Dual Degree Programs

UConn School of Law offers five dual degree programs to expand a graduate's professional potential. Students may choose to combine a Juris Doctor (JD) degree with a Master of Laws (LLM) degree or with one of four master's degrees from another University of Connecticut school or college.

Juris Doctor / LLM with Advanced Standing

The JD/LLM in Law Advanced Standing Program can be done in each of the four specialized LLM degrees available at UConn Law. The Insurance Law LLM focuses on a practice in insurance law in a financial services company, private law firms, regulatory agency, insurance company, health care organization, corporate legal department, or academic and non-profit institution. The Energy and Environmental LLM focuses on developing skills to meet the global energy needs, climate change and all aspects of environmental policy. The Human Rights and Social Justice LLM combines the international aspects of human rights law with the domestic civil rights movement to blend specialized skills needed for practice in this area. The  Governance, Risk Management and Compliance LLM offers the opportunity to pursue a course of study that provides a strong legal foundation in each branch within the field.

Admission Requirements and Course of Study

Students who wish to pursue an LLM after the JD and benefit from advanced standing status should make an appointment with Yan Hong, Director of Graduate Studies.  Students with advanced standing status may obtain both degrees in as little as 3½ years, compared with 4-5 years, if the two degrees are pursued separately.

Advanced standing candidates from UConn School of Law must take the required curriculum of the School of Law. The JD degree program requires completion of eighty-six (86) credits. The LLM degree program requires completion of twenty-four (24) credits, an LLM writing requirement, and required coursework of Principles of Insurance in the Insurance Law LLM and International Human Rights in the Human Rights and Social Justice LLM. A maximum of twelve (12) credits of relevant coursework taken at the law school as part of the UConn School of Law JD program may be applied towards the LLM degree requirements with the permission of the LLM program director. Full time, day division JD candidates at the School of Law who are in good academic standing may apply to the LLM program by submitting an abbreviated LLM application during their fourth, fifth or sixth semesters. Part-time students may apply upon reaching comparable milestones.

Faculty Advisors

Yan Hong
Director of Graduate Admissions
860-570-5284
LLM@uconn.edu

Juris Doctor / Master of Public Administration

In cooperation with the UConn Department of Public Policy, the School of Law offers students the JD/MPA dual degree program. Together they are committed to educating students to serve the public interest in the governmental, nonprofit, and private sector arenas. The JD/MPA program provides education and training in the concepts, skills, and techniques of public policy analysis, intergovernmental relations, statistical decision making, public management, financial administration, and human resource management. The program prepares students for careers as executives, policy officials and administrators in federal, state or local government and in nonprofit organizations. It is also extremely beneficial for students who plan to specialize in areas in which a legal background is especially helpful, e.g., labor relations, health administration, environmental protection, intergovernmental relations and city and town government. Those wishing a broad education in law and government as well as those who want a public affairs and law perspective in a specific area will find the dual degree program equally appropriate. The program is flexible and individualized to provide each student with the best possible combination of these two disciplines.

Admission Requirements and Course of Study

All students who wish to pursue a dual degree program must first be granted separate admission into both programs. A dual degree enrollment form, approved by each school, will also be required. Students in the dual degree program may obtain both degrees in four years, compared with five years, if both degrees were pursued separately. Candidates admitted to both schools in the same year will ordinarily take their first year at the School of Law. However, students in their first year of the MPA program may reverse this procedure if they are admitted to the School of Law for the following year. After the first year of law school, students ordinarily spend one year fulltime in the graduate school. During the third and fourth years, students will divide their time between the School of Law and the Graduate School depending on the students' choices and availability of desired courses. Additionally, all students must comply with the rules regarding credit load limitations. When credits from both programs are combined, without prior approval from the associate dean, full time students may not exceed sixteen (16) credits and part time students may not exceed twelve (12) credits per semester. Students seeking to exceed these limits must obtain permission from the associate dean for academic affairs at the Law School.  In no case will permission to exceed these limits be granted if course work at the law school would account for more than seventeen (17) of the total combined credits in one semester, due to ABA Standards.

