Scalia Law maintains a rigorous program of legal education that, consistent with ABA Standards, prepares its students, upon graduation, for admission to the bar and for effective, ethical, and responsible participation as members of the legal profession. Upon completion of their degree, Scalia Law students will have met the following learning outcomes designed to achieve these objectives:
- Legal Knowledge: Graduates will possess knowledge of the substantive and procedural law that is the foundation of the American legal system and will possess the ability to acquire and master advanced knowledge of the law.
- Legal Writing: Graduates will have the ability to write competent legal documents in both the litigation and transactional contexts.
- Advocacy Skills: Graduates will be able to engage in effective oral advocacy, legal reasoning, and problem-solving.
- Law and Economics: Graduates will be able to apply basic economic concepts to enhance their understanding of the law and legal outcomes.
- Professionalism and Professional Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the professional skills necessary for effective and ethical participation in the legal profession.
Policies
- After the first year, students in the full-time division must maintain a credit load of 10-17 hours per semester, and students in the part-time division must maintain a credit load of 8-12 hours per semester. (See Academic Regulation 3-5.5)
-
In order to earn a JD, a student must have been in residence for a minimum of six fall or spring semesters. A student is in residence for a semester during which the student earns (with a passing grade) academic credit eligible to be presented towards their Juris Doctor degree. (See Academic Regulation 3-3.3)
-
All students must complete 89 credit hours to graduate, 74 of which must be "in-class" credit hours, and no more than 15 credit hours may be graded "CR." (See Academic Regulation 3-3.1)
Additional information regarding the regulations and policies applying to this program can be found here: https://www.law.gmu.edu/academics/regulations.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 89
This certificate may be pursued on a full-time basis only.
Scalia Law students are required to satisfactorily complete 89 credit hours for graduation. Forty credit hours are in the required general law courses listed below; the remaining credit hours are in elective courses. Through elective courses, all students matriculating in Fall 2016 or later must complete the upper-level writing requirement and the experiential learning requirement. (See Academic Regulation 3-3.2(b) and 3-3.2(c)). Additional course requirements may apply based on class standing. (See Academic Regulation 3-3.2(d)).
Required General Law Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete 40 credits of required courses: | 40 | |
| LRWA I: Intro to Lgl Res Writ | ||
| Contracts I | ||
| Torts | ||
| Economics for Lawyers | ||
| Property 1 | ||
| LRWA II: Trial-Level Writing | ||
| Contracts II | ||
| Civil Procedure | ||
| Legislation Statutory Interpretation 2 | ||
| Criminal Law 3 | ||
| LRWA III: Appellate Writing | ||
| Constitutional Law I: Structure of Government 4 | ||
| LRWA IV: Legal Drafting | ||
| Professional Responsibility | ||
| Total Credits | 40 | |
- 1
Part-time students typically take LAW 104 in fall of their 2nd year.
- 2
Part-time students who started in fall 2021 or later typically take LAW 266 in fall of their 2nd year.
- 3
Part-time students typically take LAW 106 in spring of their 2nd year.
- 4
Part-time students who started in fall 2021 or later typically take LAW 121 in spring of their 2nd year.
Electives
Students must complete 49 credits of elective courses to complete this degree.
JD Focus Areas & Concentrations
Students may elect to complete coursework in one of 18 Focus Areas of the law listed below. A formal Concentration can be achieved in the Focus Areas (indicated with an asterisk (*) below). To achieve a Concentration, students must complete at least five courses in the Focus Area, earning a final grade of B- or higher in each course.
