The program represents the combination of two separate degree programs: one leading to the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, the other leading to the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. Students involved in the program are those who will have been admitted to both the School of Law and the Henry W. Bloch School of Management who pursue both degrees with the benefit of cross-acceptance of a certain number of credit hours. A major benefit of the program is that it results in a reduction in the number of semesters a student would normally need to obtain both degrees – generally, a reduction of at least one semester.
No combined transcript is used nor is a combined degree awarded upon completion of the program. Students simply advance in each school toward its respective degree and may apply for graduation to either school upon meeting the requirements for its specific degree whether or not the requirements for the other degree have been met.
The School of Law will accept up to 10 credit hours of MPA courses toward the 91 hours required for the J.D. degree.
The student may apply 12 credit hours of public policy or other appropriate law courses towards the MPA degree. Each course transferred must meet acceptable grade requirements of the transferor school. See the J.D. requirement and MPA requirement sections for information on grade requirements.
The normal application process for admission to each program must be followed and the usual requirements for admission to each apply. There are no special admission requirements for entry into the combined J.D.-MPA program. Students may take advantage of the program provided that, by the end of their first academic year (or two years in the case of a part-time or “Flex” Law student), admission has been secured to both degree programs (J.D. and MPA). Admission standards for the MPA program normally include GPA, public service experience, and other relevant information that supports a student’s potential for success and public service motivation. GRE/LSAT/GMAT can be submitted but is not required. However, students who have been admitted to the Law School will be automatically admitted to the MPA program upon the Bloch School receiving the graduate application, official transcripts and LSAT score. Students should develop a planned program of courses and submit the plan to each unit for approval. The program plan must meet the Juris Doctor and MPA degree requirements (see J.D. and MPA requirements sections).
Students may take MPA courses before regular enrollment and matriculation in the Law School, but these courses cannot transfer to the J.D. program. Per Law School requirements, the first-year law curriculum must be taken as a “one year package” and only MPA courses completed after this time (i.e., after completing the first-year law curriculum) will apply to the law degree. Law courses completed before admission to the MPA program can be applied to the degree.
Completion of 36 credit hours.
Students are required to earn a cumulative graduate grade point average of at least 3.0 and earn a grade of B (3.0) or better in 80% of the MPA courses completed. Due to differing grading standards, the transferred Law School courses are not included in the 80% calculation.
For students pursuing the J.D./MPA combined degree program there are 21 total credit hours required in the MPA core requirements:
PUB-ADM 5510: Research Methods in Public Administration
PUB-ADM 5525: Financial Accountability and Policy Development -or- HLTH-ADM 5571: Financial Management Issues in Health and Human Services
PUB-ADM 5526: Foundations of Public Service
PUB-ADM 5528: Supervision, Performance Leadership, and Human Resource Management -or- MGT 5512 Leading and Managing People, Teams and Organizations
PUB-ADM 5544 Program Evaluation -or- HLTH-ADM 5578: Data Analysis for Health Care Managers
PUB-ADM 5541: Public Policy Development and Analysis -or- HLTH-ADM 5580: Economics of Health and Medicine
PUB-ADM 5548: Leadership, Change and Social Impact
The Professional Competency requirement in the J.D./MPA program will be satisfied by one or more of the courses completed to meet the J.D. Experiential Course Requirement.
The twelve hours of Law School courses that will be used for credit toward the MPA constitute the Law Electives.
MPA degree candidates must complete an academic portfolio meeting the criteria enumerated by the program.
The MPA Workshop Series includes short workshops, programs and noncredit seminars that are designed to enrich the breadth and depth of MPA students’ learning experiences and career success. These events address a wide array of topics, ranging from guest lectures on significant civic and public service issues, presented by prominent civic and community leaders, to programs, workshops and development programs in areas such as career planning and professional development, trends and applications associated with emerging technologies and software applications, and trends in professional practice.
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