Public Policy and Juris Doctor Dual Degree (M.P.P./J.D.)
https://carsey.unh.edu/master-public-policy-juris-doctor-dual-degree
The Public Policy and Juris Doctor (MPP/JD) Dual Degree program will provide you with a deep understanding of how legal and public policy issues relate and will equip you with the critical skills and knowledge required to tackle a broad range of complex public policy challenges and make a difference in the contemporary world of law and public policy.
Students start this dual degree program in the fall at the UNH Franklin Pierce Law School and complete at least one year of their Juris Doctor curriculum (Juris Doctor: Residential (J.D.) Program or Juris Doctor: Daniel Webster Scholar Honors (J.D.) Program) prior to starting their MPP program. Students complete their year of MPP coursework at the Carsey School of Public Policy in their second or third year of the MPP/JD Dual Degree program before returning to the UNH Franklin Pierce Law School to complete their JD coursework. In just three and one half years, students will graduate with two highly marketable and sought-after degrees.
Program Delivery & Location: Academic courses for the JD program are offered in person on the UNH Franklin Pierce Law School campus in Concord, NH. Academic courses for the MPP program are offered in person on the UNH Durham, NH, campus with a portion of the MPP experiential learning taking place offsite: Washington, DC, for the Colloquium and at the Policy Internship site location (or at the site of their Legal Residency).
Dual Degree Requirements
Students enrolled in the Master in Public Policy and Juris Doctor (MPP/JD) Dual Degree program are required to earn a minimum of 104 credits to successfully complete the dual degree which confers both an MPP degree and a JD degree. If both degrees are pursued separately, students are required to take a total of 125 Credits: 85 Credits for the JD degree and 40 Credits for the MPP degree. With the MPP/JD Dual Degree, the UNH Franklin Pierce Law School accepts up to 12 credits of approved MPP courses and the Carsey School of Public Policy accepts up to 9 credits of approved JD courses, reducing the total required credits to 104 and time to complete the two degrees to three and one half years, a savings of one year. It is highly recommended that students meet with their Graduate Academic Advisors from both programs prior to starting their Dual Degree to insure they have a clear understanding of each program's prerequisites, degree requirements, course schedules, and to determine the best time to take their MPP coursework.
Students are required to start their first year of the MPP/JD Dual Degree program in the fall at the UNH Franklin Pierce Law School and complete at least one year of their Juris Doctor curriculum (Juris Doctor: Residential (J.D.) Program or Juris Doctor: Daniel Webster Scholar Honors (J.D.) Program) prior to starting their MPP program.
Students complete their year of MPP coursework at the Carsey School of Public Policy in their second or third year of the MPP/JD Dual Degree program with guidance from their JD Academic Advisor. Students are advised to have taken an introductory level economics class prior to starting their MPP program such as a “principles of economics” course (macro or micro).
JD Degree Requirements
Juris Doctor: Residential (J.D.)
Juris Doctor: Daniel Webster Scholar Honors (J.D.)
MPP Degree Requirements
(includes JD elective course credit):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MPP CORE Curriculum Courses (5 Courses): | ||
| PPOL 806 | Fundamentals of Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PPOL 810 | Policy Across Borders | 3 |
| PPOL 902 | Strategy and Practice of Public Policy | 3 |
| PPOL 904 | Economics for Public Policy | 3 |
| PPOL 908 | Quantitative Methods for Policy Research | 3 |
| MPP EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Activities (4 Courses): | ||
| PPOL 950 | Washington DC Colloquium | 3 |
| PPOL 990A | Policy Capstone Planning | 1 |
| PPOL 990 | Policy Capstone | 3 |
| PPOL 998 | Policy Internship 1 | 3 |
| or PPOL 998A | Policy Internship | |
| PUBLIC POLICY TRACK (2 Courses) 2 | ||
| Two (2) courses are selected based upon the chosen MPP Track: Strategy and Communication Track or Policy Analysis Track | 6 | |
| JD ELECTIVE Courses (3 Courses) 3 | ||
| Students choose three (3) JD elective courses for this MPP/JD Dual Degree. | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
- 1
In general, the PPOL 998 Policy Internship is credit-bearing, supervised by a faculty member who will provide the academic structure to parallel the applied experience. In some cases, earning academic credit from a policy internship may not be possible including a UNH Franklin Pierce Law School Legal Residency; however, in such cases the experience still fulfills the MPP Internship requirement (PPOL 998A). If the Internship is not taken for credit (PPOL 998A), students are required to take an additional MPP-Approved elective course. It is highly recommended that students consult with their MPP Graduate Academic Advisor to determine the best path for the student.
