Are you seeking to pursue your JD and another graduate degree simultaneously?
At Iowa Law, JD students can pursue combined degree programs with most graduate and professional programs at the University of Iowa.
You can earn your JD and another graduate or professional degree in less time than would be needed if the two degrees were pursued independently.
What are my combined degree options?
You can pursue a JD with any of the following established degree partnerships:
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Iowa Law JD students can pursue a combined degree with almost every graduate or professional program offered at the University of Iowa.
Recently enrolled programs include: accounting, art history, communication studies, economics, higher education, history, journalism, public health, political science, social work, and urban and regional planning.
Timeline
With the double-crediting policies, students typically complete combined degree programs in approximately 6-8 semesters, depending on the program. Students spend their first year entirely at the law school, taking the 1L JD required curriculum. Some of the formal programs require students to spend a full upper-level year taking classes towards that program, and students are not enrolled in law classes during that time. More information can be found in each program descriptions. For programs without this requirement, students typically take classes towards both degree programs after their 1L year.
Resources
Students work with combined degree advisors in both programs who help students decide which courses to take after their 1L year, discuss how to ideally structure their time and increase their exposure in both programs.
Students can get involved through student organizations and extracurricular activities in both areas. They can also serve as a Law Research Assistant or as a Teaching Assistant or Graduate Assistant in their other program. Students work with career advisors and student services staff in both areas to pursue job and internships opportunities.
Careers
Most combined degree students begin their careers in law. There is often a connection between their combined area of study and the type of law they pursue. For example, students pursuing law and business typically work in corporate law and related areas, like tax or intellectual property.
Some students choose to go directly into their combined degree field, and use their JD to help them land positions where the legal skillset is an advantage, like regulation, policy, compliance, and management. Combined degrees often help in higher level administrative and management positions later in a career.
Applying for a combined degree
When and how to apply
To pursue a combined degree, a student must apply to and be accepted into both the JD program at the College of Law and another graduate or professional program at the University of Iowa.
Students typically seek admission to the second degree-granting program after beginning their JD at the College of Law and then apply to the graduate program of interest during the first year of law school.
In some cases it is possible to apply to both programs simultaneously. Similarly, students who have already begun graduate work at the University of Iowa may apply to the College of Law. Note that students may not count credits toward the JD that were earned before starting at Iowa Law.
If you are a current University of Iowa graduate student, you may be interested in skipping the LSAT through our Kinnick Law testing alternative admissions program.
Prospective combined degree students must submit separate applications to the College of Law and the graduate program of interest. Applicants should indicate to the Admissions Office of both programs that they are applying as a combined degree student. In addition, some programs will allow the LSAT to be considered as a replacement for the relevant program admissions test (such as the GRE or GMAT).
Admission to the College of Law does not guarantee admission to the other graduate program, and vice versa. A student who seeks a combined degree and obtains admission into one degree program but not the other may enter the program to which the student is admitted. However, the student will not be granted combined degree status. Likewise, a combined degree candidate who terminates work toward either degree may typically continue to work toward the other degree.
Once a student has been accepted to the JD program and another graduate or professional program at the University of Iowa, students must obtain the permission of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs or Dean of the College of Law to be classified as a Combined Degree candidate.
Students who are admitted to both colleges will receive separate letters of admission from those colleges as well as an official notification of being admitted to the combined degree program from the UI Office of Graduate Admissions. Students who are admitted to both colleges but do not receive official notification of being admitted to the combined degree program should contact the main UI Office of Graduate Admissions at 800-553-IOWA.
The College of Law recommends that any prospective student interested in pursuing a combined degree at the College of Law begin by contacting the Admissions Office at law-admissions@uiowa.edu. Current JD students should contact Jason Rantanen, the Combined Degree Faculty Advisor, at jason-rantanen@uiowa.edu.
Double crediting policies
Students pursuing combined degrees must meet the full course and credit requirements for each degree. However, because these are integrated programs of study, students may count certain courses toward both degrees. These are typically elective courses that independently satisfy requirements for each program. For example, a JD/MPH student might be able to count both Family Law and Introduction to the U.S. Healthcare System toward graduation requirements for both the JD and MPH.
Combined degree students may apply up to 12 non-law credit hours earned in their second University of Iowa program toward the JD, provided the courses meet the College of Law’s policy on non-law coursework. Note that the first-year JD curriculum consists entirely of required law courses, so students will take only law classes that year.
The number of law credits that may be cross-counted toward the second degree varies by program. Formal programs specify the amount; for example, the JD/MPH allows up to 12 credit hours of specific law courses to count toward the MPH. See the requirements for the program you are interested in for more information. Outside of formal programs, most MA degrees through the Graduate College allow up to six law credit hours to count toward the non-law degree. Details can be found in the Graduate College Manual of Rules and Regulations. Prospective students should consult the relevant graduate or professional program to confirm how many law credits may be applied and whether additional restrictions apply.
Further information on College of Law graduation requirements and policies is available in the College of Law Student Handbook.
Tuition considerations
The majority of students enrolled in a combined-degree program with a JD degree and any other graduate or professional program will be assessed at least six semesters of JD tuition. Additional semesters enrolled in the combined degree program will be assessed at the rate for the other graduate program.
For some of the formal, established combined degree programs where students spend a full upper-level year in the other program, students will be assessed the non-law tuition for that full second or third year of the combined degree, and pay the College of Law tuition in subsequent semesters. Students enrolled in a combined degree program in which the tuition for the other program is higher than the JD program (such as the MD/JD) will be required to pay the tuition of the higher program for a certain number of minimum semesters. Consult the formal program descriptions linked above. Prospective JD students should email the law-admissions@uiowa.edu with any questions, and current JD students can reach out to Jason Rantanen.
Financial aid considerations
Students that are in combined programs should contact the financial aid office for more information about how the non-Law semesters will be impacted. Adjustments need to be made for scholarships, loans, and employment. Students can contact the College of Law Office of Financial Aid at law-financialaid@uiowa.edu for questions.
The tuition assessed during the time when the student is not taking law courses is assessed at the other degree’s tuition rate. The financial aid office will need to update a student’s cost of attendance to accurately reflect the tuition difference.
All law scholarships will be cancelled for the non-law semesters. These non-law semesters do not count towards eligibility and will remain intact once a student returns to taking Law courses.
Questions?
If you are a prospective student with questions about combined degree offerings, please contact the Iowa Law Admissions Office.