Program: J.D.-M.A. (Sociology) - University of Virginia

Apr 04, 2025

Graduate Record 2006-2007

The following program for a combined J.D.-M.A. degree was instituted in 1971 by the School of Law and the Department of Sociology.

Administration of the Program The program is administered by a program committee, consisting of two members of the Law faculty appointed by the dean of the School of Law, and two members of the Department of Sociology faculty, nominated by the department chair and appointed by the dean of the graduate faculties.

Admission to the Program Students are required to secure admission separately to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Law School through its normal admissions processes. Students must meet the same standards as any other applicant, and candidacy for the joint program is not considered at this stage. Once admitted independently to the two schools, students may then apply to the program committee for admission to the joint program.

Curriculum

The combined J.D.-M.A. program normally takes three and one-half to four years to complete and requires a minimum of 98 credits. In effect, the program consists of either the complete first-year program at the School of Law or the complete first-year program in the Department of Sociology and at least two and one-half years of courses taken from the curricula of both schools and, when appropriate, from other graduate offerings at the University. Students must meet all of the requirements set by the respective departments for the award of both the J.D. and M.A. degree. In the School of Law, this means that students are required to earn a minimum of 86 credits and complete the required curriculum of the Law School. In the Department of Sociology, minimum requirements for the M.A. degree include 24 credits in an approved program and completion of a thesis under the supervision of a faculty advisor. With the approval of the Law School representatives on the program committee, 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 Department of Sociology. Similarly, with the approval of the graduate advisor in the Department of Sociology, a student may receive up to six of the 24 credits required for the M.A. degree in appropriate work in the School of Law. No student, however, may have more than 12 credits applied toward both degrees.

Change of Status

At any point in the program, the student may terminate plans for a joint program with the approval of the program committee and continue toward a single degree at either school.

Grading Standards

The student is required to meet the grading standards of both schools independently to remain in good standing.

Faculty Advisors

The Law School faculty advisors for this program are Professors John Monahan and Richard Bonnie.