- 2
Students choose two (2) elective courses from either the MPP Strategy and Communication Track or the MPP Policy Analysis Track list of courses.
- 3
JD Elective courses chosen for this MPP/JD Dual Degree should have a policy-relevant component to the curriculum. Discussion with your MPP Graduate Academic Advisor should inform this choice.
SAMPLE MPP/JD Dual Degree Academic Plan:
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| JD Curriculum Courses | 15 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| JD Curriculum Courses | 16 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Summer | ||
| PPOL 998 or PPOL 998A | Policy Internship 1 or Policy Internship | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PPOL 806 | Fundamentals of Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PPOL 904 | Economics for Public Policy | 3 |
| PPOL 908 | Quantitative Methods for Policy Research | 3 |
| MPP Public Policy Track Course 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| January Term | ||
| PPOL 950 | Washington DC Colloquium | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| PPOL 810 | Policy Across Borders | 3 |
| PPOL 902 | Strategy and Practice of Public Policy | 3 |
| PPOL 990A | Policy Capstone Planning | 1 |
| MPP Public Policy Track Course 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Summer | ||
| PPOL 990 | Policy Capstone | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| JD Curriculum Courses 3 | 16 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| JD Curriculum Courses 3 | 14 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| JD Curriculum Courses 3 | 12 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 104 | |
Notes:
- 1
In general, the PPOL 998 Policy Internship is credit-bearing, supervised by a faculty member who will provide the academic structure to parallel the applied experience. In some cases, earning academic credit from a policy internship may not be possible including a UNH Franklin Pierce Law School Legal Residency; however, in such cases the experience still fulfills the MPP Internship requirement (PPOL 998A). If the Internship is not taken for credit (PPOL 998A), students are required to take an additional MPP-Approved elective course. It is highly recommended that students consult with their MPP Graduate Academic Advisor to determine the best path for the student.
- 2
Students choose two (2) elective courses from either the MPP Strategy and Communication Track or the MPP Policy Analysis Track list of courses.
- 3
The three (3) JD Elective courses chosen for this MPP/JD Dual Degree should have a policy-relevant component to the curriculum. Discussion with your MPP Graduate Academic Advisor should inform this choice.
- Apply basic methods of policy development and analysis to design and evaluate public policy
- Demonstrate competency in public speaking and writing related to public policy
- Demonstrate competency in strategic and tactical skills for achieving policy objectives
- Utilize data and research to inform policy design and advocacy
- Understand policy profession norms and ethics
- Apply critical thinking skills to address policy-relevant questions
- Legal analysis and reasoning: Graduates will be able to identify, comprehend, and apply the relevant substantive and procedural laws to solve a legal issue, informed by an understanding of the diversity of viewpoints on and contexts for any issue.
- Written and oral communication: Graduates will be able to present material effectively in these formats for both objective analytical and advocacy purposes across a range of settings, including in the courtroom.
- Professionalism: Graduates will be able to act in an ethical, respectful, and self-aware manner with all other stakeholders, including clients, employers, and the court.
- Legal research: Graduates will be able to navigate and assess relevant legal authorities using appropriate tools.
- Public service: Graduates will be able to contribute productively to strengthening the justice system, with a sensitivity toward the needs of people facing societal barriers.
- Problem solving: Graduates will be able to engage in focused and pragmatic collaboration toward goals.
- Client counseling and management: Graduates will be able to provide trustworthy and responsive action upon clients’ matters.
- Factual investigation and analysis: Graduates will be able to implement a strategic plan for information-gathering, which includes the ability to iterate on the plan as needed, and evaluate the results of the information obtained.