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 three Political Science courses 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 three Political Science courses 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.

MA Degree Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Political Science Methods
PLSC 401	Intro to Research Design & Method	3
PLSC 475	Political Analysis I	3
PLSC 476	Political Analysis II	3
Seven Electives from Two Subfields		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.
International Relations Courses
PLSC 430	Theories of International Politics
PLSC 431	Formulation US Foreign Policy
PLSC 432	Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis
PLSC 433	International Organization
PLSC 435	International Political Economics
PLSC 436	International Conflict
PLSC 437	Selected Problems International Law
PLSC 439	Selected Problems in International Politics
PLSC 531	Seminar: International Politics
Comparative Politics Courses
PLSC 420	Comparative Political Systems
PLSC 421	Democratic Political Systems
PLSC 422	Authoritarian Political Systems
PLSC 423	Soviet & Post-Soviet Politics
PLSC 424	Politics of Developing Areas
PLSC 425	Sub-Saharan Africa
PLSC 426	Latin American Politics
PLSC 427	Politics of the Middle East
PLSC 428	Political Violence
PLSC 429	Comparative Politics Selected Problems
PLSC 520	Seminar: Comparative Politics
PLSC 521	Seminar Western European Politics
PLSC 532	Soviet/Post-Soviet Foreign Policy
American Politics Courses
PLSC 404	Selected Problems in American Politics
PLSC 405	American Executive Branch
PLSC 406	American Legislative Branch
PLSC 407	Public Policy-Making & Implementation
PLSC 410	Urban Politics
PLSC 411	American Political Parties/Electoral Process
PLSC 412	Constitutional Politics
PLSC 417	The American Legal System
PLSC 418	Political Psychology & Socialization
PLSC 419	Managing Urban Government
Political Theory Courses
PLSC 440	Ancient Political Thought
PLSC 442	Modern Political Thought
PLSC 444	Great Authors
PLSC 446	Political Ethics
PLSC 447	American Political Thought to Civil War
PLSC 449	19th Century Political Thought
PLSC 543	Liberalism
PLSC 546	Political Philosophy Selected Problems
Total Hours		30

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

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.

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. 

JD Degree Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
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	4
LAW 270	Business Organizations	4
LAW 410	Legal Writing III	2
LAW 414	Professional Responsibility	3
LAW 424	Professional Identity Formation	1
Perspective Elective		2-3
Experiental Learning		6
BCCR Course
LAW Electives		36-37
Total Hours		86

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)
• One course that involves substantial instruction in bias, cross-cultural competency, and racism (BCCR).

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 410	Legal Writing III	2
Law School Electives		13
	Hours	15
Spring
Law School Electives		15
	Hours	15
Year Three
Fall
PLSC 401	Intro to Research Design & Method	3
PLSC 475	Political Analysis I	3
Law or PLSC Electives 1		3
	Hours	9
Spring
PLSC 476	Political Analysis II	3
Law or PLSC Electives 1		6
	Hours	9
Year Four
Fall
Law or PLSC Electives 1		9
	Hours	9
Spring
Law or PLSC Electives 3		9
	Hours	9
	Total Hours	96

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.

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 supercede 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).
  • 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 BA/MA 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
• Networking opportunities