2024-2025 Catalog

Juris Doctor and Master of Science in Crime and Justice Studies

Overview

The JD/MSCJS degree will be granted upon completion of 104 credits earned. Of this number, 80 credits must be completed in the Law School and 24 credits in the College of Arts & Science's MSCJS curriculum. Specific course selections are arranged through the Associate Dean’s office in the Law School and the MSCJS program director.

 

All summer credits applied to the final semester of the dual degree program have been determined based on the semester credits of each individual program so as not to permit students to enroll in fewer than two credits in the final semester.

 

All dual degree candidates are subject to Section II (G) of the Rules and Regulations limiting credit for ungraded activities to two credits per semester. Any student who is not in good academic standing is disqualified from the dual degree programs. Law School Regulation VII (E) states that a dual degree candidate, who is academically deficient (as defined in the Law School regulations) within the Law School curriculum, shall be disqualified from the dual degree.

 

Application to the dual degree program may be made before entering Suffolk University, during the first year of full-time study in the MSCJS program, or during the first or second year of study in the Law School. The following tracks correspond to the three possible points of entry: first year MSCJS; first year Law School; second year Law School.

Degree Requirements - 104 credits

  • 80 Law School credits

  • 24 College of Arts & Sciences credits

Track I

This track is for students in full-time MSCJS study.

First Year

Fall Semester
CJ-701Seminar in Crime and Justice

3

CJ-702Research Methods

3

-Choose one course from an approved list of courses in a specialized area of Crime & Justice Studies

3

-Choose one course from an approved list of courses in a specialized area of Crime & Justice Studies

3

 
Spring Semester
CJ-681Crime and Communities

3

CJ-709Quantitative Analysis

3

-Choose one course from an approved list of courses in a specialized area of Crime & Justice Studies

3

-Choose one course from an approved list of courses in a specialized area of Crime & Justice Studies

3

Second Year

Fall Semester
  • 2040 AD Contracts

  • 2060 AD Property

  • 2070 AD Civil Procedure

  • 2080 AD Criminal Law

  • 1000 AD Legal Practice Skills

Spring Semester
  • 2040 AD Contracts

  • 2050 AD Torts

  • 2060 AD Property

  • 2090 AD Constitutional Law

  • 1000 AD Legal Practice Skills

Third Year

  • 2140 AD Professional Responsibility

This course may be taken at any time during the second or third year of Law School.

After the first year of Law School, students must complete a Professional Responsibility course, as specified by the Law School.

Fourth Year

Fall Semester

Electives in Law

Students are encouraged to pursue specific areas relevant to their interest in crime and justice by selecting classes and clinics/internships from available offerings. Evening students who have not completed their MSCJS requirements may elect to enroll in the Internship in Crime and Justice Studies course (CJ-783) to obtain direct experience in the field.

Spring Semester

Electives in Law

Track II

Track II of the JD/MSCJS program is substantially the same as Track I except that the first- and second-year curricula are reversed. This track is for first-year law students entering the dual degree program.

Track III

This track is for second-year law students entering the dual degree program. During years three and four, these students will take both law and MSCJS courses.

The Law School Curriculum and Requirements are available within the Law School catalog.

About the Dual Degree

Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this dual degree program.

View the Program Page