JD/MA Dual Degree Program

J.D./M.A. Dual Program: International Law and International Political Economy

University of Arkansas School of Law and Department of Political Science, Master of Arts

Program Description

The Department of Political Science, the Graduate School, and the School of Law cooperate in offering a dual degree program that allows a student to pursue the M.A. and the J.D. degrees concurrently. Graduates from this program are likely to find employment in a variety of occupational areas: such as International trade (corporate); International economic development and promotion (state and local levels).

To apply to one of our graduate degree programs, click here.

Admission to the Dual Degree Program

Students must be admitted to the M.A. program and the School of Law. If students seek to enter the dual degree program after enrolling in either the Law School or the M.A. program, they must obtain admission to the other degree program during the first year of study.

Students admitted to the dual degree program may begin their studies in either the law school or the M.A. program, but must complete first year course requirements before taking courses in the other degree program. If they do not maintain the academic or ethical standards of either degree program, students may be terminated from the dual degree program. Students in good standing in one of the degree programs, but not in the other, may be allowed to continue in the program in which they have good standing—and must meet the degree requirements of that program. Students admitted to the dual degree program who, for any reason, do not complete the M.A. degree they cannot count nine (9) hours of M.A. courses toward the J.D. degree. Likewise, M.A. students may not be able to count certain law courses if they decide to discontinue their studies in the law school. The J.D. will be awarded on completion of all degree requirements; the M.A. will be awarded on the completion of all required coursework and a passing grade on the written comprehensive examination or a successful defense of a master’s thesis. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of B (3.0).

The program requires a total of 36 hours:

Students select graduate classes in political science, or graduate classes in other departments approved by the political science graduate adviser, for a total of 24 hours. The 24 hours will include 3 hours of methods. Of the remaining 21 hours, 6 may be thesis credit.
Students select 12 hours of elective courses taken in the law school that are not required for the J.D. degree and are in an area of concentration approved by the graduate advisor in political science.

The School of Law accepts nine (9) semester hours of M.A. courses to satisfy requirements for the J.D. degree, which can be chosen from the following courses: PLSC 5503 Comparative Political Analysis, PLSC 5803 Seminar in International Politics, , PLSC 5203 Seminar in American Political Institutions, PLSC 5213 Seminar in American Political Behavior, PLSC 5253 Politics of Race and Ethnicity, and PLSC 5833 International Political Economy. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the School of Law may approve new or alternative courses proposed to satisfy the requirements of the program for JD credit.

Advisors

School of Law
Will Foster, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
164 Waterman Hall (Robert A Leflar Law Center)
Tel: 479-575-3059
Dual-Degree Programs
Law School Catalog

Department of Political Science:
Geoboo Song, Ph.D.
Associate Professor | Vice Chair and Director of Graduate Studies
Associate Editor, Policy Studies Journal (PSJ)
Department of Political Science
University of Arkansas
Old Main 321, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Phone: 1.479.575.6433

The student, the Law School advisor and Political Science graduate coordinator meet once a year to map out the student’s program. The meetings take place in the student's first year and then again after the student’s completion of his/her first year in law school. Corrections to the student's program will be made, if needed, at that time.

Records of the student's progress toward completing his/her studies are kept in both academic units.