J.D.-M.P.P. (Public Policy)

The Law School offers a dual-degree program with the University of Virginia Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, in which a student may obtain both the Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) in four years instead of the five years that would be required if each were taken separately. The program is designed to accommodate the interests of students who desire to gain expertise and receive degrees in both Law (J.D.) and Public Policy (M.P.P.).

Administration of the Program
A Program Committee administers the dual-degree program and is composed of one member from the Law School and one member from the Batten School, as designated by the respective deans.

Admission to the Program
The student is obligated to secure separate admission to both the Law School and the Batten School. Application to one school may be made prior to entrance or while the applicant is a first-year student at the other school. In either case, the applicant will be held to the same standards as any other applicant, and the fact that he or she is a candidate for the dual-degree program will not be considered in the admissions process. Once admitted independently to each school, the student may make application to the Program Committee for admission to the dual-degree program. Admission to the program will be judged according to criteria which it is the responsibility of the Program Committee to develop and will not be guaranteed by virtue of acceptance at both schools. M.P.P. Admissions | J.D. Admissions

Curriculum
The program will take four years to complete. Students are not allowed to complete the program in fewer than four years (eight semesters) of coursework.

The program consists of the complete first-year program of each school, followed by two years of coursework in which students must complete the required curricula of both schools.

Students who have been admitted to the program may elect whether they want to start in the Law School or the Batten School, and in any event must spend their first year in full-time residence in either the Batten School or the Law School. The second year is spent in the other school, again in full-time residence, in effect, as a regular first-year student. During the third and fourth years, students select courses from the curricula of the two schools and, as appropriate, courses from other graduate offerings at the University.

At the conclusion of the fourth year, students who have earned a minimum of 74 credits in the School of Law and a minimum of 36 credits in the Batten School will be awarded both the M.P.P. and J.D. degrees. Students may not earn Law School course credit for the public policy internship that is required by the Batten School at the conclusion of the first year of the program.

Change of Status
At any point in the program, the student may terminate plans for a dual degree and continue toward a single degree at either school. The student must then satisfy the normal requirements of the school elected, which may include credit for some of the work done in the other school.

Tuition and Fees
During the first three years of the program, students will pay one full year of Batten School tuition (when enrolled in the full-time first year curriculum at the Batten School) and two full years of Law School tuition. During the fourth and final year of the program, students will pay one semester of tuition to the Law School and one semester of tuition to the Batten School.

Financial Aid
Financial aid will be provided by the school to which the student is paying tuition during each semester. Financial aid is not guaranteed and is subject to individual school and University availability and regulations.

Grading Standards
The student is required to meet the grading standards of both schools independently to remain in good standing. Each school retains the right to drop students from its degree program following its usual academic standards and procedures. Grades will be recorded on the student’s transcript under the system in effect at the school in which the course is taken.

For More Information Contact the faculty advisers, Professor Richard J. Bonnie and Eric M. Patashnik.