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The School of Law offers a dual degree program with the 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 completed 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 School of Law and one member from the Batten School, as designated by the respective deans.
Admission to the Program The student is required to secure separate admission to both the School of Law 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 s/he 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.
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 course work. 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. 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.
Students who have been admitted to the program may elect whether they want to start in the School of Law or the Batten School, and in any event must spend their first year in full-time residence in either the Batten School or the School of Law. 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. 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.
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. NOTE: Students may not earn School of Law 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 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 Batten School tuition (when enrolled in the full-time first year curriculum at the Batten 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 Batten 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 Batten 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. 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 adviser, Professor Richard J. Bonnie.
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