The joint M.A.–J.D. Program in Law and Political Science or International Affairs allows students to complete the two degrees in four years, whereas pursuing them separately would require five years. This is possible because students in the program are allowed to count 9 hours of political science credits toward the law degree and 9 hours of law credits toward their political science degree.
Course RequirementsStudents will fulfill the minimum of 81 credit hours in Law, 21 in Political Science/International Affairs, and the remaining nine in either program in accordance with the basic requirements of the Law School and the Department of Political Science and all other normal degree requirements. A minimum of 15 credit hours at the 200 course level are required in the Department of Political Science. The core seminar requirements for the political science/international affairs programs apply to students in the joint program. The nine credit hours in cognate courses normally allowed by the Department of Political Science will not automatically apply to students in the joint M.A.–JD program; one or two cognate courses may be approved on an individual basis. Students in the joint program will be expected to complete the two research papers and pass the M.A. comprehensive examinations required in the Department of Political Science. One of these may be a research paper completed in the Law School.
Program ScheduleGenerally, students admitted to the joint program will spend their first year in the program taking exclusively Law School courses and taking increasing numbers of political science courses in subsequent years. Whether the student begins his/her course of study in the Law School or the Department of Political Science, the first year in the Law School must consist exclusively of courses in the Law School.
Miscellaneous NotesFinancial Aid: Students in the Joint Program are eligible for financial aid from both the Law School and the Political Science Department. However, in both cases, tuition scholarships may be used only for coursework in the unit in which they are awarded. In awarding research assistantships, the Political Science Department normally grants preference to students who will be completing mostly political science courses during the period they will hold the assistantship. Those interested in financial aid from the Political Science Department should follow normal financial aid application procedures.
M.A. Degree in Political Science or International Affairs for Lawyers: The Political Science Department also offers an “M.A. for Lawyers.” Applicants to either M.A. program who have already completed a J.D. will be considered to have completed 9 hours of cognate credits which will count toward the 30 hours of credits required for an M.A. in Political Science or International Affairs. This will substantially shorten their course of study. Applications for this program are considered solely by the Department of Political Science.
The Department of Political Science, in conjunction with the College of Business Administration, offers a program of joint study leading to a master of arts (M.A.) degree in political science or international affairs and a master’s of business administration (M.B.A.) degree. The program is designed for students whose interests overlap business and politics or business and international affairs. Joint degree students are able to complete both degree programs in less time than if both degrees were pursued separately.
Students seeking admission into the joint degree program must meet the admission requirements of each program, although their application may include GMAT scores in lieu of GRE scores. Acceptance into one program does not guarantee acceptance into the other.
Joint degree students count 9 credits of coursework in each program toward the required coursework credits of the other program. Thus, 9 of the 40 credits required for the M.B.A. degree will come from Political Science courses, and 9 of the 30 credits required for the M.A. degree in political science or in international affairs will come from Business Administration courses.
The Department of Political Science, in conjunction with the College of Communication, offers a program of joint study leading to a master of arts (M.A.) degree in political science and a master of arts (M.A.) degree in communication. The program is designed for students whose interests overlap politics and aspects of communication such as advertising, journalism, or broadcasting. Joint degree students are able to complete both degree programs in less time than if both degrees were pursued separately.
Students seeking admission into the joint degree program must meet the admission requirements of each program. Acceptance into one program does not guarantee acceptance into the other.
Joint degree students count 9 credits of coursework in each program toward the required coursework credits of the other program. Thus, 9 of the 36 credits required for the M.A. degree in communication will come from Political Science courses, and 9 of the 30 credits required for the M.A. degree in political science will come from Communication courses.
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