J.D./M.P.A. Program

The J.D. / MPA Program is available to Day Program students and allows them to complete both a Juris Doctor Degree and a Masters of Public Administration degree in less than the usual five-year period that would typically be necessary if obtaining each degree separately.

The Juris Doctor degree is granted after completion of a minimum of 88 semester hours of both required and elective law school courses. To obtain the MPA, the dual degree candidate must complete a minimum of 47 semester hours of graduate courses, with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. Students must also successfully submit a digital Student Learning Portfolio of developmental experiences, as well as successfully present a Student Learning Portfolio to a panel of MPA faculty members. Law students can use 9 hours of MPA coursework toward the 88 needed to complete the JD.

MPA students who did not complete an American Government course at the undergraduate level must complete PADG 5050/American Government during their first or second semester of MPA coursework. Students who have not completed an undergraduate course in Statistics must do so prior to enrollment in PADG 5600/Qualitative Analysis and Program Evaluation. Otherwise, the MPA program has no prerequisite courses.

Students must apply separately to both programs; admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other. Law students who are interested in the JD/MPA dual degree should contact the Office of Academic Affairs at the School of Law for more information.

For more information about this program, please contact Professor Malik Edwards at 919-530-7450.