J.D./Master in Public Administration

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The University of Miami School of Law in partnership with the University of Miami Department of Political Science, College of Arts and Sciences offers a joint J.D./M.P.A. in Law and Public Administration. This curriculum prepares Law School students for government, political and nonprofit legal positions. The program provides a solid theoretical framework and grounding in policy analysis, administration, and management.

This joint program allows students to obtain both J.D. and M.P.A. degrees in 4 years or less - less time than obtaining the degrees separately. The first year is spent in the Law School and years two through four are spent taking both Law and M.P.A. courses.

Admissions

To be admitted to this program, students must apply separately to both programs. Students may apply to the MPA program prior to beginning Law School or anytime during the first or second year of Law School. Students may begin the MPA program in the fall, spring or summer semesters.

For admission to the M.P.A. program students must complete an MPA application. If they apply before the end of their first year in Law School, they will not need to take the GRE exam. Their LSAT score will be used instead of the GRE. For more details on the M.P.A. program, visit the M.P.A. website.

Acceptance by one program does not in any way indicate or guarantee acceptance by the other degree program.

J.D./M.P.A. Proposed Sample Schedule with 4 years, no summers: (Note: schedule can be shortened through summer credits).

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for J.D. courses will be paid to the Law School. Tuition for the M.P.A courses will be paid to the College of Arts and Sciences. Law School scholarships may only be used towards tuition for Law School courses.

Courses and Credits

On the J.D. side, students must complete 82 credits in the Law School and 6 credits will be double-counted from the M.P.A courses to complete the total of 88 JD credits. On the M.P.A side, students must complete 30 credits in the Political Science Department including a 3-credit internship, and 18 credits will be double-counted from the J.D. coursework to complete the total of 48 credits. Students will be required to complete a total of 112 credits for both degrees.

Juris Doctor (J.D.) Courses

Law Course Requirements:

• LAW200 Administrative Law: 4 credits
• LAW217 U.S. Constitutional Law II, 4 credits
• LAW105 Federal Income Tax, 4 credits

Select 6 credits from the list of courses: (illustrative courses taught in 2011-2012, list of courses may vary from year to year)

• LAW108 Antitrust: 3 credits
• LAW213 Environmental Law: 3 credits
• LAW764 Federal and State Arbitration: 2 credits
• LAW209 Federal Courts: 3 credits
• LAW233 Florida Constitutional Law: 3 credits
• LAW276 Health Care and the Constitution: 3 credits
• LAW229 Housing Discrimination: 3 credits
• LAW335 Immigration Law: 3 credits
• LAW651 Public Interest Law and Leadership Seminar: 2 credits
• LAW782 Wage theft and Immigrant Worker's Rights Workshop: 2 credits
• LAW767 Counsel to College: Legal Practice and Higher Education: 1 credit
• LAW260 Environmental Litigation & Policy: 2 credits
• LAW136 Family Law: 3 credits
• LAW383 Immigration, Ethnicity and Public Policy: 3 credits
• LAW315 Jurisprudence: 3 credits
• LAW205 Labor Law: 3 credits
• LAW637 Philosophy of Law Seminar: Authority and the Duty to Obey the Law: 2 credits
• LAW689 Procedure: Legislative & Judicial Seminar: 2 credits
• LAW607 Public Education: Access & Equity Seminar: 2 credits
• LAW214 State and Local Government: 3 credits
• LAW957 Taxation of Exempt Organizations,: 2 credits
• LAW646 Voting Rights and Election Law Seminar: 2 credits

Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) Courses

Public Administration and Policy Requirements: (each 3 credits, illustrative courses taught in 2011-2012, list of courses may vary from year to year )**

• POL 501 Budget and Financial Management and Administration
• POL 510 Political Analysis
• POL 522 Introduction to Graduate Public Administration
• POL 551 Productivity Improvement in the Public and Non-profit Sectors
• POL 606 Seminar in Administration
• POL 646 Public Policy and Administration
• POL 647 Public Personnel Policies
• POL656 Public Service Internship
• POL 671 Political Environment of Business

Select 3 credits from the list of courses: (each 3 credits, illustrative courses taught in 2011-2012, list of courses may vary from year to year)**

• POL 524 Non-Profit Organizations: Law, Policy, and Management
• POL 529 Conducting U.S. Elections
• POL 545 Environmental Policymaking
• POL 553 Environmental Movement: Groups, Beliefs and Values
• POL 555 Total Quality Public Service Management
• POL 556 Political Ethics
• POL 557 Ethical Issues in Government, Business and Nonprofit Sectors
• POL 558 From Electronic Government to Digital Governance
• POL 599 Introduction to Game Theory
• POL 599 Public Management Process

**Note: Undergraduate POL majors who enroll in the joint JD/MPA program may have taken one or more of the POL 500-level courses listed above. They would still need to complete 30 additional credits in graduate MPA courses, but they would not be required to repeat courses previously taken.

For more information

Sandy Abraham
Executive Liaison, Interdisciplinary Programs and Initiatives
University of Miami School of Law
Tel: 305-284-4030
E-mail: sabraham@law.miami.edu

Dr. Jonathan P. West
Professor, Director, M.P.A. Program
Department of Political Science
University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences
Tel: 305-284-2500
E-mail: jwest@miami.edu