J.D.-M.A. (Government or Foreign Affairs)

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This J.D.-M.A. program was instituted in 1970 by the School of Law and the Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics.

Administration of the Program Management of the program and advising of participating students are entrusted, on the Law School side, to a faculty member designated by the dean, and, on the side of the Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics, to its regular graduate advisor.

Admission to the Program Admission to the program requires two steps. (1) The student must secure admission to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics, through the department’s normal admissions process. A student is held to the same standards as any other applicant, and candidacy for the combined program is not considered at this stage. A student may apply to the Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics while a first-year law student or prior to entrance at the School of Law. (2) The student must secure admission to the School of Law through its normal admissions process. A student is held to the same standards as any other applicant, and candidacy for the combined program is not considered at this stage.

Curriculum

The combined J.D.-M.A. program normally takes three and one-half years to complete. It may be possible to complete the program in three years, however, by additional summer work and by carrying a higher than average load. In brief, the program consists of the complete first-year program in the School of Law, followed by two and one-half years of courses taken from the curricula of both schools and, in appropriate cases, from other graduate offerings at the University. The student must meet all of the requirements set by the respective departments for the award of both the J.D. and the M.A. 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 Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics, requirements for the M.A. degree in government or in foreign affairs include 24 course credits plus 6 non-topical research credits, satisfactory performance on two comprehensive examinations, completion of a thesis under the supervision of two faculty advisors, and demonstration of appropriate competence in a foreign language or in quantitative research methods. With the approval of the Law School advisor, 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 Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics or other graduate offerings at the University. Similarly, with the approval of the graduate advisor of the Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics, a student may receive up to six of the 24 course credits required for the M.A. in appropriate work in the School of Law.

Change of Status

At any point in the program, the student may terminate plans for a combined degree and continue toward a single degree at either school. A student is then obligated to satisfy the normal requirements of the school elected, which may include credit for some of the work completed in the other school, as determined by the appropriate officials of the school in question.

Financial Aid

During the first year, financial aid is available to law students on the usual basis by application to the School of Law. Financial aid during remaining years is available from each school in proportion to the number of credits taken in each school and the availability of assistance. The program committee has the responsibility of working with the financial aid officers of each school and with the student to coordinate any problems of financial aid that arise.

Extracurricular Activities

The student is eligible to participate in the extracurricular activities of both schools to the extent that time permits, but should be particularly alert to the possibility of over-commitment, and should seek the counsel of the program advisor before undertaking any formal extracurricular activities of a time-consuming nature.

Grading Standards

In the first year of the combined program, while enrolled exclusively in the School of Law, the student is required to meet the grading standards of that school. In remaining years, when enrolled in both schools, the student is required to meet the session and cumulative grading standards of both schools independently to remain in good standing. Grades are recorded on the student’s transcript under the system in effect at the school in which the course is taken.

Faculty Advisor

The Law School faculty advisor for this program is Professor John Norton Moore.