Return to: School of Law: Programs/Courses
The School of Law offers programs in conjunction with the University’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences that lead to the Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees. Students may apply for admission to receive the M.A. in English, foreign affairs, government, history or philosophy. Students must be admitted separately to both the School of Law and the program of choice in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Credits may be double-counted toward the degrees, depending on the program.
ENGLISH:
The J.D.-M.A. program in English was instituted in 1994 by the School of Law and the Department of English.
Administration of the Program Management of the program and advising of participant students are entrusted to Professor George Rutherglen in the School of Law and the director of graduate studies in the Department of English.
Admission to the Program Students are required to secure admission separately to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences 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. Once admitted to the two schools, the student may apply for admission to the dual degree program. Students may seek admission to the Graduate School and initiate the dual degree program after matriculating in the School of Law.
Curriculum The J.D.-M.A. program normally takes four years to complete. NOTE: In accordance with ABA standards, J.D. degree candidates may not enroll in more than 17 credits total in any semester. In brief, the program consists of the complete first-year program in the School of Law followed by three years of courses taken from the curricula of the two schools and, in appropriate cases, from other graduate offerings at the University.
Students are required to 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 English department, requirements for the M.A. degree vary depending on the program, the M.A. in English or the M.A. in English and Medieval Studies. The programs’ different requirements appear in the department’s regulations for graduate studies, and all applicants should thoroughly familiarize themselves with these rules.
With the approval of the School of Law representative on the program committee, students may receive up to 12 of the 86 credits required for the J.D. degree in appropriate graduate-level work in the Department of English or other departments at the University. Graduate school courses in literary theory or cultural studies are the most likely candidates for such credit; Law credit is not usually given for literature courses. When directly relevant to a particular student’s Law program of study, however, the School of Law representative may grant Law credit for literature courses containing a significant component of cultural studies, literary theory, or cultural, intellectual, or social history. In all cases, the School of Law representative must approve credit for any course taken outside the School of Law to be applied towards the J.D. degree before the student enrolls in the course. NOTE: Credit towards the J.D. degree cannot be granted for course work completed prior to matriculation at the School of Law. Similarly, with the approval of the director of graduate studies of the English Department, a student may receive up to nine of the credits required for the M.A. degree in appropriate work in the School of Law. Whether a student may receive the full nine credits varies depending on the program within the English department.
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 J.D. degree candidates must complete six residency semesters in the School of Law and pay School of Law tuition and fees. For any semester in which a student is in full-time residence in the Department of English, the student must pay tuition and fees as a regular student in that department.
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 Students are 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 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 advisor, Professor George Rutherglen.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS OR GOVERNMENT:
The J.D.-M.A. program in Politics 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 to Professor John Norton Moore in the School of Law and the graduate advisor in the Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics.
Admission to the Program Students are required to secure admission separately to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences 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. Once admitted to the two schools, the student may apply for admission to the dual degree program. Students may seek admission to the Graduate School and initiate the dual degree program after matriculating in the School of Law.
Curriculum The J.D.-M.A. program normally takes three and one-half years to complete. NOTE: In accordance with ABA standards, J.D. degree candidates may not enroll in more than 17 credits total in any semester. 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 foreign affairs or government 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 School of Law representatives on the program committee, a student may receive up to 12 of the 86 credits required for the J.D. degree in appropriate graduate-level work in the Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics or other graduate offerings at the University. In all cases, the School of Law representative must approve credit for any course taken outside the School of Law to be applied towards the J.D. degree before the student enrolls in the course. NOTE: Credit towards the J.D. degree cannot be granted for course work completed prior to matriculation at the School of Law. Similarly, with the approval of the graduate advisor of the Department of Politics, a student may receive up to six of the 30 course credits required for the M.A. degree in appropriate work in the School of Law.
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 J.D. degree candidates must complete six residency semesters in the School of Law and pay School of Law tuition and fees. For any semester in which a student is in full-time residence in the Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics, the student must pay tuition and fees as a regular student in that department.
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 Students are 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 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 advisor, Professor John Norton Moore.
HISTORY:
Effective fall 2014, the School of Law and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will offer a dual degree program in which a student may obtain both the J.D. and the M.A. in History in three years instead of the four and one-half years that would be required if each degree were completed separately. The program is designed to accommodate the interests of students who desire to gain expertise and receive degrees in both Law and graduate level History.
Administration of the Program: A Program Committee administers the dual degree program and is composed of faculty designated by the School of Law and faculty designated by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, as named by the respective Deans.
Admission to the Program: The student is required to secure separate admission to both the School of Law and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Application to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences may be made prior to entrance or while the applicant is a first-year or second-year student at the School of Law. In all cases, 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 dual degree program will be judged according to criteria developed by the Program Committee and will not be guaranteed by virtue of acceptance at both schools.
Curriculum: The program will take three years to complete and will require the student to take 98 total credits. The J.D. requires 86 credits, and the M.A. requires 30 credits. Normally, a student would have to take 116 credits to complete both degrees. In the dual degree program, however, the School of Law offers 12 credits for M.A. courses, and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers 6 credits for J.D. courses, so a student in the program needs to take only 98 total credits. NOTE: In accordance with ABA standards, J.D. degree candidates may not enroll in more than 17 credits total in any semester.
