JD/MA Program

Over the years, both undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Memphis have requested a dual program for the Law J.D. and the Political Science M.A. degree programs. The advantage of such a program is that credit towards degrees in these career-related disciplines can be earned simultaneously if admissions and curricula are carefully structured. Many reputable institutions elsewhere, such as Yale, Duke, Syracuse, Tulane, and Cincinnati, have such programs. None of them, however, is close to Memphis, so adding the program provides a competitive advantage in the Mid-South.

Requirements for the program are below. Basically, students may begin the M.A. in Political Science and then, pending separate admission, attend Law School where they may apply 16 credit hours (see below) to finish the M.A. Alternatively, they may first begin Law School and, pending separate admission, follow with the M.A. degree and similarly apply 16 hours of Law School credit to the M.A.

Contact

This is a wonderful opportunity for students. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Derefe Chevannes, POLS Graduate Recruitment Coordinator or Dr. Matthias Kaelberer, Department Chair.

To view a comprehensive brochure about the program, please click the image below.

Dual MA-JD Program

A. Program Admission:

Admission to the dual program will require separate admission to each program. However, for applications to the joint program, the Political Science Department will accept LSAT scores in lieu of the GRE. Students are admitted into each program separately; completion of one degree is not contingent upon completion of both.

B. Program Requirements:

1. Dual Credit

Students may earn up to a maximum of sixteen hours of dual credit for law courses taken at the law school. The remaining hours toward the M.A. in Political Science must be taken in Political Science. The following courses will qualify for both the J.D. and M.A. in Political Science:

Law Courses Required at Law School

Constitutional Law 4 hours, Criminal Law 3 hours, Criminal Procedure I 3 hours

Law School Electives

Administrative Law 3 hours, Criminal Procedure II 2 hours, Federal Courts 3 hours, Civil Rights 3 hours, Constitutional Law Seminar 2 hours, Tennessee Con Law 2 hours, Jurisprudence 2 hours, Public International Law 3 hours, Comparative Law 2 hours, Immigration Law 3 hours, Environmental Law 3 hours

Other Requirements

For students in the dual program, their first year of law school must include only classes that are part of the J.D. program.

With the above exceptions, all the normal requirements for admission and graduation for a J.D. and for an M.A. in Political Science apply.