Doctor of Jurisprudence/Master's in Public Administration

In addition to separate degree programs in Law and Public Administration, the Law School and the Graduate School also offer a joint program of study leading to the degrees of Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and Master of Public Administration. The joint degree program allows a student to complete the requirements for both degrees in three or four years, depending upon the public administration prerequisites required.

The JD/MPA develops lawyers with special skills in the public and non-profit sectors. Affirmative action, natural resource utilization, land use (zoning, planning, economic development), labor disputes, the administration of justice, social service litigation, and civil rights have placed increasing importance on law in the public and non-profit sectors. For those interested in a career in government or practicing law related to the public and non-profit sectors, an advanced degree in Public Administration would be a valuable asset in their career development.

For the student with the appropriate public administration background, the degrees may be earned with the completion of a total of 108 hours of law and public administration credits, 18 hours less than the normal requirement. To satisfy the 90 hours of law for the J.D. degree and the 30 hours of public administration for the M.S. degree, 12 hours of law courses are transferred as elective credit to the MPA degree and 6 hours of graduate public administration are transferred as elective credit toward the J.D. degree. Students credited with law courses must complete a minimum of 24 hours for the M.P.A. degree at St. Mary's University, exclusive of prerequisites.

The first year of study consists of law courses. During the second and third years, the student completes the remaining law courses and appropriate public administration courses.

Admission to the joint program requires application to both Schools although application to the Graduate School need not be make until the student begins Law School.

The following courses are required:

PA 8390 Organizational Behavior
3 semester hours

PA 6300 Political Science Research Methods
3 semester hours

PA 6301 Public Administration and Management
3 semester hours

PA 7302 Leadership and Organizational Culture
3 semester hours

PA 7303 Ethics in the Public Sector
3 semester hours

PA 7304 Management of Public Budgets
3 semester hours

PA 7305 Municipal Law
3 semester hours

PA 8301 and PA 8302 or 8601 Internship (pre-service students) or PA 8310or PA 8610 Applied Public Management (in-service students)
6 semester hours

TOTAL = 24