Candidates for the dual JD/MPA must satisfy the admission requirements of both the School of Public Affairs (SPA) and the Washington College of Law (WCL) to be admitted into this dual degree program. SPA accepts LSAT scores in place of the GRE normally required for admission.
First-year Entering Students
Complete the following steps to be considered for this dual degree:
1) On the law school application, select Full-time Division and then select JD/MPA degree objective.
2) Submit to the School of Public Affairs their online application form. Once your JD admissions file is complete and under review at WCL it will then be uploaded to SPA, but you still must submit the separate graduate program application form. WCL will upload your LSAC CAS report with LSAT score, transcripts, and letter of recommendation for SPA to review.
If you complete these steps, you will receive a separate decision from both WCL and SPA. Admission to either WCL or SPA does not guarantee admission to the other. Students who have been admitted to the MPA program may apply to WCL. For specific admission criteria employed by SPA, see the graduation admission and degree requirements for the Master of Public Administration.
Current Degree-Seeking JD Students
Students currently enrolled in the JD program at WCL can apply during their first year to the dual degree program. After submitting the SPA online application form, email the WCL Office of Admissions at wclresponse@wcl.american.edu to request your JD admissions materials be forwarded to SPA for JD/MPA consideration.
Coursework overview
- 104 credit hours of approved graduate work (if earned as separate degrees, students must complete 42 credit hours for the MPA degree and 86 credit hours to earn the JD degree; however, dual-degree students may apply up to 18 credits from WCL courses to the MPA and up to 6 credits from SPA courses to the JD)
- Comprehensive written examination
- The research requirement is satisfied by completing two of the following courses with grades of B or better:
- PUAD-605 Problem Solving for Managers or PUAD-601 Methods of Problem Solving I
- PUAD-610 Management Analysis
- PUAD-630 Public Managerial Economics
- LAW-516 Legal Rhetoric I and LAW-517 Legal Rhetoric II (4)