- Administrative Law and Government Regulation
- Antitrust Law*
- Business Law & Financial Regulation*
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Cyber Law*
- Environmental & Energy Law
- Family Law and Estate Planning
- Immigration & Human Rights Law
- Intellectual Property
- International & Comparative Law
- Labor & Employment Law
- Law & Economics
- Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution
- National Security Law and Policy*
- Patent Law*
- Public Interest Law*
- Tax Law*
Administrative Law and Government Regulation
Students considering practice in and before government agencies, or who are interested in exploring the process by which the government regulates the activities of businesses or individuals, may pursue courses in the Administrative Law & Government Regulations Focus area.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 116 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 151 | Aviation Law | 2 |
| LAW 152 | Administrative State and the Courts | 2 |
| LAW 181 | Communications Law | 3 |
| LAW 253 | International Trade Law Regulation | 3 |
| LAW 289 | Perspectives on Regulation | 2 |
| LAW 300 | Regulatory Comments Practicum | 2 |
| LAW 304 | Legal Practicum: Global Antitrust Regulatory Comments | 3 |
| LAW 310 | FDA Regulation | 2 |
| LAW 315 | Regulated Industries | 2 |
| LAW 317 | Securities Law Regulations | 3 |
| LAW 364 | Administrative Law Clinic | 2 |
| LAW 481 | Food Law Policy Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 693 | International Finance Regulation Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 728 | Separation of Powers Clinic | 2 |
| LAW 734 | Administrative State and its Critics | 2 |
| LAW 753 | Administrative Law: Adjudication | 1,3 |
Antitrust Law
Students interested in exploring the laws that promote competition and protect consumers may wish to pursue courses in the Antitrust Area of Focus.
Students may complete a Concentration in Antitrust by completing at least five courses listed under the Antitrust Focus Area earning a final grade of B- or higher in each course.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 156 | Antitrust I: Principles | 3 |
| LAW 162 | Antitrust II: Applications | 3 |
| LAW 193 | Consumer Financial Protection | 2 |
| LAW 237 | Antitrust Economics | 2 |
| LAW 259 | European Union Competition Law | 2 |
| LAW 304 | Legal Practicum: Global Antitrust Regulatory Comments | 3 |
| LAW 332 | Consumer Protection Law | 3 |
| LAW 432 | Intellectual Property Antitrust Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 612 | FTC Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 640 | Antitrust III: Advanced Antitrust Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 645 | Global Antitrust Law Seminar | 2-3 |
| LAW 668 | Antitrust IV: Mergers Acquisitions Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 750 | Federal Consumer Protection Litigation | 2 |
Business Law & Financial Regulation
Students interested in exploring corporate law, banking and finance, and the laws that protect consumers' investments, may wish to pursue courses in the Business & Financial Regulation Focus Area.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 167 | Bankruptcy | 3 |
| LAW 169 | Accounting and Financial Concepts for Lawyers | 2 |
| LAW 172 | Business Associations | 2,4 |
| LAW 193 | Consumer Financial Protection | 2 |
| LAW 194 | Mergers Acquisitions | 3 |
| LAW 198 | Corporate Tax | 3 |
| LAW 240 | Law Regulation of Financial Institutions | 3 |
| LAW 252 | Cryptocurrency | 2 |
| LAW 242 | Insurance Law | 3 |
| LAW 246 | Venture Capital | 2 |
| LAW 275 | Asset Management Law | 2 |
| LAW 317 | Securities Law Regulations | 3 |
| LAW 354 | Startup Law | 2 |
| LAW 407 | FinTech Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 454 | Bankruptcy Reorganization Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 517 | Bank Regulation | 2 |
| LAW 555 | In-House Counsel for Public Companies | 2 |
| LAW 693 | International Finance Regulation Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 730 | Derivatives Law Policy | 1 |
| LAW 740 | Financial Markets Workshop | 1 |
| LAW 745 | Topics in Securities Governance | 1 |
| LAW 878 | Startup Company Practicum | 3 |
Constitutional Law
Students who wish to gain an understanding of the rights carved out in the United States Constitution, as well as its interpretation and implementation, may wish to pursue courses in the Constitutional Law Focus Area.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 087 | State Constitutional Law | 2 |
| LAW 136 | Free Speech Clinic | 2 |
| LAW 138 | Death Penalty in America | 1,2 |
| LAW 158 | Constitutional Law II: 14th Amendment | 3 |
| LAW 185 | Supreme Court Clinic | 2 |
| LAW 346 | Comparative Constitutional Law | 3 |
| LAW 370 | Firearms Law 2nd Amendment | 3 |
| LAW 390 | Sexuality the Law | 2 |
| LAW 409 | Constitutional Theory Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 425 | Structure of Liberty Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 442 | Advanced Constitutional Law: Freedom of Religion Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 620 | Federalism Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 635 | Law Religion Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 651 | Federal Budget Law Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 663 | Comparative Const. Lw Sem | 2 |
| LAW 728 | Separation of Powers Clinic | 2 |
Criminal Law and Procedure
Students interested in exploring criminal law and the rules governing proceedings through which criminal laws are enforced may wish to pursue courses in the Criminal Law & Procedure Focus Area.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 206 | Criminal Procedure I: Investigations | 3 |
| LAW 207 | Advanced Criminal Procedure | 2 |
| LAW 328 | Trial Advocacy | 2 |
| LAW 331 | Advanced Trial Advocacy | 2 |
| LAW 334 | Virginia Practice | 3 |
| LAW 337 | White Collar Crime | 2 |
| LAW 370 | Firearms Law 2nd Amendment | 3 |
| LAW 389 | Criminal Procedure II: Adjudication | 3 |
| LAW 450 | Wrongful Convictions Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 641 | Surveillance Law Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 731 | Surveillance Law | 2 |
| LAW 749 | Presidential Criminal Liability | 2 |
Cyber Law
Students who wish to gain an understanding of the intersection of technology and the law, from both a legal and policy perspective, may wish to pursue courses in the Cyber Law Focus Area.
