Joint-Degree Programs

Programs

Learning Objectives

All joint degree programs utilize learning objectives as established for the stand-alone degree tracks. Refer to the separate departmental sections for learning objectives for each master’s degree option.

Juris Doctor and Master’s Degrees

These programs are designed to offer full-time students an interdisciplinary degree which encompasses training in law plus expertise in a complementary field of study. The J.D./M.A. is offered in anthropology, clinical psychology, history, industrial/organizational psychology, and English Language and Literature; a J.D./M.S. is offered in biology, computer science, and geosciences; and the Collins College of Business offers a J.D./Master of Business Administration, and a J.D./Master of Science in Finance.

Each J.D./M.A. and J.D./M.S. application is reviewed and the program is administered by a Joint Degree Committee, which consists of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from the College of Law and the designated graduate program advisor from the complementary discipline, in cooperation with the Dean of the Graduate School.

Since the student may enroll in either college, financial aid must be applied for the college in which the student holds current enrollment. Students will be required to pay all fees of both programs. Tuition will be paid for each course at the rate currently in effect for the respective colleges.

A joint-degree student will be eligible to participate in all extracurricular activities of both colleges.

By eliminating overlapping subject area courses and using electives of each program for work in the other, a candidate for the joint degrees can reduce the total requirements by 15 to 19 credit hours.

Joint degrees offered in the areas of business administration (J.D./M.B.A.) and finance (J.D./Master of Science in Finance) are designed to provide legal education so that the business students’ skills can be exercised with full knowledge of the legal environment in our society. Law students are provided further training in business so that their legal knowledge can be more effectively applied in current business situations. By eliminating overlapping subject area courses, and using the electives of each program for work in the other, a candidate for the joint degrees can reduce the total requirements by at least 15 credit hours.

Each business joint-degree application is reviewed, and the program is administered by a Joint Degree Committee, which consists of the Director of Graduate Business Programs in the Collins College of Business and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the College of Law, in cooperation with the Dean of the Graduate School.

Candidates for a joint degree must meet the academic standards of both the College of Law and the Graduate School. Class rank for the College of Law shall be computed for law courses only. At the conclusion of the program, the candidate will be awarded both the juris doctor and the master’s degree.

Students are expected to participate in a joint meeting with both the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from the College of Law and their graduate program advisor early in the first semester of study in a joint-degree program. Students should meet with their graduate program advisor during each subsequent semester, even if not enrolled in any graduate course work that semester.

The joint-degree programs are accredited by the American Bar Association, American Association of Legal Services, and the proper accrediting agencies of the complementary disciplines, if any. All business programs are accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Students in the joint-degree program are permitted to terminate plans for a joint degree, and to opt for either one or the other of the degrees. Students will be obliged to satisfy the normal requirements of the college selected, which may include credit for some work done in the other college, as determined by the Dean of the College of Law or the Dean of the Graduate School.

Admission. Admission to the joint-degree programs requires two separate applications:

a formal application to the College of Law, and
a formal application to the Graduate School. (Please attach a letter requesting admission to the joint-degree program and responding to the question “Why do you desire to pursue this joint degree?”.)

Only after the respective colleges have acted affirmatively on the separate applications will action be taken to admit the student to the joint-degree program. Admission to the joint-degree program is under exclusive control of the respective Joint Degree Committee.

Normally, students will be admitted on a full-time basis only. The program is not open to students who have previously completed one of the degrees.

Residence Requirements. The student is expected to enroll full time. Due to the residency requirements of the College of Law, it is recommended that the first year of the program be taken in the College of Law. The student may take the first year in the complementary discipline with the understanding that any courses taken from the College of Law will be acceptable for the law degree only with prior approval of the College of Law faculty. The remaining semesters are spent pursuing both degrees within the limitations of residency of the College of Law which requires that, in the final year, the student must be enrolled in ten hours of law courses for both semesters.

The joint-degree program may be completed in three years and two summers and must be completed within six calendar years.