It's all about solutions. In the JD/Master of Public Policy program, you will learn to design effective solutions in the creation, implementation and enforcement of government policies. As an advocate in a variety of settings (legislative, judicial, or executive), you will use the tools of law in public service. You will be equipped to work in multiple venues, including the courtroom, legislative offices, and public policy institutes on a wide variety of issues.

Graduates will be prepared to work in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, advocacy and lobbying positions, as well as private sector firms.

Curriculum

Students in their first year will take the required law school coursework. In their second and third years, they will take six credits of MPP courses each semester in addition to their law school requirements.  

To earn a dual JD/MPP degree, you must complete a total of 89 credit hours, including 65 law school credit hours and 24 MPP credit hours. A minimum of 74 graded hours are required for this degree. With careful planning, you can earn both degrees in three years of study. You will spend your first year as a full-time law student. JD foundational course requirements and skills and experiential course requirements will be taken in the second and third years, concurrent with several MPP courses. A public service externship will be completed in either the summer following the first or second year.

Courses

¹

Students may take Graduate level courses in other schools with the permission of the Program Director.

²

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

³

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. 

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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. 

⁵

Student must complete MPP course to satisfy PER ELEC requirement. 

⁶

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.

BCCR Electives

Experiential Learning Electives

Perspective Elective 

Rigorous Writing Elective

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.

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

Upon completion of the joint JD/MPP degree program, students will be able to:

• Design effective solutions in the creation, implementation and enforcement of government policies.
• Work as an advocate in a variety of settings (legislative, judicial, or executive).
• Use the tools of law in public service.
• Understand the political process in development of policies, including the role of the judiciary with other branches of government and within the intergovernmental context. 
• Understand a government budget and evaluate it from different stakeholder positions.
• Develop political messaging to advocate for policies and to build a political coalition of support for a program.
• Apply appropriate analytical procedures used in public policy research and practice.