Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health

Instituted in 2003 by the School of Law, the School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the dual degree in public health, offered in conjunction with the Department of Public Health Sciences, offers concentrations in generalist practice and research and in health policy, law and ethics. The M.P.H. program features close collaboration with the federal Centers for Disease Control and with state and local public health offices in Virginia. While the J.D.-M.P.H. program normally takes four years to complete and requires a minimum of 116 credits, the dual degree agreement is currently being reviewed and is subject to change. Presently, the program consists of the complete first-year program at the School of Law and at least three years of courses taken from the curricula of the two schools and, when appropriate, from other graduate offerings at the University. The student is required to meet all of the requirements set by the respective Schools for the award of both the J.D. and M.P.H. degrees. In the School of Law, this means the student must complete the required curriculum, meet minimum academic standards, and earn a minimum of 86 credits and six residency semesters in the School of Law. In the School of Medicine, minimum requirements for the M.P.H. degree include two residency semesters, 42 credits in an approved program, including at least 30 course credits, and completion of a six-credit thesis under the supervision of a faculty advisor. NOTE: In accordance with ABA standards, J.D. degree candidates may not receive credit toward the J.D. degree for more than 17 credits total in any given semester.

We do not require TOEFL scores from JD applicants. However, applicants should be aware that competency in English is critical to success in the study of law at the University of Virginia, and that demonstrated fluency in English is an important consideration in evaluating applications. Should you choose to submit a TOEFL score, you must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. LSAC\u2019s TOEFL code for the CAS is 0058. Your score will be included in the International Credential Evaluation document that will be included in your CAS Law School Report. Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score, Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score, or GRE General Test score; Transcript of prior academic record, submitted through the Credential Assembly Service (CAS); At least two, but no more than four, letters of recommendation; At least one personal statement and r\u00e9sum\u00e9. Additional personal statements or any other addenda may be submitted; Transcript(s) of Prior Academic Record All undergraduate and graduate transcripts must be submitted to CAS. CAS will combine them and distribute them to the law schools to which you apply. Do not send your academic transcripts directly to the Admissions Office. Letters of Recommendation Two letters of recommendation are required. Applicants may submit up to four. All letters of recommendation must be submitted through LSAC\u2019s CAS service. Personal Statement A personal statement based on the prompt provided in the application is required for all candidates. This is your opportunity to discuss how your background, perspective, and individual life experiences have led you to pursue law school and/or how they have influenced what you hope to achieve through your legal education.