Completion Requirements

In addition to satisfaction of the requirements of both programs of study, dual degree candidates are required to complete these programs concurrently. The final award of transfer credit is contingent upon completion of both programs.

Transfer Agreement

The JD degree program requires completion of eighty-six (86) credits (including all required first-year courses, a course in Legal Ethics and Responsibility, and an intensive, analytical paper which satisfies a writing requirement). The MPA degree program requires completion of forty-three (43) credits (including twenty-six (26) credits of core courses, twelve (12) credits of concentration courses, a six-credit internship as determined by the Graduate School and successful completion of the capstone preparatory and capstone course). Each school will accept twelve (12) credits from the other as applicable for transfer.

Law Courses Acceptable for Transfer to the MPA Program (12 Credits)

The Graduate School will accept any course for transfer that is not part of the required curriculum.

MPA Courses Acceptable for Transfer to the JD Program (12 Credits)

The School of Law will accept any course for transfer.

Faculty Advisors

UConn School of Law
Professor Peter Siegelman
860-570-5238

UConn Department of Public Policy
Professor Eric Brunner
959-200-3795

Juris Doctor / Master of Public Health

An understanding of the legal system is increasingly important to health care administrators and policy planners. Policy planners trained initially in law find a sound professional grasp of health care systems and their administration is vital to their own work. The JD/MPH program is designed for students who wish to integrate the study of the legal and health care systems.

Admission Requirements and Course of Study

All students who wish to pursue a dual degree program must be granted separate admission to both programs. Applicants may apply simultaneously to the two schools or, alternatively, students enrolled in the School of Law or Graduate Program in Public Health may apply during their first year of study to the other program. Application to the dual degree program must be made no later than the end of the first year at the School of Law or the Graduate Program in Public Health.

Students in the dual degree program may obtain both degrees in four years, compared with the five years that pursuit of separate degrees would require. Candidates admitted to both schools in the same year will ordinarily take their first year at the School of Law, although students in their first year of the MPH program may reverse this procedure if they are admitted to the School of Law for the following year. After the first year of law school, students ordinarily spend one year full time in the graduate public health program. During the third and fourth years, students will divide their time between the School of Law and the Health Center depending on the students' choices and the availability of desired courses. Additionally, all students must comply with the rules regarding credit load limitations. When credits from both programs are combined, without prior approval from the associate dean, full-time students may not exceed sixteen (16) credits and part-time students may not exceed twelve (12) credits per semester. Students seeking to exceed these limits must obtain permission from the associate dean for academic affairs at the Law School. In no case will permission to exceed these limits be granted if course work at the law school would account for more than seventeen (17) of the total combined credits in one semester, due to ABA Standards.

Completion Requirements

In addition to satisfaction of the requirements of both programs of study, dual degree candidates are required to complete these programs concurrently. The final award of transfer credit is contingent upon completion of both programs.

Transfer Agreement

The JD degree program requires completion of eighty-six (86) credits (including all required first-year courses, a course in Legal Ethics and Responsibility, and an intensive, analytical paper which satisfies a writing requirement). The MPH degree program requires completion of forty-eight (48) credits. Each school will accept twelve (12) credits from the other as applicable for transfer.

