Joint Degree Programs

Prospective Students—Joint Degree Programs

      JD/MBA

JD/MBA OVERVIEW

The University of Kentucky's College of Law and Carol Martin Gatton College of Business and Economics offer you the opportunity to obtain the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and Juris Doctor (JD) degrees in a dual degree program. Because both schools recognize that some aspects of business and law are compatible and interrelated, you can obtain both degrees in four or four and one-half years instead of the four and one-half to five years required if the degrees were pursued separately. As a result, you gain marketable skills and specialized employment opportunities, and you do so in less time and with a smaller financial investment than might otherwise be required.

The MBA Program prepares you for a career in business by integrating the theory and practice of management in its core curriculum. Core courses are designed to provide an understanding of business process and methods of coping with uncertainty; a knowledge of the economics of business enterprises; an understanding of quantitative methods and the applications of analysis to business decision-making; a knowledge of organizational relations and behavior; the ability to solve complicated and realistic business problems; and an understanding of the problems encountered by business enterprises in production, marketing and finance.

The JD program balances fundamental legal theory with the important lawyering skills of analysis and expression. As a student at UK Law, you will be provided with the skills required for the solution of modern legal problems; an understanding and appreciation for the legal, social and political institutions on which the administration of justice rests; and preparation for the policy and ethical decisions that must be made in practicing law.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

To earn the JD/MBA, you must satisfy the requirements of both the business and law colleges. Normally, the MBA degree requires 36 credit hours and the College of Law 90 credit hours. For JD/MBA students, however, each school accepts credit earned in the other school, allowing you to complete the joint program after only 30 credit hours of business course work and 81 credit hours of Law course work.

From the perspective of the MBA program, the JD program serves as six credit hours of specialization course work toward the MBA degree. From the College of Law perspective, the MBA course work satisfies nine credit hours of electives toward the JD degree.

Once admitted, you may elect to begin course work in either Law or Business. In order to avoid scheduling conflicts, it is not advisable to mix MBA and Law courses during any single semester. You may follow one of two tracks:

Track A

Year 1: 30 credit hours of required MBA courses

(summer scheduling constraints may require completion of courses in a third academic year semester)

Year 2: 29 credit hours of required first-year Law courses, including Legal Research and Writing
Year 3: Law electives

(Professional Responsibility - Law 835 - and completion of a substantial writing project are required in year 3 or 4)

Year 4: Law electives

Track B
Year 1: 29 credit hours of required first-year Law courses, including Legal Research and Writing
Year 2: 30 credit hours of required MBA courses
(summer scheduling constraints may require completion of courses in a third academic year semester)
Year 3: Same as Track A
Year 4: Same as Track A

ADMISSIONS

If you are interested in the JD/MBA program, you must apply formally and independently to both programs and meet the admission standards of each. Admission standards will be the same as if you were applying solely to one program; however, you should note on all application forms that admission is being sought for the JD/MBA dual degree program. The dual degree program is not suitable for part-time MBA students. There is no part-time program at the College of Law.

If you are currently enrolled in the JD or the MBA program, you may be considered for admission to the JD/MBA Dual Degree Program. Your application for admission must be approved by the program in which you are not enrolled. You are eligible for consideration as a current student only if no more than one full-time semester has been completed. The JD/MBA program is not available if you already have earned one of the degrees.

ADVISING

The MBA Advisor and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the College of Law serve as an advising team for you, each in their respective schools.

TUITION

During the period of MBA enrollment, you will pay fees and tuition at the Graduate School rate. During the period of Law School enrollment, you will pay fees and tuition at College of Law rates.

APPLICATION PROCESS

(1) A Graduate School application, official GMAT scores, two official transcripts from each undergraduate school attended and official TOEFL scores (for international students) must be sent to:

     Graduate School Admissions
     351 Patterson Office Tower
     University of Kentucky
     Lexington, KY 40506-0027
     Phone: (859) 257-4613
     Fax: (859) 323-1928

(2) An MBA Program Admission application and three letters of recommendation must be sent to:

     MBA Admissions
     145 Gatton B&E Building
     University of Kentucky
     Lexington, KY 40506-0034
     Phone: (859) 257-1306
     Fax: (859) 323-9971

(3) For the College of Law, you need to follow the admissions guidelines as set forth on this web site and in our admissions Bulletin.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Grade Point Average

Grade point averages for both programs are calculated independently by the College of Law and the Graduate School. You must satisfy the College of Law requirement of maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.00 for course work counted toward the JD degree. MBA course work accepted for law school credit is assigned a pass/fail grade. The Graduate School requires a minimum of a 3.00 GPA on course work counted toward the MBA. For law work toward the MBA, no grade below C will transfer; no more than two grades of C will transfer; any C must be balanced by an A.

Comprehensive Examination

As a JD/MBA student, you will be eligible to sit for final comprehensive examinations for the MBA degree at the completion of the 30 hours of MBA core courses.

Granting of JD/MBA Degrees

Upon satisfactory completion of all degree requirements of both schools, you will be granted both the JD and MBA degrees.

Failure to Complete JD/MBA Requirements

If you find it impossible to complete the law component, you will have the option of completing the standard MBA program requirements and receiving only the MBA degree.

College of Law credit given for MBA course work is provisional upon completion of the dual degree program. If you are unable to complete the MBA requirements, you may only receive up to six credit hours of MBA course work toward the JD degree.

