Overview
The MPA/JD is designed for students interested in integrating professional education in law with public administration. Students have a choice of two (2) curriculum tracks to follow and should contact both the Department of Public Service & Healthcare Administration and the Law School for assistance selecting the right track to fit their schedule. Full-time students may register for a maximum of fifteen (15) combined credits per semester.
Students applying to this program must meet the admission requirements for both the MPA and the JD programs.
The requirements for the MPA/JD program are determined by the respective schools. The MPA/JD degree will be granted upon completion of 110-credit semester hours of work: 80-credit hours are completed in the Law School (see the Law School Academic Catalog for specific requirements) and a minimum of 30- graduate credit hours are completed in the Sawyer Business School’s MPA curriculum. Degrees will be awarded when all degree requirements for both programs are fulfilled.
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 to require students to enroll in a minimum of two (2) credits in the final semester.
All dual degree candidates are subject to 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 program.
MPA Curriculum (For Full-Time Students)
Students may follow one of two academic tracks, either completing their MPA requirements or their JD requirements first. Below are the MPA requirements for this program. Please contact the Suffolk Law School for more information on the required Law courses.
Curriculum
Fall Semester (15 credits)
| P.AD-711 | Foundations of Public Service and Administration | 3 |
| P.AD-712 | Information Based Management | 3 |
| P.AD-713 | Managing Financial Resources | 3 |
| P.AD-716 | Public Service Human Resource Management | 3 |
| P.AD-717 | Organizational Change | 3 |
Spring Semester (15 credits)
And two (2) Public Administration electives.
Students with no professional experience are required to take PAD-859 Internship, which will count as one of your two (2) electives.
It is important that dual degree students work with advisors in both academic programs to ensure successful completion of both programs.