The dual JD/MA program permits students enrolled in Loyola’s Law School to complete both a JD degree and an MA in Political Science in a shorter period of time than if both programs were pursued separately. Students typically complete the joint program in 4 years, as opposed to the typical 5 years for the individual programs.

How Does This Program Work?

Students interested in this program must apply to the Loyola University Law School under the dual JD/MA in Political Science program. If accepted by the Law School, the student will then be also accepted into the MA program. Students must then satisfy the academic requirements of the School of Law for the JD degree and the academic requirements of the Department of Political Science for the MA degree, with an arrangement allowing several shared courses between the two.

Curriculum

The Department of Political Science will accept four Law School courses to be applied to the 30 credit hours required for the MA. The Law School will accept 9.0 Political Science credit hours toward the JD degree. Students should work in close concert with their Graduate Program Director and Law School advisor to ensure effective degree planning.

The Department of Political Science will accept four Law School courses to be applied to the 30 credit hours required for the MA. The Law School will accept 9.0 Political Science credit hours to be applied toward the 86 credit hours required for the JD degree. As a result, 95 total credits are required for the JD/MA program. Students should work in close concert with their Graduate Program Director and Law School advisor to ensure effective degree planning.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
MA Requirements
Political Science Methods
PLSC 401	Intro to Research Design & Method	3
PLSC 475	Political Analysis I	3
PLSC 476	Political Analysis II	3
Seven (7) Electives from Two (2)		21
Students may choose from the subfields of International Relations, Comparative Politics, American Politics, and Political Theory. With approval of the Graduate Program Director, up to six (6) hours may be at the graduate level in related disciplines.
JD Requirements
Required Courses
LAW 113	Civil Procedure	4
LAW 122	Constitutional Law	4
LAW 132	Contracts	4
LAW 140	Criminal Law	3
LAW 152	Property	4
LAW 162	Torts	4
LAW 190	Legal Writing I	2
LAW 190R	Basic Legal Research	0
LAW 192	Legal Writing II	2
LAW 210	Evidence 1	4
LAW 232	Bar Exam Fundamentals 3	2
LAW 270	Business Organizations 1	4
LAW 414	Professional Responsibility	3
LAW 424	Professional Identity Formation	1
BCCR Elective 2		2-3
LAW Electives		24-28
Law Experiential Learning Elective		6
Law Perspective Elective 4		2-3
Law Rigorous Writing Elective 5		2-3
Total Hours		107

¹

This requirement only applies to students beginning their JDs in Fall 2023 or later.

²

This requirement only applies to students beginning their JDs in Fall 2022 or later. For students beginning their JDs in Fall 2023 or later, students must take this BCCR course before, concurrently with, or as part of their enrollment in any clinic or externship field placement. 

³

Students who have a GPA below 2.9 after their second, third, or fourth semester of law school must complete “BAR EXAM FUNDAMENTALS” (LAW 232) in order to graduate. This class should be taken in the Fall or Spring of their third year for full-time students, and in the Fall or Spring of their fourth year for Weekend JDs. 

⁴

2 or 3 credit hours in Spring semester of first year for full-time students; part- time students must take perspective elective after the first year.

⁵

At least one class with an RW designation after 1L year and before graduation. Prior completion of Legal Writing III will satisfy the RW requirement. A student cannot use their RW course to concurrently satisfy any other of their other graduation requirements.

MA Subfield Areas

Students may choose from the subfields of International Relations, Comparative Politics, American Politics, and Political Theory. With approval of the Graduate Program Director, up to six (6) hours may be at the graduate level in related disciplines.

International Relations Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PLSC 430	Theories of International Politics	3
PLSC 431	Formulation US Foreign Policy	3
PLSC 432	Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis	3
PLSC 433	International Organization	3
PLSC 435	International Political Economics	3
PLSC 436	International Conflict	3
PLSC 437	Selected Problems International Law	3
PLSC 439	Selected Problems in International Politics	3
PLSC 531	Seminar: International Politics	3

Comparative Politics Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PLSC 420	Comparative Political Systems	3
PLSC 421	Democratic Political Systems	3
PLSC 422	Authoritarian Political Systems	3
PLSC 423	Soviet & Post-Soviet Politics	3
PLSC 424	Politics of Developing Areas	3
PLSC 425	Sub-Saharan Africa	3
PLSC 426	Latin American Politics	3
PLSC 427	Politics of the Middle East	3
PLSC 428	Political Violence	3
PLSC 429	Comparative Politics Selected Problems	3
PLSC 520	Seminar: Comparative Politics	3
PLSC 521	Seminar Western European Politics	3
PLSC 532	Soviet/Post-Soviet Foreign Policy	3