Law Courses Acceptable for Transfer to the M.P.H. Program (12 Credits)

  • Administrative Law
  • Clinic: Administrative Clerkship (Health Law focus)
  • Clinic: Health Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Family Law
  • Health and Human Rights
  • Health Care Finance
  • Health Law
  • Law and Public Health
  • Legal Rights of Persons with Disabilities
  • Mental Health Law
  • Principles of Insurance
  • Special Research Project (Health Law focus)
  • Taxation of Non Profit Organizations

MPH Courses Acceptable for Transfer to the JD Program (12 Credits)

  • Bioethics
  • Health Care Regulation
  • Health and Human Rights
  • Independent Study
  • Law and Health Care Policy
  • Law and Public Health
  • Practicum in an Area of Health Law
  • Public Health Law Seminar

Faculty Advisor

Professor Susan Schmeiser
860-570-5103

Juris Doctor / Master of Public Policy

In cooperation with the UConn Department of Public Policy, the School of Law offers students the JD/MPP dual degree program. The program provides students with advanced training in policy formation, policy analysis, data management, and advanced quantitative and statistical decision-making techniques. The program prepares students for careers as policy analysts, policy officials and administrators, research associates, program analysts, and finance/budget analysts in government, corporate, and nonprofit settings. The dual training in law and public policy provides students with the critical skills necessary to develop and evaluate policies and regulations for federal, state and local government agencies as well as nonprofit and for-profit consulting organizations. It is also extremely beneficial for students who plan to specialize in areas in which a legal background is especially helpful, such as health administration, environmental protection, education policy, and intergovernmental relations. Those wishing a broad education on law and policy analysis as well as those who want a public policy and law perspective in a specific area of interest -- for example in education, environment or health -- will find the dual degree program equally appropriate.

Admission Requirements and Course of Study

All students who wish to pursue a dual degree program must first be granted separate admission into both programs. A dual degree enrollment form, approved by each school, will also be required. Students in the dual degree program may obtain both degrees in four years, compared with five years, if both degrees were pursued separately. Candidates admitted to both schools in the same year will ordinarily take their first year at the School of Law. However, students in their first year of the MPP program may reverse this procedure if they are admitted to the School of Law for the following year. After the first year of law school, students ordinarily spend one year full-time in the graduate school. During the third and fourth years, students will divide their time between the School of Law and the graduate school depending on the students' choices and availability of desired courses.

Completion Requirements

In addition to satisfaction of the requirements of both programs of study, dual-degree candidates are required to complete these programs concurrently. The final award of transfer credit is contingent upon completion of both programs.

Transfer Agreement

The dual-degree program allows up to 12 of the course credits taken as part of the JD to also count as credits for the MPP and allows up to 12 of the course credits taken as part of the MPP to also count as credits for the JD. In total, students must earn at least 74 credits from the School of Law and 31 credits from the MPP program.

Faculty Advisor

UConn School of Law
Professor Peter Siegelman
860-570-5238

UConn Department of Public Policy
Professor Eric Brunner
959-200-3795

Juris Doctor / Master of Social Work

In cooperation with the UConn School of Social Work, the School of Law offers student the opportunity to earn a dual degree of JD/MSW. The JD/MSW degree is designed for students who are interested in the social impact of the legal system upon individuals. Students pursue this degree to prepare for careers in fields such as public interest law, mental health law, elder law, women's rights, penology, juvenile advocacy, human services administration, community organizing and public policy and planning. The dual degree program is highly individualistic in nature in order to provide each student with the best possible combination of these two disciplines.

Admission Requirements and Course of Study

All students who wish to pursue a dual degree program must first be granted separate admission into both programs. A dual degree enrollment form, approved by the Law School will also be required. Students in the dual degree program may obtain both degrees in four years, compared with five years, if both degrees were pursued separately. Study is generally begun at the School of Law, where during the first year, students will complete a minimum of thirty-three (33) credits of required curriculum study. During the second year, students will complete a minimum of six (6) social work courses, their first year field placement and a minimum of two (2) law courses. Year three will consist of a minimum of three (3) social work courses, their second field placement, a law school clinical experience (which coordinated in combination with  the School of Social Work, can apply toward the second year field placement requirement of 560 hours), and six (6) law school courses. During year four, students will take all remaining credits. Additionally, all students must comply with the rules regarding credit load limitations. Without prior approval from the Associate Dean of the Law School, full time students may not exceed sixteen (16) credits and part time students may not exceed twelve (12) credits per semester.  Permission may be granted by the law school for 17 credits. The limit per semester at the SSW is 17 credits.