Students may complete a Concentration in Cyber Law by completing at least five courses listed under the Cyber Law Focus Area and earning a final grade of B- or higher in each course.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 181 | Communications Law | 3 |
| LAW 243 | Privacy Information Security | 2 |
| LAW 332 | Consumer Protection Law | 3 |
| LAW 367 | Intellectual Property | 3 |
| LAW 416 | Cybersecurity Law Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 493 | Computer Crime Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 497 | Emerging Law of Internet Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 641 | Surveillance Law Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 731 | Surveillance Law | 2 |
| LAW 758 | Emerging Law of Artificial Intelligence | 2 |
Environmental & Energy Law
Students interested in environmental, energy, and natural resources law may wish to pursue courses in the Environmental & Energy Law Focus Area.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 139 | Topics in Environmental Policy | 2 |
| LAW 218 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 289 | Perspectives on Regulation | 2 |
| LAW 315 | Regulated Industries | 2 |
| LAW 746 | Energy Law | 2 |
Family Law and Estate Planning
Students who wish to explore the laws that govern family matters and the inheritance of wealth may wish to pursue courses in the Family Law & Estate Planning Focus Area.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 186 | Conflict of Laws | 2,3 |
| LAW 212 | Family Law | 3 |
| LAW 219 | Estate Gift Tax | 4 |
| LAW 236 | Income Tax | 3-4 |
| LAW 330 | Trusts Estates | 3-4 |
| LAW 429 | Persp on Indiv Family | 3 |
| LAW 604 | Estate Planning Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 635 | Law Religion Seminar | 3 |
Immigration & Human Rights Law
Students who wish to explore the framework of this country's immigration laws, as well as the body of international law that is designed to protect human rights, may wish to pursue courses in the Immigration & Human Rights Focus Area.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 120 | Civil Rights Prosecutions | 3 |
| LAW 203 | Immigration Litigation Field Program (E) | 4 |
| LAW 235 | Immigration Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 313 | Refugee Asylum Law | 2 |
| LAW 390 | Sexuality the Law | 2 |
| LAW 422 | Immigration Policy Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 642 | European Union Law Seminar | 2 |
Intellectual Property
Students who wish to gain an understanding of intellectual property law and possibly pursue a practice in patent, trademark, or copyright law, may wish to pursue courses in the Intellectual Property Focus Area.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 021 | WIPO-C-IP2 Summer School on Intellectual Property | 3 |
| LAW 116 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 191 | Copyrights Law | 4 |
| LAW 209 | Entertainment Law | 3 |
| LAW 216 | Music Law | 3 |
| LAW 224 | Arts Entertainment Advocacy Field Program | 3 |
| LAW 264 | Legal Economic Theory of IP | 2 |
| LAW 284 | Patent Law I | 2 |
| LAW 292 | Patent Law II | 2 |
| LAW 294 | Patent Prosecution | 2 |
| LAW 306 | Patent Office Litigation | 2 |
| LAW 338 | Patent Law | 4 |
| LAW 347 | Trade Secrets Law | 1-2 |
| LAW 349 | Patent Litigation at Int'l Trade Commission | 2 |
| LAW 351 | Patent Writing Theory Practice | 2 |
| LAW 367 | Intellectual Property | 3 |
| LAW 432 | Intellectual Property Antitrust Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 437 | Federal Circuit Practice Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 438 | Patent Litigation Dispute Resolution Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 493 | Computer Crime Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 612 | FTC Seminar | 2 |
International & Comparative Law
Students interested in the laws, rules, and customs governing relationships between counties, and the laws of countries outside the United States, may wish to pursue courses in the International & Comparative Law Focus Area.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 126 | Jessup International Moot Court Competition | 2 |
