Joint MPA/JD Program
The School of Law and the MPA Program allow students to study concurrently for the MPA and JD degrees. Students interested in pursuing careers in government agencies and for non-for-profit organizations will greatly benefit from this dual degree education. Employment opportunities include State Attorney General offices, municipal legal affairs departments and national agencies such as the EPA or NASA.
The student must be admitted separately by the two programs but may apply some course work toward both degrees. This reduces the time necessary to receive both degrees by approximately one semester.
Curriculum
The SIUC School of Law is an 81-hour degree program while the MPA Program is 43 hours. The School of Law applies 9 hours of coursework taken in the MPA Program to its 81-hour requirement. The MPA Program applies 6 hours of law school classes toward its 43-credit hours. Graduate students register as law students with a minor in public administration.
In addition, concurrent study students must complete either the MPA internship or the applied study project, as well as a required research paper on some administrative or policy issue in public administration. To earn a concurrent MPA/JD degree, a student cannot graduate from program before completing the other.
Admission
Law students should make their interest in the concurrent degree program known to the SIUC School of Law Registrar during or after completion of the first year of law school. They must apply at the SIUC School of Law Registrar.
Students interested in pursuing the concurrent law and MPA degrees should consult with the MPA program director for advice on an appropriate program of study. Applications must also be sent to the SIUC Graduate School and to the MPA Program office.