      JD/MPA

If you are interested in a career in public administration, public service or politics, you should consider the JD/MPA joint degree program offered by the University of Kentucky's Martin School of Public Policy and the UK College of Law .

UK's JD/MPA dual degree program was initiated in 1984, and is the only one offered in the Commonwealth. The program enables you to gain both degrees in a total time period of four years, one year less than if the degrees were earned independently.

UK's Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree is a two-year, 45-hour degree program that is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) and offered through UK's Graduate School. The Juris Doctor (JD) Degree is a three-year, 90-hour degree program of the UK College of Law that is accredited by the American Bar Association. Under the joint degree program, each school accepts credit earned in the other school, allowing you to complete the JD/MPA degree after only 30 credit hours of MPA course work and 81credit hours of Law course work.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

To earn the JD/MPA, you must satisfy the requirements of both the Martin School and the College of Law. From the perspective of the MPA program, the JD program serves as your Area of Concentration, thereby satisfying the required MPA Area of Concentration course work. From the College of Law perspective, the MPA course work satisfies nine hours of electives toward the JD degree. You are expected to complete this dual program of study in four years.

Once admitted, you may elect to begin course work in either Public Administration or Law. Simultaneous enrollment is the exception, not the norm. However, if you have a scheduling problem, the MPA and Law program representatives will resolve any conflicts on an ad hoc basis.

You may follow one of two tracks:

Track A

Year 1: 27 credit hours of required MPA core courses

Year 2: 29 credit hours of required first-year Law courses, including Legal Research and Writing

Year 3: Law electives + 3 credit hour JD/MPA internship (Professional Responsibility - Law 835 - and completion of a substantial writing project are required in year 3 or 4)

Year 4: Law electives


Track B

Year 1: 29 credit hours of required first-year Law courses, including Legal Research and Writing

Year 2: 27 credit hours of required MPA core courses

Year 3: Same as Track A

Year 4: Same as Track A

ADMISSIONS

To be admitted to the JD/MPA program you must apply independently to both programs, and meet the admission standards of each. Admission standards will be the same as if you were applying solely to one program; however, you should note on all application forms that admission is being sought for the JD/MPA dual degree program. The dual degree program is not suitable for part-time MPA students. There is no part-time program at the College of Law.

If you are currently enrolled in either the JD or the MPA program, you can be considered for admission to the JD/MPA Dual Degree Program. You will be eligible for consideration after the end of your first year and if no more than 24 credit hours of the MPA program are completed. Your application for admission must be accepted by the program in which you are not enrolled. The JD/MPA program is not available if you already have earned one of the degrees.

ADVISING

The MPA Director of Graduate Studies and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the College of Law serve as an advising team for you, each in their respective schools.

STUDENT STATUS

During the period of MPA study, you will have graduate student status and must comply with the rules and regulations of the Graduate School. Student fees/tuition are paid at graduate school rates.

During the period of Law residence, you will have law student status and must comply with the rules and regulations of the College of Law. Student fees/tuition are paid at law school rates. Eligibility of law students for the law journals, Moot Court, Order of the Coif, and other College of Law activities and honors are determined at the discretion of the College of Law.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Grade Point Average

Grade point averages for both programs are calculated independently by the College of Law and the Graduate School. You must satisfy the College of Law requirement of maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.00 for course work counted toward the JD degree. MPA courses accepted for law school credit are assigned a pass/fail grade. The Graduate School requires a minimum of a 3.00 GPA on courses counted toward the MPA. For law work toward the MPA, no grade below C will transfer; no more than two grades of C will transfer; any C must be balanced by an A.

Comprehensive Examination

As a JD/MPA student, you will be eligible to sit for final comprehensive examinations for the MPA degree at the completion of the 27 hours of MPA core courses.

Internships

Your three-hour internship (PA 711) is with a judge or firm or in an administrative agency with legal activities. The MPA and College of Law advisors jointly evaluate and grade the resulting written analysis of the internships. Internships are arranged by the MPA Internship Coordinator, after consultation with the College of Law Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Granting of JD/MPA Degrees

Upon satisfactory completion of all degree requirements of both schools, and the successful completion of 30 credit hours of MPA coursework and 81 credit hours of Law study, you will be granted both the JD and MPA degrees. You are eligible to attend graduation ceremonies at either or both schools.

Failure to Complete JD/MPA Requirements

The JD/MPA dual degrees are granted only upon successful completion of all course work and examinations.

If you find it impossible to complete the law component, you may complete an MPA Area of Concentration and a final comprehensive examination over Core and Area of Concentration classes and receive only the MPA degree.

College of Law credit given for MPA coursework is provisional upon completion of the dual degree program. If you are unable to complete the MPA requirements, you will be able to credit up to six hours of MPA coursework completed with a grade of B or above toward the JD, subject to approval of the Dean of the College of Law.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, send a Graduate School application, official GRE/GMAT scores, two official transcripts from each undergraduate school attended and official TOEFL scores (for international students) to:

     Graduate School Admissions
     351 Patterson Office Tower
     University of Kentucky
     Lexington, KY 40506-0027
     Phone: (859) 257-4613
     Fax: (859) 323-1928

You also need to send three letters of recommendation and an application information form to:

     Martin School Student Services Office
     413 Patterson Office Tower
     University of Kentucky
     Lexington, KY 40506-0027
     Phone: (859) 257-5594
     Fax: (859) 323-1937

For the College of Law, you need to follow the admissions guidelines as set forth on this web site and in our admissions Bulletin.

      JD/MA in Diplomacy and International Commerce