| LAW 127 | Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot | 2 |
| LAW 245 | International Commercial Transactions | 2 |
| LAW 248 | International Law | 3 |
| LAW 250 | International Taxation | 3 |
| LAW 253 | International Trade Law Regulation | 3 |
| LAW 259 | European Union Competition Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 304 | Legal Practicum: Global Antitrust Regulatory Comments | 3 |
| LAW 346 | Comparative Constitutional Law | 3 |
| LAW 378 | Comparative Regulation Public Policy | 2 |
| LAW 391 | Commercial Arbitration: Procedure and Practice | 3 |
| LAW 418 | International IP Policy Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 439 | Comparative Law Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 620 | Federalism Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 642 | European Union Law Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 645 | Global Antitrust Law Seminar | 2-3 |
| LAW 663 | Comparative Const. Lw Sem | 2 |
| LAW 693 | International Finance Regulation Seminar | 2 |
Labor & Employment Law
Students interested in the laws and regulations that govern relationships between employers and individual employees, and the relationships between employers and groups of employees (such as labor unions) may wish to pursue courses in the Labor & Employment Law Focus Area.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 084 | DEI: Law and Strategies | 1 |
| LAW 129 | Federal Sector Employment Law | 2 |
| LAW 210 | Discrimination in Employment | 2 |
| LAW 256 | Labor Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 279 | Mediation | 2 |
| LAW 303 | Negotiation Legal Settlement | 3 |
| LAW 348 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 2 |
| LAW 365 | Employment Law | 2 |
| LAW 392 | Sports Law | 2 |
Law and Economics
Students who want a focused study of law and economic theory that reaches beyond the first-year course may wish to pursue courses in the Law & Economics Focus Area
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 108 | Economics for Lawyers | 1-3 |
| LAW 123 | Law Economics | 2 |
| LAW 156 | Antitrust I: Principles | 3 |
| LAW 162 | Antitrust II: Applications | 3 |
| LAW 208 | Law Economics Colloquium | 2 |
| LAW 237 | Antitrust Economics | 2 |
| LAW 301 | Statistics for Lawyers | 3 |
| LAW 640 | Antitrust III: Advanced Antitrust Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 668 | Antitrust IV: Mergers Acquisitions Seminar | 2 |
Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 127 | Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot | 2 |
| LAW 159 | Appellate Advocacy | 2 |
| LAW 163 | Advanced Civil Procedure | 2 |
| LAW 179 | Supervised Externship - VA Practice | 3 |
| LAW 185 | Supreme Court Clinic | 2 |
| LAW 186 | Conflict of Laws | 2,3 |
| LAW 203 | Immigration Litigation Field Program (E) | 4 |
| LAW 205 | Litigation Dispute Resolution Theory | 3 |
| LAW 217 | Public Interest Litigation | 2 |
| LAW 222 | Evidence | 2-3 |
| LAW 226 | Federal Courts | 3 |
| LAW 251 | Class Action Mass Litigation | 2 |
| LAW 279 | Mediation | 2 |
| LAW 299 | Advanced Public Interest Litigation | 2 |
| LAW 300 | Regulatory Comments Practicum | 2 |
| LAW 303 | Negotiation Legal Settlement | 3 |
| LAW 306 | Patent Office Litigation | 2 |
| LAW 309 | Mason Veterans Service Members Clinic | 4 |
| LAW 314 | Remedies | 3 |
| LAW 328 | Trial Advocacy | 2 |
| LAW 331 | Advanced Trial Advocacy | 2 |
| LAW 333 | Virginia Remedies | 3 |
| LAW 334 | Virginia Practice | 3 |
| LAW 348 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 2 |
| LAW 349 | Patent Litigation at Int'l Trade Commission | 2 |
| LAW 368 | Pretrial Practice | 2 |
| LAW 389 | Criminal Procedure II: Adjudication | 3 |
| LAW 391 | Commercial Arbitration: Procedure and Practice | 3 |
| LAW 438 | Patent Litigation Dispute Resolution Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 579 | Supvd Extrn VA Practice (Comp) | 3 |
National Security Law and Policy
Students interested in studying national security law and policy questions may wish to pursue course in the National Security Law & Policy Focus Area.