Completion Requirements

In addition to satisfaction of the requirements of both programs of study, dual degree candidates are required to complete these programs concurrently. The final award of transfer credit is contingent upon completion of both programs.

Transfer Agreement

The JD degree program requires completion of eighty-six (86) credits (including all required first-year courses, Legal Profession (LAW 7565), an intensive, analytical paper(s) which satisfies a writing requirement, and course work which satisfies the Practice Based Learning requirement). The M.S.W. degree program requires completion of sixty (60) credits (including Social Work foundation, concentration courses in the student's selected concentration, two field placements, electives and research). The School of Law will accept twelve (12) credits from among a student's advanced M.S.W. courses for transfer. The School of Social Work will accept nine (9) elective credits of non-clinical work earned at the School of Law.

Law Courses Acceptable for Transfer to the MSW Program

  • Administrative Law
  • Children and the Law
  • Center for Children's Advocacy
  • Elder Law
  • Employment Discrimination Law
  • Family Law
  • Law and Medicine
  • Mental Health Law
  • Street Law

MSW Courses Acceptable for Transfer to the JD Program (12 Credits)

The School of Law will accept twelve (12) credits the student's MSW program.

Faculty Advisors

UConn School of Law
Associate Dean Paul Chill
860-570-5201

UConn School of Social Work
Milagros Marrero-Johnson, MSW
Director of Student and Academic Services
959-200-3606

The UConn Business School is not currently enrolling new students in the joint JD/MBA program. Students interested in this program should contact the Business School directly. Students already enrolled in the JD/MBA joint degree program are not affected by this change.

Juris Doctor / Master of Business Administration

The dual JD/MBA degree allows highly motivated students to gain a competitive edge in law and business at an accelerated pace. Students may earn the dual degree on a three-year or four-year schedule of full-time study at the UConn School of Law and School of Business, compared with five years if the degrees were pursued separately. Part-time students may pursue the JD/MBA by taking courses in the law school’s Evening Division and the business school’s part-time MBA program.

The flexible curriculum is designed for those whose career goals include domestic or international business, management, international finance or public service, as well as such specialized fields as tax accounting, investment management, corporate organization or the legal aspects of marketing.

Admission Requirements

All students who wish to pursue a dual-degree program must be admitted separately to both programs and submit a dual-degree enrollment form to each school.

Course of Study

The MBA program is designed to be flexible to allow students to take coursework at a pace and format that best meets their needs. Students pursing the dual-degree program are expected to complete their first year of law school exclusively in law courses but thereafter may take coursework from both programs that best fit their schedules and requirements.

Course Loads

Full-time students at the law school are ordinarily limited to 16 credits per semester. Students seeking to exceed this limit must obtain permission from the associate dean for academic affairs at the School of Law. In order to comply with American Bar Association standards, course work at the law school may in no case exceed 17 total law credits in one semester. Separate semester credit loads may be established by the School of Business.

Completion Requirements

In total, students must earn at least 74 credits from the law school 42 in the MBA program at the business school. This must include all required first-year courses at both schools, as well as a law school course in Legal Ethics and Responsibility, the practice-based learning requirement, and an intensive, analytical paper to satisfy the law school’s writing requirement. Students must also complete all required courses as defined by the plan of study as articulated by the School of Business. Separately, a JD would require 86 credits and an MBA 57 credits, but the number of credits required for each degree is reduced because some credits can be transferred and applied toward both.

Dual-degree candidates are required to complete these programs concurrently. The final award of credit is contingent upon completion of both programs.

Faculty Advisors

UConn School of Law
Professor Joseph MacDougald
860-570-5383

UConn School of Business 
Michael Bozzi
Director - Office of Student Services, MBA Programs
860-728-2440