Offered jointly with the School of Public Service in the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, the JD+Masters in Public Policy (MPP) program gives students the skills, experience and analytical tools to help shape government policies that influence our local, regional and national agendas. The MPP program balances theoretical and applied approaches to contemporary challenges of public policy development and policy analysis, and offers courses such as ethical leadership and policy implementation. Following the tradition of St. Vincent de Paul, the Masters in Public Policy program devotes special attention to policies and practices that promote social equity through delivery of affordable, quality services to those in greatest need.
Traditional JD students must complete 86 credit hours to graduate from the College of Law. However, under a joint degree program, a student earns the JD degree after completing a minimum of 76 credit hours. The College of Law applies up to 10 credit hours toward the JD degree for work completed in the other graduate degree program. Traditional Masters in Public Policy students must complete 52 credit hours to receive the MPP degree. However, under the joint degree program, students are required to complete a minimum of 36 credit hours. The Masters in Public Policy program will accept up to 16 credit hours for work completed in the College of Law. A joint degree student may not receive credit for courses that create a redundancy in coursework.
Students pursing the JD+MPP will complete the MPP degree’s core requirements. Please visit the Masters in Public Policy catalog page for complete program information.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| MPP Requirements | 36 |
| Total hours required | 36 |
| Program Requirements | Semester Hours |
|---|---|
| JD Requirements | 76 |
| Total hours required | 76 |
Learning Outcomes
- Solve legal problems by applying foundational knowledge of civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, property law, and torts.
- Solve legal problems by applying foundational knowledge of the rules regulating the legal profession.
- Identify and apply relevant legal authority.
- Communicate clearly in speech and writing.
- Demonstrate the fundamental professional lawyering skills for competent and ethical participation as a member of the legal profession.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of cross-cultural competence in the legal profession and the obligation of lawyers to promote a justice system that provides equal access and eliminates bias and all forms of invidious discrimination, including racism, in the law.
Learning Outcomes
Masters in Public Policy Students will be able to:
- Lead ethically in the field of public policy.
- Create and assess plans for citizen involvement in policy planning, advocacy, and implementation.
- Understand, apply, and consider the trade-offs in social equity, political accountability, and economic efficiency.
- Communicate effectively through oral and written media.
- Become engaged and informed citizens, active in public policy and service.
Degree Requirements
A joint degree program allows a student to complete two graduate degrees concurrently in less time than it takes to finish each program individually. As a specified number of credit hours apply toward both degrees, students also pay less in overall tuition by combining programs.
Before beginning a joint degree program, both full-time and part-time law students must complete the required first-year curriculum and achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.00 in those courses. Full-time students earn 29 credits the first year, while part-time students must earn at least 29 credits within the first three semesters of the law program.
Traditional JD students must complete 86 credit hours to graduate from the College of Law. However, under a joint degree program, a student earns the JD degree after completing a minimum of 76 credit hours. The College of Law applies up to 10 credits toward the JD degree for work completed in the other graduate degree program. Traditional public policy students must complete 52 hours to receive the MPP degree. However, under the joint degree program, students are required to complete a minimum of 36 credit hours. The Public Policy program will accept up to 16 hours of credit for work completed in the College of Law. Credit hours are eligible to be applied only after completion of the required first year JD curriculum described above. A joint degree student may not receive credit for courses that create a redundancy in coursework.
