Joint Degree Programs

Full Time Students

The full-time student must complete the regular first year JD program, earn 31 law credits, and achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.00 in those law courses.

Before the commencement of the second year of law school, the student must be independently accepted by the college that offers the other portion of the degree and meet all admission requirements for that college. The other Colleges include the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business (MBA), the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (MS in Public Service Administration, MA in International Studies), and the College of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Technology (MA and MS in Computer Science Technology).

In the summer after the first year of law school, the student should apply to be admitted to the joint degree program. The student should submit a copy of her or his first year law course history together with a cover letter that requests admission to the joint degree program. The letter must include name, address, student identification number, email address, and phone number. The letter application should be submitted to the joint degree coordinating committee. For the College of Law, materials should be submitted to Assistant Dean Diana White in the College of Law, 312/362-8537, dwhite@depaul.edu. The student also should schedule a meeting with Dean White to discuss the curriculum. The student should submit the same letter to the appropriate advisor in the other college and schedule a meeting with him or her.

Part Time Students

The part-time student must complete the first three semesters of the JD program, earn at least 28 law credits, and achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.00 in those law courses.

In the fall of the second year of law school, the student must be independently accepted by the college that offers the other portion of the degree and meet all admission requirements for that college. The other Colleges include the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business (MBA), the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (MS in Public Service Administration, MA in International Studies), and the College of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Technology (MA and MS in Computer Science Technology).

In the spring of the second year (fourth semester), the student should apply to be admitted to the joint degree program. The student should submit a copy of her or his first year law course history together with a cover letter that requests admission to the joint degree program. The letter must include name, address, student identification number, email address, and phone number. College of Law materials should be submitted to Assistant Dean Diana White in the College of Law, 312/362-8537, dwhite@depaul.edu. The student also should schedule a meeting with Dean White to discuss the curriculum. The student should submit the same letter to an advisor in the other college and schedule a meeting with him or her.

Combined Credits and Expenses

Full-time applicants to joint degree programs generally complete the joint degrees in three or four years. Part-time applicants generally complete the joint degrees in four or five years. Once matriculated in a joint degree program, students no longer pay the College of Law package tuition rate. Rather, they pay by the credit hour for law classes and by the course for classes taken in the other colleges. Student who receive financial aid at the time they reclassify to the joint degree program should be able to extend their award through to the completion of the two degrees.

Grading Standards

Students must meet the grading standards of the College of Law and their respective MA, MBA or MS program to remain in good standing. Grades are recorded on student transcripts under the College in which the course is taken, and the combined degree will be recorded after graduation. If a student is dismissed from either joint program component, the joint program coordinating committee may permit the student to continue studies in one program area. The student must satisfy the normal degree requirements of the other school, and no double counting of credits will be permitted after a dismissal from one College.

Leaves of Absence/Withdrawals

In order to take a leave of absence from the joint degree program, the student must receive permission from the joint program coordinating committee. A leave of absence will be granted for a maximum of one year. If the student does not enroll in classes after one year, the student with be permanently withdrawn and may only re-enroll by applying to the Admissions Offices of both Colleges as a new student.

To withdraw from a joint degree program, a student must receive permission from the joint coordinating committee. A student cannot withdraw by not attending classes or by notifying professors. In most cases, a withdrawal indicates that the student no longer intends to enroll in classes either at the College of Law or the coordinating MA, MBA or MS program.

Graduation/Commencement

To received any of the joint degrees, the student must graduate from both schools on the same date, in the same semester/quarter, and in the same year. A faculty member from the MA, MBA or MS program must sign off on the thesis (if one is required). Double counting of credit hours occurs only after the student concurrently completes both degree programs.

For a December graduation, all requirements must be completed at the end of the fall semester and fall quarter. For a spring graduation, all non-law requirements must be completed at the end of the winter quarter and law requirements must be completed at end of the spring semester.