M.A. in History
The M.A. has the following six requirements. (1) Students are required to complete 30 credits toward the M.A. (2) Students must demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language, to be determined by completing an exam at that level offered by the department that teaches the relevant language or by documenting two years of college language education (or the equivalent). (3) Students are required to complete a Master’s Thesis, which is a 40-50-page paper of publishable quality. (4) Students are required to pass an oral examination in two historical fields (one of which is usually American Legal History). (5) Students are required to complete The Practice of Legal History course (usually in the fall of their 2L year). This course requires consistent student attendance of the Legal History Workshop. It requires students to produce and present a prospectus for their Master’s Thesis. And it requires attendance of professionalization class sessions of The Practice of History course. (6) Students are required to take at least two additional courses in the History Department itself. One of those courses will usually, but not always, be a research seminar.
More specifically, the M.A. requires students to complete the following courses, which comprise 12 credit hours: 3 credits for comprehensive exam preparation; 3 credits for revising a research paper written in a course into an M.A. thesis; and 6 credits for two courses in the History Department (one of which will usually, but not always, be a research seminar). These first 12 credits will not count toward the student’s School of Law GPA or be formally graded on the School of Law curve. Students must select these courses from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences course offerings.
In addition, the M.A. requires students to complete 12 additional credit hours in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. They must enroll in The Practice of Legal History for 3 credits. The other 9 credits (presumably three, 3-credit courses, but not necessarily) may be selected from courses offered in the History Department or from courses that are offered in the School of Law but cross-listed in the History Department. These 12 credits will not count toward the student’s School of Law GPA or be formally graded on the School of Law curve, but they will count toward the total number of J.D. credits that a student needs to fulfill the degree requirements (as described below). Even if the courses are cross-listed, students must register for these courses in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, not in the School of Law. Students should consult with the faculty advisors about the availability of cross-listed courses each year.
The final 6 credits for the M.A. will be earned through the successful completion of School of Law coursework from an approved list of courses that are taught at the School of Law. Students should again consult with the faculty advisors to identify these approved law courses.
Law School J.D.
The J.D. requires 86 credit hours. A maximum of 12 credits may come from courses completed at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (as approved by the Program Committee and described above). The additional 74 credit hours will be earned through regular School of Law coursework. Students should again be aware that 6 of these credits will be used toward the M.A. degree and must be selected from an approved list of School of Law courses (as described above). NOTE: Credit towards the J.D. degree cannot be granted for course work completed prior to matriculation at the School of Law.
The student must complete all required School of Law first-year courses (Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing, Property, and Torts) and fulfill the remaining requirements (a professional ethics course, a professional skills course, and the upper-level writing requirement) during the remaining semesters at the School of Law. Students must also comply with all other requirements for the J.D. degree published in the School of Law online Academic Policies document.
Change of Status: At any point in the program, the participant will be permitted to terminate plans for a dual degree and to continue toward a single degree at either school. He or she will then be required to satisfy the normal requirements for the school he or she has chosen, which may include credit for some of the work done in the other school as determined by the appropriate officials of the school in question.
Financial Aid: Because students in the program will be paying tuition to the School of Law, financial aid will be provided by the School of Law. Financial aid is not guaranteed and is subject to Law School and University regulations and availability. Students must meet Law School satisfactory academic progress standards each semester.
Tuition and Fees: All students in the program must complete six residency semesters in the School of Law and pay School of Law tuition and fees.
Extracurricular Activities: The student will be eligible to participate in the extracurricular activities of both schools to the extent time permits. Because of the possibility of over-commitment, however, counsel of the Program Committee is recommended.
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. Problems that arise in translation of different grading scales resulting from the dual degree program will be dealt with by the Program Committee, in consultation with the Office of the University Registrar (UREG). Grades will be recorded on the student’s transcript under the system in effect at the school in which the course is offered.
PHILOSOPHY:
The School of Law and the Department of Philosophy offer a dual degree program leading to the degrees of J.D. and M.A. in Philosophy. This program generally follows the format of the J.D.-M.A. in English program, except that the MOU from 1970 states that only 6 credits can be transferred.
Admission to the Program Students are required to secure admission separately to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences 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. Once admitted to the two schools, the student may apply for admission to the dual degree program. Students may seek admission to the Graduate School and initiate the dual degree program after matriculating in the School of Law.
Curriculum The J.D.-M.A. program normally takes four years to complete. NOTE: In accordance with ABA standards, J.D. degree candidates may not enroll in more than 17 credits total in any semester. In brief, the program consists of the complete first-year program in the School of Law followed by three years of courses taken from the curricula of the two schools and, in appropriate cases, from other graduate offerings at the University. In all cases, the School of Law representative must approve credit for any course taken outside the School of Law to be applied towards the J.D. degree before the student enrolls in the course. NOTE: Credit towards the J.D. degree cannot be granted for course work completed prior to matriculation at the School of Law.
Students are required to 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 Department of Philosophy, 30 credits and completion of a thesis written under the supervision of a faculty advisor are required.
With the approval of the members of the Program Committee concerned a student may count up to 12 of the 86 credits required for the J.D. degree in appropriate graduate-level work in the Department of Philosophy or other departments at the University. Similarly, with the approval of the members of the Program Committee, a student may receive up to six credits earned in the School of Law towards the 30 credits required for the M.A. degree.
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 J.D. degree candidates must complete six residency semesters in the School of Law and pay School of Law tuition and fees. For any semester in which a student is in full-time residence in the Department of Philosophy, the student must pay tuition and fees as a regular student in that department.
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 Students are 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 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 advisor, Professor Dan Ortiz.