Required Courses
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MPP Required Courses | 36 | |
| MPS 501 | FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC SERVICE | |
| MPS 533 | APPLIED STATISTICS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE (USING EXCEL) | 4 |
| or MPS 536 | APPLIED STATISTICS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE (USING SPSS) | |
| MPS 541 | ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC SERVICE | 4 |
| MPS 542 | POLICY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS | 4 |
| MPS 543 | POLICY IMPLEMENTATION | 4 |
| MPS 546 | ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING | 4 |
| MPS 583 | RESEARCH METHODS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE | 4 |
| MPS 593 | INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR | 4 |
| MPS 594 | ETHICAL LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC SERVICE | 4 |
| J.D. Core Required Courses (semester hours) | 35 | |
| LAW 101 | APPLIED LEGAL SKILLS | 1 |
| LAW 105 | CONTRACTS | 4 |
| LAW 112 | LEGAL ANALYSIS RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATION I | 2 |
| LAW 115 | LEGAL ANALYSIS RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATION III | 3 |
| LAW 119 | LEGAL ANALYSIS RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS II | 3 |
| LAW 120 | CIVIL PROCEDURE | 4 |
| LAW 130 | PREPARING TO PRACTICE I | 0 |
| LAW 131 | PREPARING TO PRACTICE II | 0 |
| LAW 140 | CONSTITUTIONAL LAW | 4 |
| LAW 160 | PROPERTY | 4 |
| LAW 170 | TORT LAW | 4 |
| LAW 481 | LEGAL PROFESSION | 3 |
| LAW 506 | CRIMINAL LAW | 3 |
Experiential Education Requirement
Students must complete at least six credit hours of experiential education courses from the list of approved courses below. Most, but not all, courses are offered for three credit hours.
| Course | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least six credit hours of the following: | 6 | |
| ADVANCED BRIEF WRITING | ||
| DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PRACTICUM | ||
| PATENT & TRADEMARK SEARCHING | ||
| INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW CLINIC (Spring Only) | ||
| ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW PRACTICUM (Spring Only) | ||
| INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW FIELD WORK | ||
| ANATOMY OF A DEAL: FROM INCEPTION TO CLOSING | ||
| TRIAL ADVOCACY II | ||
| PROSECUTING & DEFENDING CRIMINAL CASES | ||
| RESTORATIVE JUSTICE | ||
| LITIGATION LAB | ||
| BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS AND DOCUMENTATION | ||
| LITIGATION STRATEGY: PRE-TRIAL, CIVIL | ||
| LEGAL CLINIC I | ||
| MEDIATION | ||
| TRIAL ADVOCACY I | ||
| COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION | ||
| BUSINESS PLANNING | ||
| LITIGATION STRATEGY: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY | ||
| NEGOTIATIONS | ||
| LEGAL CLINIC II | ||
| EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM | ||
| NATIONAL TRIAL TEAM | ||
| ADVANCED LEGAL RESEARCH | ||
| EXTERNSHIP SEMINAR | ||
| FIELD CLINIC SEMINAR | ||
| FIELD CLINIC PRACTICE | ||
| PRACTICAL LEGAL RESEARCH | ||
| THE PRACTICE OF HEALTH CARE LAW | ||
| HEALTH LAW MOOT COURT | ||
Advanced Writing Requirement
| Course | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | ||
| SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR | ||
| CHILDREN'S HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW | ||
| WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW | ||
| APPELLATE TECHNIQUE | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY | ||
| LEGAL CLINIC I (Advanced Criminal Appeals ONLY) | ||
| LEGAL DRAFTING | ||
| LEGAL CLINIC II (Advanced Criminal Appeals ONLY) | ||
| FOREIGN EXCHANGE: MADRID, SPAIN (Master's Thesis) | ||
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Requirement
JD students matriculating Autumn 2022 or later must complete one course from the list of approved courses below. These courses include substantial engagement with the legal system's relationship with social inequality, racism, and/or other forms of bias; and/or include substantial opportunities for students to learn about and practice skills in cross-cultural competence.
Courses that meet both the Diversity Requirement and the Experiential Education Requirement can be counted for both requirements. Courses that meet both the Diversity Requirement and the Advanced Writing Requirement can be counted for both requirements.