Students may complete a Concentration in National Security Law & Policy by completing at least five courses listed under the National Security Law & Policy Focus Area and earning a final grade of "B-" or higher in each course.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 022 | Interbranch Conflicts in National Security: War, Intelligence, and Negotiations | 1-2 |
| LAW 131 | Intelligence Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 148 | Covert Action Clandestine and Special Operations Law | 2 |
| LAW 149 | Ethical Issues in National Security Lawyering | 2 |
| LAW 211 | Law of Armed Conflict Military Operational Law | 2 |
| LAW 384 | National Security Law | 3 |
| LAW 388 | Homeland Security Law | 3 |
| LAW 416 | Cybersecurity Law Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 419 | Prosecuting Terrorism Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 426 | Homeland Security Law Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 493 | Computer Crime Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 515 | Military Law | 2 |
| LAW 654 | Counterterrorism Law Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 659 | Corp National Security Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 731 | Surveillance Law | 2 |
Patent Law
Students who are interested in exploring, or who intend to practice in, the specialized field of patent law may wish to pursue one or more Patent Law Focus Area courses.
Students may complete a Concentration in Patent Law by completing at least five courses listed under the Patent Law Focus Area and earning a final grade of "B-" or higher in each course.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 116 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 264 | Legal Economic Theory of IP | 2 |
| LAW 284 | Patent Law I | 2 |
| LAW 286 | Patent Licensing Know-How Licensing | 2 |
| LAW 292 | Patent Law II | 2 |
| LAW 294 | Patent Prosecution | 2 |
| LAW 306 | Patent Office Litigation | 2 |
| LAW 338 | Patent Law | 4 |
| LAW 349 | Patent Litigation at Int'l Trade Commission | 2 |
| LAW 351 | Patent Writing Theory Practice | 2 |
| LAW 367 | Intellectual Property | 3 |
| LAW 432 | Intellectual Property Antitrust Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 437 | Federal Circuit Practice Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 438 | Patent Litigation Dispute Resolution Seminar | 3 |
Public Interest Law
Students interested in learning about the strategy and mechanics of public interest law (advocating for individual liberty and the public good) may wish to pursue one or more course in the Public Interest Law Focus Area.
Students may complete a Concentration in Public Interest Law by completing at least five courses listed under the Public Interest Law Focus Area and earning a final grade of "B-" or higher in each course.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 116 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 136 | Free Speech Clinic | 2 |
| LAW 158 | Constitutional Law II: 14th Amendment | 3 |
| LAW 164 | Freedom of Speech 1st Amendment | 4 |
| LAW 217 | Public Interest Litigation | 2 |
| LAW 218 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 299 | Advanced Public Interest Litigation | 2 |
Tax Law
Students who want to understand tax law and taxation may wish to pursue one or more courses in the Tax Law Focus Area.
Students may complete a Concentration in Tax Law by completing at least five courses listed under the Tax Law Focus Area and earning a final grade of "B-" or higher in each course.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 194 | Mergers Acquisitions | 3 |
| LAW 198 | Corporate Tax | 3 |
| LAW 219 | Estate Gift Tax | 4 |
| LAW 236 | Income Tax | 3-4 |
| LAW 250 | International Taxation | 3 |
| LAW 282 | Partnership Subchapter S Tax | 3 |
| LAW 359 | State Local Tax | 2 |
| LAW 446 | Tax Policy Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 604 | Estate Planning Seminar | 3 |
Joint Degree in Law & Public Policy
The JD/MPP Joint Degree Program in Law and Public Policy provides students with an opportunity to master the fundamentals of legal and policy analysis. It provides students with full legal training and a solid understanding of public policy, preparing them for careers in legal academia, government and policymaking. Upon completion of the graduation requirements of both schools, students of the joint degree program will receive both a JD from the Scalia Law School and an MPP from the Schar School of Policy and Government (Schar). Both degrees can be achieved on a full-time basis in approximately four years, instead of the five years that would be required if each degree were pursued sequentially.
