including how often one is willing to move back and forth between DC and Philly).
How do most students choose to structure the program?
While there are students that structure their dual-program in many different ways, the majority tend to do their first year at SAIS, followed by three consecutive semesters at Wharton, and their final spring semester back at SAIS.
Can financial aid packages from one program be deferred while attending the other?
No, students must reapply for financial aid packages each year.
What housing arrangements do students typically make?
Some buildings in Philadelphia will allow students to sign 18 month leases for the three consecutive semesters, but many students sign a 12 month lease and then pay a small fee for month-to-month for their final six months. During their third year, some students live in either DC or Philly the entire year and commute to the other school for classes twice a week.
What is the difference between SAIS and Wharton's Lauder program?
The focus on international economics at SAIS is perhaps the largest difference between the two programs academically. SAIS also enables you to do functional (international policy, international development, global theory, international law) as well as regional concentrations, while Lauder only offers regional studies.
Can dual-degree students still do one of their SAIS semesters in Bologna?
Yes, a number of students do their first semester or last semester of their dual-degree program in Bologna.
What is the dual-degree alumni network like?
The SAIS-Wharton dual-degree is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. 232 alumni have joined the dual-degree alumni network database, representing 19 countries and 25 different industries.
Who can I contact if I am interested in learning more?
LukeTolbert: ltolbert@wharton.upenn.edu
Samantha Perry: saperry@wharton.upenn.edu
Lauren Miller: laurenmiller12@gmail.com | 
