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Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health ruler
Why pursue simultaneous degrees in law and public health?

To an unprecedented degree, public health, public policy, and biomedical ethics issues are today at the forefront of America's unresolved social problems. Rising health care costs pose a growing threat to families, business, and government, while millions remain without access to even the most basic health care. Advances in reproductive technology, molecular genetics, and other areas of research are creating novel moral dilemmas. Lawyers play a central role in society's approach to these issues. However, their effectiveness is frequently limited by inadequate substantive knowledge. The Georgetown/Johns Hopkins JD/MPH program was created to fill the educational gap. The program prepares lawyers for leadership in society's efforts to cope with the myriad public health issues we confront.

How does the dual JD/MPH program work?

Students in the combined program complete the separate requirements for the JD and MPH degrees in four years. (The program is open only to full-time students.) The first year is devoted entirely to the study of law at Georgetown. Students spend the entire second year, an eleven month program of study, at Johns Hopkins, completing all the requirements for the MPH degree. They return to Georgetown for two years of advanced law study. During this time, they are encouraged to take advantage not only of specialized courses in health law and ethics, but also an extraordinary range of research, clinical, and public service opportunities. With the permission of the assistant dean, students are eligible to enroll in courses given at Georgetown's Kennedy Institute of Bioethics. The program requirements are summarized below.

Degrees/certificates awarded Degree Requirements
  • J.D. from Georgetown University
  • MPH from Johns Hopkins (awarded when JD is completed)
  • Joint Degree Certificate
  • 85* credits for JD
  • 80 credit units for MPH
Typical Distribution
Curriculum/Course Requirements
First Year 31* JD credits
Second Year 80 MPH credit units
Third Year 27 JD credits
Fourth Year 27 JD credits
  • 31* credits in required first year law curriculum
  • Satisfactory completion of the upperclass legal writing requirements, and a course in Professional Responsibility
  • The Advanced Health Law Seminar (strongly encouraged)
  • 11 months (starting July) in residence at Johns Hopkins.

Required MPH Core Courses: students complete 40-58 units of required courses selecting from courses that fulfill core requirements in the areas of quantitative sciences, biological sciences, environmental sciences, management sciences and social and behavioral sciences.

Additional MPH requirements for JD/MPH students: Public Health and the Law and Ethical Issues in Public Health. Students are also directed to a list of seven suggested elective courses.

Recommended Law Center courses for JD/MPH students: During the final two years at the Law Center Students are advised to take: Administrative Law; Constitutional Law II; at least one additional seminar or course in health law or related subjects. A faculty advisor specializing in one of the following areas is assigned to each joint student depending on the student's special interests.

*NOTE: 1 fewer credit is required for students who completed the first year law curriculum prior to 2007-2008.

Revised May 22, 2007 (VW)