Dual Degree - J.D./M.A. Program

Full-time students complete the requirements for the J.D. degree in five semesters at the Law School and the requirements for the M.A. degree in two semesters at the Graduate School, thereby saving two semesters' worth of work if each degree were pursued separately.

Part-time students complete the requirements for the J.D. degree in seven semesters and the requirements for the M.A. degree in three semesters and one or two sessions during a summer. Thus, a part-time student can complete the requirements for both degrees in as few as ten semesters, with one or two sessions during a summer between a spring and fall semester, instead of the normal 11 semesters and sessions during two summers.

Students must apply to and be admitted to each school on an independent basis, although such admission need not occur simultaneously. Law students may apply to the Graduate School at any time while in residence at the Law School, and it is recommended that they complete their course of studies at the Law School before beginning study at the Graduate School. However, a student in residence at the Law School may take one or more courses at the Graduate School, as long as the total number of classroom hours per week does not exceed the number permitted by Law School regulations.

Admission to and continuation in the program is conditional upon the student's completion of both the Law and Graduate School requirements with an acceptable quality point average. Students who fall below the minimum scholastic requirements for either school at any time during their studies may be academically dismissed from that school and dropped from the dual program.

The Law School will charge tuition at the Law School rate for all semesters in which a student is in residence at the Law School. A full- or part-time student in residence at the Law School who also takes one or more courses at the Graduate School must also pay the Graduate School's tuition on a per-credit basis. Students may earn up to 13 of the 83 credits needed for the J.D. by taking courses related to legal training at the Graduate School that do not duplicate Law School courses. They may earn up to 12 credits of the 36 credits required for the M.A. by taking courses at the Law School that are related to international relations.

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Dual Degree - J.D./M.B.A. Program

The J.D./M.B.A. Program enables a full-time student to complete the requirements for the J.D. degree in five semesters at the Law School, while enabling a part-time student to complete his or her legal study in seven semesters. Hence, the program enables a full-time student to complete the requirements for both degrees in as little as three and a half calendar years rather than the five it might take were each degree pursued separately. It enables a part-time student to complete the requirements of both degrees in as little as six and a half years rather than the seven and a half it might take were each degree pursued separately.

Students must apply to and be admitted to each school on an independent basis. However, such admission need not occur simultaneously. Once a student has been admitted to either of the two schools, the candidate may apply to the other school, but, in order to get the full advantage of the program, a student must be admitted to the Law School first as the Law School cannot credit toward the J.D. degree courses taken at the Graduate School of Business Administration (GSBA) before the student matriculated at the Law School.

A law student may apply to GSBA at any time while in residence at the Law School. The student will attend GSBA after finishing the Law School year in which he or she applies to GSBA, complete the course of study there, and return to the Law School, if necessary, to complete his or her legal study.

The program contemplates sequential rather than simultaneous study at the two schools. However, a student in residence at the Law School may take one or more courses at GSBA, as long as the total number of classroom hours per week does not exceed the number permitted by Law School regulations.

The Law School will allow up to 13 credits for Graduate Business courses in taxation, finance, and accounting which do not duplicate Law School courses toward its 83 credit degree. The Law School will occasionally allow credit for a business economics course depending upon its content.

However, the Law School will allow only two credits for a course which meets two hours a week per trimester at GSBA, whereas GSBA gives three credits. The Business School will allow a maximum of 12 credits for courses taken at the Law School toward the normal 60 credit M.B.A. The joint degree will be awarded upon successful completion of the course requirements at both schools.

A student may withdraw from the program and pursue either the M.B.A. or J.D. degree with full credit toward that degree for all work completed in that school. Admission to and continuation in the joint program is conditional upon the student's completion of both the law and business requirements with an acceptable quality point average. Students who fall below the minimum scholastic requirements for either school at any time during their studies may be academically dismissed from that school and dropped from the joint program.

The Law School will charge tuition at the law School rate for all semesters in which a student is in residence at the Law School. A full or part-time student in residence at the Law School who also takes one or more courses at GSBA must also pay the Graduate School's tuition, which is charged on a per credit basis.

Graduate School of Business Administration

Dual Degree - J.D./M.S.W. Program

Eligibility for the program, which is approved by the New York State Department of education, requires students to apply and be admitted to each school on an independent basis although such admission need not occur simultaneously. For more information about the dual degree program, applicants should contact the Admissions Office at the School of Law and the Graduate School of Social Service.