J.D.-M.P.H. (Public Health)

The dual degree in public health, offered in conjunction with the Department of Public Health Sciences, offers concentrations in generalist practice and research and in health policy, law and ethics. The M.P.H. program features close collaboration with the federal Centers for Disease Control and with state and local public health offices in Virginia.

Instituted in 2003 by the Law School, the School of Medicine, and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the combined J.D.-M.P.H. program takes four years to complete and requires a minimum of 116 credits. In effect, the program consists of the complete first-year program at the School of Law and at least three years of courses taken from the curricula of the two schools and, when appropriate, from other graduate offerings at the University.

Administration of the Program The program is administered by a Program Committee, consisting of one or more members of the Law faculty appointed by the Dean of the School of Law, one or more members of the faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences appointed by the Dean of the Graduate Faculties, and one or more members of the faculty of the School of Medicine appointed by the Dean of the School of Medicine.

Admission to the Program The student is required to secure admission separately to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Law School through the normal admissions processes in the two schools. The student has to meet the same standards as any other applicant. Once admitted to the two schools, the student may apply to the Program Committee for admission to the joint program. Students may seek admission to the Graduate School and initiate the dual-degree program after they have begun matriculating in the Law School.
Graduate Admissions | Law School Admissions

Curriculum The student is required to meet all of the requirements set by the respective Schools for the award of both the J.D. and M.P.H. degrees. In the School of Law, this means that the student must complete the required curriculum, meet minimum academic standards, and earn a minimum of 86 credits and six residency semesters in the School of Law. In the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, minimum requirements for the M.P.H. degree include two residency semesters; 42 credits in an approved program, including at least 30 course credits; and completion of a six-credit thesis under the supervision of a faculty advisor.

With the approval of a Law School representative on the Program Committee, a student may receive up to 12 of the 86 credits required for his or her J.D. degree in appropriate graduate level work in the GSAS or other schools in the University. Similarly, with the approval of the M.P.H. program director and the associate dean for graduate programs in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, a student may receive up to 9 of the 42 credits required for the M.P.H. degree in appropriate work in the School of Law. No student, however, may have more than 12 credits applied toward both degrees.

The joint J.D.-M.P.H. program takes four years to complete and requires a minimum of 116 credits. In effect, the program consists of the complete first-year program at the School of Law and at least three years of courses taken from the curricula of the two schools and, when appropriate, from other graduate offerings at the University. The J.D. and M.P.H. degrees are awarded at the same time upon the completion of the requirements for both degrees.  

Change of Status At any point in the program, the student may terminate plans for a joint program with the approval of the Program Committee and continue towards a single degree at either school.

Grading Standards The student is required to meet the grading standards of both schools independently to remain in good standing.

For More Information Contact Professor Ruth Gaare Bernheim at rg3r@virginia.edu