American Politics Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PLSC 404	Selected Problems in American Politics	3
PLSC 405	American Executive Branch	3
PLSC 406	American Legislative Branch	3
PLSC 407	Public Policy-Making & Implementation	3
PLSC 410	Urban Politics	3
PLSC 411	American Political Parties/Electoral Process	3
PLSC 412	Constitutional Politics	3
PLSC 417	The American Legal System	3
PLSC 418	Political Psychology & Socialization	3
PLSC 419	Managing Urban Government	3

Political Theory Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PLSC 440	Ancient Political Thought	3
PLSC 442	Modern Political Thought	3
PLSC 444	Great Authors	3
PLSC 446	Political Ethics	3
PLSC 447	American Political Thought to Civil War	3
PLSC 449	19th Century Political Thought	3
PLSC 543	Liberalism	3
PLSC 546	Political Philosophy Selected Problems	3

Capstone Requirement:  Thesis, Comprehensive Exams, or Internship

Thesis

Students may satisfy six hours (2 courses) by writing a thesis. Students who choose this option will take PLSC 596 Thesis Research for two semesters (a total of 6 credit hours, which count as electives) and take PLSC 595 Thesis Supervision until they are done with the thesis.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Take for two semesters (may satisfy 6 elective hours)
PLSC 596	Thesis Research
Take until done with thesis
PLSC 595	Thesis Supervision

Comprehensive Exam

MA students can choose to take a written comprehensive examination. The student will select five courses from the substantive courses they have taken on which they will be tested. Prior to taking the exam students must finish all incompletes. Students may be currently registered for courses necessary for the degree in the semester in which they take the exam. If the student has fulfilled all degree requirements except for the comprehensive exams, they should register for PLSC 605 Master's Study in the semesters leading up to and including the exam. Students taking comprehensive examinations at the master’s degree level are expected to answer theoretical and substantive questions from a range of five courses they have taken in their coursework. Once a student knows that s/he will take the exam in a particular semester, we highly recommend that they discuss the exam with the faculty members with whom they have taken the five chosen courses. Comprehensive exams will take place during the second half of the fall and spring semesters. Students will answer three questions over a weekend, receiving the exam on a Friday at 5:00 PM and returning the completed examination the following Monday, at 9:00 AM. All three answers must be written during the specified weekend with no outside assistance. Students will write a maximum of 21, double-spaced pages (normal formatting: 1” margins, Times New Roman, 12 pitch font). Each answer should be approximately six or seven pages. Prior to taking comprehensive exams, students must submit to the Graduate Program Director a departmental “MA Requirements and Comprehensive Examination Form,” that lists all of the courses the student has taken and identifies on which courses the student would like to be tested. At the beginning of each semester the Graduate Program Director will distribute this form to all students who will take the exam

Internship

PLSC 470 Fieldwork in Political Science-Internship  offers academic credit toward your major or minor while interning and gaining professional experience at one of several organizations, either here in Chicago or elsewhere. The intent is for students to 1) apply their education to date in a professional setting, 2) gain valuable experience at the start of their professional careers, 3) to explore a particular area of professional interest before embarking on their careers, and 4) to potentially “get a foot in the door” within a particular field or employer with the hope of landing a permanent position upon graduation.  While past interns have received job offers from organization where they have interned, there are no guarantees or promises of employment that accompany taking this course. 

