Dual Degree Programs
Dual degrees are offered in conjunction with many other schools and departments at UNC and Duke. Students must be admitted to both schools, and students can only be given credit toward the J.D. for course work taken after the student has matriculated in law school, as per ABA Standard Interpretation 304-5.
The School of Law recommends that dual-degree students remain apprised of the requirements for each degree they are pursuing. The School of Law makes every effort to maintain timely information relating to dual degrees, but because other schools and departments manage their own curricula and requirements, it is possible that information on this site could be out of date. Check the other school or department's website relating to the dual degree for additional information.
J.D./Master of Arts in Sports Administration (M.A.)
The degrees of J.D. and master of arts in sports administration may be earned through the School of Law and the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. Admission to the School of Law , the Graduate School, and the Department of Exercise and Sport Science must be gained independently. A candidate must successfully complete the combination of 86 credit hours in law, including three from the exercise and sport science, and 30 credit hours, including three from the law school, and an internship in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. Participants in this dual degree program must spend the first two years of the program enrolled at the School of Law.
Law Faculty Advisor: Glenn George
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J.D./Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
The combined degrees of J.D. and master of business administration may be earned in four years by enrollment in the joint program of the School of Law and the Kenan-Flagler Business School. Admission to each school must be gained independently. In the program's first year, candidates must take the complete prescribed first-year curriculum in either law or in business and in the second year, that of the other school. In the third and fourth years, elective law courses and prescribed business courses make up the remainder of the curriculum. A candidate must successfully complete the combination of 74 semester hours in the Law School and 51.5 semester hours in the Business School. All degree requirements from both schools must be completed before the degrees are awarded.
A law student interested in this joint degree should plan to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) at its October administration and submit the business school application by December or January. Material describing the program in greater detail is available from the Admissions Office or from the executive director, M.B.A. Program, Kenan-Flagler Business School, Carroll Hall, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.
Law Faculty Advisor: Thomas Hazen
Program in Law, Medicine, and Health Care (Including the J.D./M.P.H. Combined Degrees)
Courses in health law and related fields are often offered at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law. In addition, second- and third-year law students, with the approval of the associate dean for academic affairs and the instructor, may enroll in certain courses at the UNC-Chapel Hill Gillings School of Public Health and the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
Students interested in pursuing a specialized career in health law or in a more intensive and supervised program of course work and research related to medicine and health care may apply for the combined degrees of J.D. and M.P.H. Application to this program, which enables the completion of both degrees in four years, may be made before entering or after completing any year of law school. Admission to both schools must be gained independently. Students will be required to take the GRE to apply for admission to the School of Public Health. A candidate must successfully complete 86 semester hours in the School of Law (including up to 3 hours from the School of Public Health) and 33 hours in the School of Public Health. A maximum of three credits from public health courses may be counted towards the law degree.
Ordinarily, dual degree students begin with the School of Law's prescribed first-year curriculum. Following their first or second year, the students spend a year in residence at the School of Public Health and at least one summer in a selected field training experience. They also initiate a research project and may qualify for credit by additional writing or field training experiences under the supervision of program faculty and affiliates.
Law Faculty Advisors: Joan Krause and Richard Saver
J.D./Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)
The degrees of J.D. and master of public administration may be earned in four years of class work and an additional three months of internship by enrollment in the joint degree program of the School of Law and the UNC-Chapel Hill Master of Public Administration Program. Admission to the School of Law and the M.P.A. program must be gained independently. A total of 86 semester hours is required for the J.D., including up to nine hours of coursework drawn from the M.P.A. curriculum. A total of 54 semester hours is required for the M.P.A., including up to fifteen of the hours from the J.D. curriculum. Thus, both degrees can be completed in a total of 116 semester hours, with prior approval of a joint degree plan of study.All degree requirements from both schools must be completed before the degrees are awarded.
Law Faculty Advisor: Judith Wegner
J.D./Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) (with Duke University)
The combined degrees of J.D. and master of public policy may be earned in four years by enrollment in the joint program of the School of Law and the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. Admission to each school must be gained independently. Students may apply to both schools at the outset. If accepted to both programs, students generally begin at Duke (where they complete the first year) and defer entrance to the law school (where they take their first year after completing the first year of public policy courses at Duke). Students may also apply to Duke during their first year of law school (and would then take their first full year of course work at Duke following their completion of the first law school year at UNC). The third and fourth years are spent mainly in the law school, with one additional public policy elective course and a six-hour thesis requirement (Master's Project) to be completed at Duke during this period. A candidate must successfully complete a combination of 74 semester hours in the Law School and 39 semester hours in the School of Public Policy. All degree requirements from both schools must be completed before the degrees are awarded. http://www.pubpol.duke.edu/graduate/mpp/academics/joint.php
More Information, Duke website
Duke MPP Admissions Inquiries, email contact
UNC Law Faculty Advisor: Judith Wegner
J.D./Master of Regional Planning (M.R.P.)
The combined degrees of J.D. and master of regional planning may be earned in four years, including one summer session, by enrollment in the joint program of the School of Law and the Department of City and Regional Planning. Admission to each school must be gained independently. The complete prescribed first-year curriculum of the law school must be taken as a unit and certain planning courses are required. The remainder of the curriculum is completely elective, subject to the approval of a joint faculty committee from both schools. A candidate must successfully complete the combination of 74 semester hours in the School of Law and 36 semester hours in the Department of City and Regional Planning. All degree requirements from both schools must be completed before the degrees are awarded.
Material describing the program in greater detail is available from the Admissions Office or from the Chairman, Department of City and Regional Planning, New East Building , The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 .
Law Faculty Advisor: Judith Wegner.
J.D./Master of Science in Library Science or Master of Science in Information Science (M.S.L.S.) (M.S.I.S.)
The degrees of J.D. and master of science in library science or master of science in information science may be earned at the School of Law and the School of Information and Library Science.Admission to the School of Law and the School of Information and Library Science must be gained independently.The combined degrees will require 113 credit hours over four years of study.All degree requirements from both schools must be completed before the degrees are awarded.
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Law Faculty Advisors: Steven Melamut
J.D./Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)
Admission to the School of Law and the M.S.W. program must be gained independently. A candidate for the joint degree must successfully complete the combination of 74 hours in the Law School and 50 hours in the School of Social Work. Field work is an essential component of the course of study leading to the M.S.W. All degree requirements from both schools must be completed before the degrees are awarded.
Law Faculty Adviser: Judith Wegner
J.D./Master of Arts in Mass Communication
Students must be admitted separately to the UNC School of Law and the master's program in the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication under the application procedures and requirements of each school and the UNC Graduate School. Applicants admitted to both programs will be strongly advised to defer admission to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication master's program for one year and complete the first year of required coursework in the School of Law. Admitted students are required to advise the School of Journalism and Mass Communication in writing of their intent to begin the dual degree program and request to defer admission to its master's program. Students complete 74 hours of law courses and 21 in Journalism and Mass Communication.
Law Faculty Advisor: Bill Marshall
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