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Dual-Degree: Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health
Program: Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health
Cooperating Institution: University of Connecticut Health Center
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 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 4 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 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 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 16 credits and part time students may not exceed 11 credits per semester.
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 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 48 credits (including the practicum and Master’s project). Each school will accept 12 credits from the other as applicable for transfer.
Law Courses Acceptable for Transfer to the MPH Program (12 Credits):
- Administrative Law
- Clinic: Administrative Clerkship (Health Law focus)
- Clinic: Health Law
- Environmental Law
- Family Law
- Labor and Employment Law
- Legal Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Mental Health Law
- Special Research Project (Health Law focus)
- Taxation of Non Profit Organizations
MPH Courses Acceptable for Transfer to the JD Program (12 Credits):
Faculty Advisors
University of Connecticut School of Law
Professor Susan Schmeiser
65 Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
860/570-5103
University of Connecticut Health Center
Professor Barbara Blechner
Farmington, CT 06032
860/679-5946