Joint Degree General Information
Joint-degree programs are designed to offer students interdisciplinary degrees in law and a complementary field of study. Ten joint-degree programs are available: J.D./M.A. in Anthropology, J.D./M.A. in History, J.D./M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, J.D./M.A. in English, J.D./M.S. in Biological Sciences (Environmental-Science, Genetics, or Organismic Biology), J.D./M.S. in Computer Science, J.D./M.S. in Geosciences, J.D./M.A. in Clinical Psychology, J.D./M.Taxation, and the J.D./M.B.A.
Each program is administered by a joint-degree committee that includes the associate dean from the College of Law and a chairperson or associate dean from the complementary discipline, working in cooperation with the dean of the Graduate School.
Law students pursuing a joint-degree program must enroll for courses in both degree programs at the College of Law. Financial aid must come from the college in which the student is currently enrolled. Tuition for each course is the rate currently in effect for the respective college. Joint-degree students are eligible to participate in all extracurricular activities of both colleges.
Candidates for joint degrees must meet the academic standards of both the College of Law and the Graduate School. Class rank is computed separately for each college.
Students in the program are permitted to terminate plans for a joint degree and to opt for a degree in either law or the complementary discipline. Students are obliged to satisfy the normal requirements of the college selected, which may include credit for some graduate-level work completed in the other college, as determined by the dean of the College of Law or the dean of the Graduate School. Admission Once the respective colleges have accepted a student, formal application must be made to the appropriate joint-degree committee before the student can be admitted to the joint-degree program. Students must consult with the joint-degree committees in selection of appropriate courses and must take any and all courses specified by the committees. Normally, students are admitted full time only. The program is not open to students who have previously or substantially completed one of the degrees.
Residence
Students take the first year of the program in the College of Law. If students take their first year in the complementary discipline, it must be with approval of the joint-degree committee. The remaining semesters are spent pursuing both degrees.
The joint-degree program can be completed in three years and two summers, and must be completed within six calendar years. Both degrees must be completed before either is awarded.