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Juris Doctor/Master of Arts or Doctorate in Philosophy ruler
Who would pursue a joint JD/Philosophy degree?

     Students interested in an interdisciplinary approach to issues of ethics, bioethics, and general philosophy as they pertain to the law would be candidates for the joint program. If, for example, one were interested in principles in the adjudication of constitutional cases, the interrelation of legal and ethical questions pertaining to the "right to die," the epistemological foundations for the law of evidence, or the conception of causation in tort law, the dual JD/Philosophy program would be an appropriate program choice.

What are the curriculum requirements?

     Students in the joint program are required to take both the first year of law school and the first year of philosophy coursework as intact blocks. The law school year may be taken either as the initial year or after completing a year of philosophy coursework, but no later than that.

    The program requirements are summarized below.

Degrees/certificates awarded Degree Requirements
Options:
  • JD/MA in Philosophy
  • JD/PhD in Philosophy
  • Joint Program Certificate
  • 76* credits in law
  • 24 credits in Philosophy for MA or 36 for PhD
Typical Credit Distribution
Curriculum/Course Requirements
JD/MA Program
First 31* JD
Second 18 MA, 6 JD
Third 6 MA, 24 JD
Fourth 15 JD

JD/PhD Program
First 31* JD
Second 18 PhD
Third 24 JD, 3 PhD
Fourth 21 JD, 6 PhD
Fifth 9 PhD
Law Center
  • Satisfactory completion of the upperclass legal writing requirements and a course in the Professional Responsibility series
Department of Philosophy

MA
  • An MA in Philosophy may be designed in consultation with the Philosophy faculty
PhD:
  • Must perform satisfactorily on comprehensive examinations and a dissertation in philosophy
  • Satisfy required level of foreign language or other special skill proficiency as determined by dissertation committee at dissertation proposal stage
  • Core Distribution: proseminars in Epistemology, Metaphysics, and Ethics; three history courses (including one Ancient and one Modern); PHIL 378, Symbolic Logic; two advanced topical courses

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

Revised December 5, 2007 (VW)