Dual Degree
Juris Doctor / Master of Public Affairs (JD/MPA)
Students completing the Dual Degree Program will receive a JD degree from the School of Law and a MPA degree from the Truman School of Public Affairs. Normally, students require three years to complete the requirements for the JD degree and two years to complete the requirements for the MPA degree. This course of study may be completed in four years.
Students pursuing the Dual Degree Program must be admitted separately to both the School of Law and the Truman School of Public Affairs. The School of Law requires the LSAT admissions exam; the Truman School of Public Affairs will accept the LSAT or GRE score. The School of Law does not require students to declare a major field of study. Students select a balanced program from elective courses available, including courses devoted to public regulation.
Law School requirements remain as stated in the Law School catalog: Hours required for graduation — 89
Public Affairs requirements are slightly modified as follows: Hours required for graduation — 39
Required for MPA
- PA 8150 Foundations of New Governance (3)
- PA 8160 Organizational Dynamics & Leadership (3)
- PA 8170 Public Policy Processes & Strategies (3)
- PA 8180 Research Methods & Inquiry in Public Affairs I (3)
- PA 8181 Research Methods & Inquiry in Public Affairs II (3)
- PA 8190 Economic Analysis for Public Policy I (3)
- PA 8210 Ethics, Democracy and the Public Service (3)
- PA 8211 Capstone: Applied Project (3)
- PA 8280 MPA Internship (3)
- Nine hours in area of specialization
- Nine hours of electives - no more than six hours from law school
MPA Requirements Waived for Successful Completion of JD Requirements
- PA 8210 Ethics, Democracy and the Public Service (3): waived upon completion of 523L, Professional Responsibility
- PA 8280 Public Affairs Internship (3): waived upon completion of 576L, Externship
As soon as possible, students should file a Statement of Intention to pursue the JD/MPA Dual Degree Program with the Associate Dean of the Law School and the Director of Graduate Studies, Truman School of Public Affairs. The Statement of Intention may be a short letter stating the intention to pursue the Dual Degree. Students who have not submitted this Statement will not be considered Dual Degree candidates. If a student wishes to withdraw from the Dual Degree Program, he or she should notify both the Associate Dean of the Law School and the Director of Graduate Studies, Truman School of Public Affairs.
Dual Degree candidates who decide to pursue only the MPA or JD degree must complete that degree program in its entirety and are subject to the same rules and requirements as students not pursuing a Dual Degree.
Student honors and class rank at the School of Law will be computed on (1) classes enrolled in as law classes, and (2) cross-listed Law / Public Affairs courses.
The School of Law is not allowed to award credit for any class taken before matriculation at the School of Law. Students who receive credit under the Dual Degree Program for Public Affairs courses may not receive credit for taking other courses outside the School of Law.