BCCR Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAW 107	Illinois Litigation Racism, Injustice & Poverty	2
LAW 143	Environmental Justice: Race, Class and the Environment	3
LAW 146	Mass Incarceration	2
LAW 156	Abolition and Movement Lawyering	2
LAW 166	Education Law Practicum	1-4
LAW 179	The Law of Jury Selection	2
LAW 193	Diversity and Inclusion: A Professional and Social Responsibility	2
LAW 202	Human Trafficking Seminar	2
LAW 209	Law, Life and Jesuit Spirituality	2
LAW 212	Civil Rights	2
LAW 214	Race and the Law	2-3
LAW 215	Domestic Violence Practicum	1-3
LAW 249	Human Trafficking: Advancing Protections for Children Practicum	1-2
LAW 265	Black Traditions in International Law	1-2
LAW 276	Criminal Law Practicum	1-3
LAW 294	International Human Rights	1-3
LAW 302	Intellectual Origins of "Othering" in the Law of Nations	2
LAW 312	Street Law	3
LAW 341	Educational Advocacy Lab	2
LAW 358	The Quest for Racial Justice in the Long 1960s	3
LAW 389	Public Interest Law Seminar	1-2
LAW 402	"Say Her Name:" Intersectional Feminism & Police Violence	4
LAW 408	Restorative Justice Workshop	1
LAW 440	Criminal Procedure Capstone	3
LAW 447	Federal Indian Law	3
LAW 483	Federal Tax Clinic I	2-4
LAW 486	Federal Tax Clinic II	1-2
LAW 504	Lawyers as Leaders	2
LAW 525	Law, Politics, and Society	2
LAW 538	Critical Race Theory	2
LAW 539	Affordable Housing Law & Policy	2
LAW 555	Children and the Law	2
LAW 590	Wrongful Conviction Seminar	1-2
LAW 601	Child, Family, and the State	2
LAW 606	Legislation and Policy Clinic	2-4
LAW 608	Juvenile Justice	2
LAW 620	Civitas ChildLaw Clinic	1-4
LAW 730	Health Justice Policy Practicum	2-3
LAW 745	Access to Health Care	2-3
LAW 755	Health Justice Project	3-4

Experiential Learning Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAW 166	Education Law Practicum	1-4
LAW 173	Advanced Education Law Practicum	1-4
LAW 215	Domestic Violence Practicum	1-3
LAW 246	Advanced Mediation Advocacy Practicum	1-4
LAW 249	Human Trafficking: Advancing Protections for Children Practicum	1-2
LAW 276	Criminal Law Practicum	1-3
LAW 341	Educational Advocacy Lab	2
LAW 470	Immigration Practicum Advancing	1-4
LAW 483	Federal Tax Clinic I	2-4
LAW 486	Federal Tax Clinic II	1-2
LAW 493	Disabled Adult Guardianship Project	3
LAW 518	Advanced Mediation and Courthouse Practicum	1-3
LAW 540	Community Law Center Clinic III	2
LAW 554	Family Law Practicum	1
LAW 584	Mediation Certification & Courthouse Practicum	4
LAW 586	Community Law Center Clinic Veterans Practicum	2-4
LAW 595	Community LawCtr Clinic I	4
LAW 596	Community Law Center Clinic II	3
LAW 599	Externship Intensive Field Placement	1-3
LAW 606	Legislation and Policy Clinic	2-4
LAW 617	Policy Practicum: Issues in Childlaw	1-3
LAW 620	Civitas ChildLaw Clinic	1-4
LAW 730	Health Justice Policy Practicum	2-3
LAW 745	Access to Health Care	2-3
LAW 755	Health Justice Project	3-4
LAW 757	Advanced Health Justice Project	2-4
LAW 825	Business Law Center Clinical & Seminar	2-4
LAW 826	Business Law Clinic II	1-3

Perspective Elective 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAW 127	Law and Psychology	2
LAW 185	Business and the Law	2
LAW 208	Advanced Criminal Law	2
LAW 262	Genetics Law and Policy	2
LAW 265	Black Traditions in International Law	1-2
LAW 294	International Human Rights	1-3
LAW 319	Jurisprudence I	3
LAW 339	Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management	2
LAW 341	Educational Advocacy Lab	2
LAW 348	Law & Poverty	3
LAW 388	Global Access to Medicine: A Patent Perspective	3
LAW 459	Intro to English Legal Profession	1
LAW 461	Education Law and Policy	2-3
LAW 522	Election Law	2-3
LAW 525	Law, Politics, and Society	2
LAW 538	Critical Race Theory	2
LAW 558	Comparative Freedom of Speech	1-2
LAW 564	Animal Law and Policy	2-3
LAW 597	The Use of Force in International and Domestic Law	2
LAW 601	Child, Family, and the State	2
LAW 608	Juvenile Justice	2
LAW 745	Access to Health Care	2-3

Rigorous Writing Elective

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAW 145	Gender Based Violence: Law, Practice, and Policy	2
LAW 146	Mass Incarceration	2
LAW 176	International Trade Law	1-3
LAW 194	Bar Exam Writing Skills	1-2
LAW 293	Advanced Writing for Legal Practice	1-3
LAW 302	Intellectual Origins of "Othering" in the Law of Nations	2
LAW 361	Insurance Law	2
LAW 407	Immigration Litigation: Admin Law Challenges to Immigration Policy	2
LAW 417	Advanced Business Law	3
LAW 419	Business Skills in Sports and Entertainment Law: The Introductory Skill Set	2
LAW 455	Appellate Advocacy-Intellectual Property	2
LAW 516	Prisoner Constitutional Rights Litigation	3
LAW 556	Alternative Dispute Resolution	2-3
LAW 712	Legal Writing for Medical Malpractice Trial: The Expert	2
LAW 739	Health Information Privacy and Technology	1-2