Credit Requirements for the JD
The JD requires a total of 89 credit hours. Students must complete 40 credits of required curriculum (see table below) and 49 additional elective credits of upper-level coursework. Students completing the joint degree program may request at the beginning of their final year of study to have the number of required elective credits reduced from 49 to 40.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Law School's Original Curriculum Required Courses | 40 | |
| LRWA I: Intro to Lgl Res Writ | ||
| Contracts I | ||
| Torts | ||
| Economics for Lawyers | ||
| Property | ||
| LRWA II: Trial-Level Writing | ||
| Contracts II | ||
| Civil Procedure | ||
| Legislation Statutory Interpretation | ||
| Criminal Law | ||
| LRWA III: Appellate Writing | ||
| Constitutional Law I: Structure of Government | ||
| LRWA IV: Legal Drafting | ||
| Professional Responsibility | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 49 credits of elective courses: 1 | 49 | |
| Total Credits | 89 | |
- 1
Students completing the joint degree program may request at the beginning of their final year of study to have the number of required electives reduced from 49 to 40, as the joint degree program reduces the total number of credit hours needed for graduation.
Credit Requirements for the MPP
The MPP requires a total of 36credit hours. Joint degree students must complete all 24 credits of the required curriculum (see accompanying table). Twelve additional policy credits are required in upper division coursework in order to complete the MPP. Any student entering the program without relevant work experience will also be expected to complete a three credit policy related internship.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Schar's Original Curriculum Required Courses (24 credits) | ||
| PUBP 500 | Theory and Practice in Public Policy | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Policy Writing Fundamentals | ||
| US Institutions and the Policy Process | ||
| Advocacy and Lobbying | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government ((Project Management)) | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government ((Public Sector Leadership)) | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government ((Policy Communication)) | ||
| POGO 511 | Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Scientific Method and Research Design | ||
| Advanced Data Analysis for Policy and Government | ||
| Policy and Program Evaluation | ||
| Big Data Analytics for Policy and Government | ||
| Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis for Public Policy | ||
| Advanced Field Research for Policy: Theory and Method | ||
| PUBP 720 | Microeconomics for Public Policy | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Macroeconomic Policy in the Global Economy | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government ((Advanced Macroeconomic and Econometric Methods for Policy Analysis)) | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government ((Global Tax Policy)) | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government ((Economics of Education)) | ||
| Labor Markets and Policies | ||
| Advanced Economic Analysis for Policy Research | ||
| PUAD 662 | National Budgeting | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Culture, Organization, and Technology | ||
| Social Entrepreneurship and Public Policy | ||
| Technology, Culture and Commerce | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government ((Social Media Privacy and Innovation)) | ||
| Topics in Policy and Government (Biological and Environmental Data Science for Policy)) | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 12 credits of elective courses 2 | 12 | |
| Professional Experience (as needed) 3 | 0-3 | |
| Total Credits | 36-39 | |
- 2
Students completing the joint degree program may request at the beginning of their final year of study to have the number of required electives reduced from 12 to 9, as the joint degree program reduces the total number of credit hours needed for graduation.
- 3
Students who do not meet the professional work experience requirement of the Schar School of Policy and Government will be expected to complete a 3 credit internship that does not count towards the 36 credit degree completion total.
Additional Requirements
Students will have five years from matriculation in the Law School to complete the JD requirements and six years from matriculation in the Schar School of Policy and Government to complete the MPP requirements.
At the beginning of the final year of study, the student must seek approval from the law school for a reduced electives course load, as the joint degree program reduces the total number of credit hours needed for graduation from 125 (89 law, 36 public policy (39 if an internship is required)) to 113 (80 law, 33 public policy (36 if an internship is required)).
Students in the joint degree program will not receive a cumulative GPA, but instead will have two separate transcripts maintained by the separate departments. If a student decides at any point to abandon the joint degree program and pursue one degree or the other, the credit reduction will not remain and students will be expected to complete the entire credit load to receive the degree (89 hours for the JD and 36 hours for the MPP (39 hours if an internship is required)).