Admissions
Joint-Degree Programs :: JD / MPA
For students enrolled in the MPA/JD joint program, the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies will allow 14 semester hours of law courses with grades of "B" or better to be counted as electives in the MPA program. Reciprocally, the College of Law will permit, with approval, up to 14 semester hours 8000-level MPA courses with grades of "B" or better. The College of Law will not accept as joint degree credit any hours earned for the following courses: PAdm 606, Measurement and Statistics in Public Administration and PAdm 849, Public Law and Public Administration. Additionally, credit will be granted for joint degree purposes for courses on legal topics only if taken through the College of Law. No credit hours from the MPA coursework will be applied to the JD degree requirements until the MPA degree is awarded. A simultaneous awarding of degrees will satisfy this requirement. As stated in the bulletin, a law student must earn the equivalent of 90 semester hours of credit to qualify for the JD degree.
The College of Law does not permit enrollment in the joint program after a student has completed more than 20 semester hours of 8000-level MPA coursework. The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies does not permit enrollment in the joint program if a student has completed more than 40 hours of the JD program. After being admitted into both programs and declaring the intent to participate in the joint program, the student must, at first opportunity, complete the first 31 hours of required law courses as outlined in the JD program. After completion of these 31 hours, students can enroll in either program or enroll in both concurrently. The requirements for both programs must be completed within eight years of initial enrollment in the MPA program. The JD degree must be completed within six years of the initial enrollment in the JD program.
An MPA student should consult with the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies regarding any courses that may be required to complete prior to commencing 8000-level courses. If the School of Policy Studies does require any such courses, the College of Law recommends that students planning on part-time law study complete those courses prior to taking their first law courses.