The School of Law offers a program with the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, in which the student may obtain both the J.D. and M.B.A. degrees in four years instead of the five that would be required if each were completed separately.
Administration of the Program The program is administered by faculty advisors from the School of Law and Darden School faculties, as designated by the respective deans.
Admission to the Program Students are required to secure admission separately to the Darden School of Business and the School of Law through the normal admissions processes of the two schools. The applicant will be held to the same standards as any other applicant, and the fact that s/he is a candidate for the dual degree program will not be considered in the admissions process. Application may be made either prior to entrance or while a first-year student at the other school. No students are admitted to the dual degree program after completing the first year of either the School of Law or the Darden School. Students who have been admitted to both schools and who wish to undertake the dual degree program should notify the registrar of each school and apply to the faculty advisors for permission to do so. Admission requires approval of both the School of Law and the Darden School faculty advisors.
Curriculum The program takes four years to complete. It consists of the complete first-year program of each school, followed by two years of course work taken from the curricula of the two schools and, in appropriate cases, from other graduate offerings at the University. Students who have been admitted to the program may elect whether they want to start in the School of Law or the Darden School, and in any event must spend their first year in full-time residence in either the Darden School or the School of Law. The second year is spent in the other school, again in full-time residence and, in effect, as regular first-year students. During the third and fourth years, students must complete the required/elective curricula of both schools. At the conclusion of the fourth year, students who have earned a minimum of 70 credits and six residency semesters in the School of Law and a minimum of 52.5 credits in the Darden School will be awarded both the M.B.A. and J.D. degrees. NOTE: In accordance with ABA standards, J.D. degree candidates may not enroll in more than 17 credits total in any semester during their first year at the School of Law and during the third and fourth years of the program.
Change of Status At any point in the program, the student may terminate plans for the dual degree program and continue towards a single degree at either school. The student then must satisfy the normal requirements of the school elected, which may include credits completed in the other school, as determined by the appropriate officials.
Financial Aid Financial aid will be provided by the school to which the student is paying tuition in a given semester. Financial aid is not guaranteed and is subject to individual school and University regulations and availability. Students must meet the satisfactory academic progress standards of the school providing the financial aid in a given semester.
Tuition and Fees During the first three years of the program, students will pay one full year of Darden School tuition (when enrolled in the full-time first-year curriculum at the Darden School) and two full years of School of Law tuition. During the fourth and final year of the program, students will pay one semester of tuition to the School of Law and one semester of tuition to the Darden School.
Extracurricular Activities Students are eligible to participate in the extracurricular activities of both schools to the extent that time permits, but should be alert to the possibility of over-commitment.
Grading Standards In the first two years of the dual degree program, while enrolled exclusively in either the School of Law or the Darden School, students are required to meet the grading standards of the school in which they are enrolled. In the final two years, when concurrently enrolled in course work at both schools, students are required to meet the grading standards of each school 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. Course grades will be recorded on the student’s transcript in accordance with the grading system in effect at the school in which the course is offered.
For More Information Contact the School of Law faculty advisors, Professor George Geis.
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