Upper Level Required Courses

• Skills Training Course (2 credits)
  A skills class is one that offers substantial instruction in the professional skills generally regarded as necessary for effective and responsible participation in the legal profession. All JD students are required to complete the skills course requirement prior to graduation.
• Experiential Learning (6 credits)
  Experiential learning classes enable students to perform their legal knowledge, skills and values in a real or simulated practice setting with intense, ongoing law school supervision and assessment. Examples include live-client clinics, judicial or non-judicial externships, practica, or comprehensive simulations. At least three of these credits must involve work with live clients. The remaining three credits can involve comprehensive simulations.
• LAW 414 Professional Responsibility (taken after first year)
• BCCR Elective (2-3 credits)
  One course that involves substantial instruction in bias, cross-cultural competency, and racism.
• Rigorous Writing Elective (2 credits)
  Rigorous Writing courses all provide students with the opportunity to draft, edit, polish and produce one or more advanced writing projects that are assessed by the faculty through detailed individualized feedback at each stage of the writing process.  

Highly Recommended Courses 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAW 221	Administrative Law	3
LAW 280	Federal Income Tax	3

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study.  Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.

Plan of Study Grid

Year One
Fall		Hours
LAW 113	Civil Procedure	4
LAW 152	Property	4
LAW 162	Torts	4
LAW 190	Legal Writing I	2
LAW 424	Professional Identity Formation	1
	Hours	15
Spring
LAW 122	Constitutional Law	4
LAW 132	Contracts	4
LAW 140	Criminal Law	3
LAW 192	Legal Writing II	2
Perspective Elective		2-3
	Hours	15
Year Two
Fall
Law or PLSC Electives 1		12-17
	Hours	12-17
Spring
Law or PLSC Electives 1		12-17
	Hours	12-17
Year Three
Fall
PLSC 401	Intro to Research Design & Method	3
PLSC 475	Political Analysis I	3
Law or PLSC Electives 1		12-17
	Hours	18-23
Spring
PLSC 476	Political Analysis II	3
Law or PLSC Electives 1		12-17
	Hours	15-20
Year Four
Fall
Law or PLSC Electives 1		9
	Hours	9
Spring
Law or PLSC Electives 1		8
	Hours	8
	Total Hours	104-124

¹

Students have the flexibility during this point in the program to choose electives either in the Political Science Department or the School of Law as long as minimum electives are met for both programs. Students should consult an advisor for any assistance on elective selection.

Responsible Conduct of Research

All PhD students and students in thesis-based Master's degree programs must successfully complete UNIV 370 Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship or other approved coursework in responsible conduct of research as part of the degree requirements. It is strongly recommended that students complete this two-day training before beginning the dissertation/thesis stage of the program.

Dual Degree Programs

Students in dual degree programs are responsible for abiding by academic policies and graduation requirements of both academic units to which they are enrolled. It is strongly recommended that students schedule regular meetings with academic advisors from both units to ensure timely degree completion. Dual degree programs may have slightly different degree requirements from the standard for one or both of the degrees earned. Students should closely read through all degree requirements and ask for clarification as needed.

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.

Learning Outcomes

The dual JD/MA in Political Science offers students:

• Specialized training appropriate for careers in the public sector or for law practices involving administrative agencies or processes, by combining the study of law with an exploration of the political context within which domestic and international legal systems operate
• An overview of the theories and scholarly literature devoted to four major Political Science subfields: American Politics (study of U.S. institutions and political processes); Comparative Politics (study of political processes in various regions of the world, such as Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East); International Relations (study of global processes throughout the international system); or Political Theory (study of political philosophy ranging from Ancient to Modern and Contemporary political thought).
• Methods training, including research design and statistical analysis, that will enable the successful candidate to effectively design and conduct research.
• Enhanced ability to express their thoughts in writing (all Political Science graduate classes include a significant writing component).
• The ability to pursue careers in politics, government, international affairs, law, the non-profit world, journalism, business, education, social services, and other professions, as well as for further graduate (PhD) study at professional schools and institutions of higher learning, both in the U.S. and abroad.
• We also encourage our dual degree students to take advantage of additional learning opportunities: Advanced methodological training; Advanced language training/proficiency in a language other than English; Advanced research skills; International, cross-cultural experience; Professional development and experience; and Networking opportunities