Law/Public Administration - Joint Degree (JD/MPA)

Traditional JD students must complete 86 credit hours to graduate from the College of Law. However, under a joint degree program, a student earns the JD degree after completing a minimum of 76 credit hours. The College of Law applies up to 10 credit hours toward the JD degree for work completed in the other graduate degree program. Traditional Public Administration students must complete 52 credit hours to receive the MPA degree. However, under the joint degree program, students are required to complete a minimum of 36 credit hours. The Public Administration program will accept up to 16 credit hours for work completed in the College of Law. A joint degree student may not receive credit for courses that create a redundancy in coursework. Students pursing the JDMPA will complete the core requirements of the MPA degree and not pursue a concentration. Please visit the Public Administration catalog for complete program information. Students seeking a joint degree with a college outside of the College of Law must independently apply and be admitted to the other graduate degree program. Full-time law students typically apply to the other graduate program in the summer prior to their second year of law school. Part-time law students typically apply to the other graduate degree program in the spring semester of their second year.

DePaul offers competitive JD programs to international applicants with a law degree and without a law degree. For international applicants with a law degree, DePaul is one of a small number of law schools to offer a two-year JD program that does not require the LSAT. Two-Year JD for International Lawyers & Law School Graduates Foreign-trained lawyers, and other graduates of foreign, non-U.S. law schools, may earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from DePaul University College of Law in only two years. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is not required for admission. DePaul is one of a small number of law schools to offer a two-year JD program that does not require the LSAT. Graduates of the Two-Year JD Program for International Lawyers are eligible to take the bar exam and become licensed in any state in the United States. Students admitted to the program receive one year of credit (28 credit hours) for their foreign law degree. The remaining 58 credit hours required to earn the JD can be completed in two years. International Applicants without a Law Degree DePaul University College of Law welcomes applications from students who have earned degrees or received diplomas from international institutions. International applicants who have earned their degree in any area other than law are required to take the LSAT and register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service. First-year applicants should ensure that their application and all necessary documents are on file in the Office of Admission prior to the suggested deadline of April 1. However, we continue to accept applications after this date.