| Course | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least one of the following: | 2-3 | |
| EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION | ||
| SEX, GENDER, AND THE LAW | ||
| DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PRACTICUM | ||
| CHILDREN'S HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW | ||
| CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE & THE LAW | ||
| SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR (Critical Race Theory; Citizenship; Crimmigration; Feminist Jurisprudence; When Justice Fails; or other approved topic) | ||
| WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW | ||
| INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW CLINIC | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN LAW ( Trauma-Informed Lawyering; Human Rights in Latin America; Transnational Criminal Law; Reproduction and the Law; or other approved topic) | ||
| JUVENILE JUSTICE | ||
| ADOPTION LAW | ||
| RESTORATIVE JUSTICE | ||
| ELECTION LAW | ||
| ANTISEMITISM, THE HOLOCAUST, AND THE LAW | ||
| POST-CONFLICT JUSTICE | ||
| LEGAL CLINIC I (Asylum and Immigration Law; Civil Litigation and Health Law; Civil Rights; Croak Civil; Croak Criminal; Criminal Appeals) | ||
| PUBLIC HEALTH LAW | ||
| PREDATORY LENDING | ||
| FIRST AMENDMENT: FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RELIGION | ||
| INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS I | ||
| HOUSING LAW | ||
| EDUCATION LAW & POLICY | ||
| RACE, RACISM AND UNITED STATES LAW | ||
| HATE CRIME LAW | ||
| CIVIL RIGHTS | ||
| LEGAL CLINIC II (Asylum and Immigration Law; Civil Litigation and Health Law; Civil Rights; Croak Civil; Croak Criminal; Criminal Appeals) | ||
| IMMIGRATION LAW AND POLICY | ||
| ASYLUM AND REFUGEE LAW AND POLICY | ||
| MISSION-BASED LAWYERING: LEGAL PRACTICE IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR | ||
| CHILDREN & THE LAW | ||
| POVERTY LAW | ||
| FIELD CLINIC PRACTICE (Family Law) | ||
| STUDY ABROAD: MADRID, SPAIN | ||
| STUDY ABROAD: HEREDIA, COSTA RICA | ||
| GLOBAL GOVERNANCE DURING TIMES OF CRISIS | ||
| STUDY ABROAD: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA | ||
| STUDY ABROAD: HAVANA, CUBA | ||
| ELDER LAW | ||
| HEALTH POLICY AND THE LAW | ||
| HEALTH EQUITY AND THE LAW | ||
| DISABILITY LAW | ||
Admission
Students seeking a joint degree with a college outside of the College of Law must independently apply and be admitted to the other graduate degree program. Full-time law students typically apply to the other graduate program in the summer prior to their second year of law school. Part-time law students typically apply to the other graduate degree program in the spring semester of their second year.
After admission to the other graduate program, joint degree applicants should submit a copy of the acceptance letter and law school transcript to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the College of Law. The transcript and acceptance letter should be accompanied by a cover letter from the student requesting that the student's program be changed from Juris Doctor to the appropriate joint degree program. The letter should include the student's full name, student identification number, mailing address, email address and phone number. The joint degree candidate should also schedule a meeting with the appropriate adviser in the other college to which the student has been admitted to discuss the curriculum.
Combined Credits and Expenses
Full-time joint degree students generally complete the program in four years. Part-time applicants generally complete the joint degree program in five years. A student may accelerate the program by taking classes in the summer or by taking more courses during the academic year. By doing so, a student may complete both programs one-half year earlier.
Once enrolled in a joint degree program, students no longer pay the College of Law package tuition; instead, students pay by the credit hour for law classes and classes taken in the other program.
Grading Standards
Joint degree students must meet the grading standards of the College of Law and the respective graduate degree program in order to remain in good standing. Grades are recorded on the transcript under the college in which the courses are taken, and the combined degree is recorded after graduation. Students who are dismissed from either program may be able to continue studies in the other program. Students must satisfy the normal program requirements of the other school to receive the degree; no double counting of credits is permitted after a dismissal from one college.
Leaves of Absence/Withdrawal
Students must receive permission from both colleges to take a leave of absence from the joint degree program or to withdraw from the joint degree program. A leave of absence is granted for a maximum of one year. If a student does not enroll in classes after one year, he or she will be permanently withdrawn from both programs and only may re-enroll by applying to the admission offices of both colleges as a new student.
Graduation
To receive the joint degree, a student must graduate from both schools on the same date, in the same semester/quarter and in the same year. Double counting of credits occurs only after concurrent completion of both programs.
For a December graduation, all requirements must be completed at the end of the fall semester and fall quarter. For a spring graduation, all non-law requirements must be completed at the end of the spring quarter and all law requirements at the end of the spring semester. Students who complete non-law requirements in the spring that they expect to graduate may not have their degrees granted in time to be certified for the July bar exam. A student will not be eligible to graduate, cannot be certified for admission to the Bar, and cannot sit for bar examinations until all degree requirements are met and degrees conferred.