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 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.
You will start this dual degree program in the fall with your first year at the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law followed by one year at the Carsey School earning your Master in Public Policy. You will then return for a final year and a half at the law school to complete your Juris Doctor degree. In just three and a half years, you 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 School of Law 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 Internship site location during the internship experience (or if doing a legal residency, at the externship location).
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, taking approximately four and one half years to complete. With the MPP/JD Dual Degree, the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law 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.
Students start their dual degree by completing their first year of the Juris Doctor program at the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law. Students then complete one year of coursework in the MPP program at the Carsey School of Public Policy and return to the law school for their final one and one half years of coursework. Note that students are advised to have taken an introductory level economics class prior to starting the MPP portion of the MPP/JD Dual Degree program such as a “principles of economics” (macro or micro). It is highly recommended that students meet with their Graduate Academic Advisors from both programs prior to starting the Dual Degree to insure they have a clear understanding of each program's pre-requisites, degree requirements, and course schedules.
Students completing the dual degree will graduate with two degrees: Master in Public Policy degree and Juris Doctor degree.
MPP CURRICULUM for MPP/JD Dual Degree
| 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 | 6 | |
| Two (2) courses are selected based upon the chosen MPP Track: Strategy and Communication Track or Policy Analysis Track | ||
| Total Credits | 31 | |
JD CURRICULUM for MPP/JD Dual Degree
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Required Courses | ||
| LGP 900 | The Legal Profession | 1 |
| LGP 909 | Civil Procedure | 4 |
| LGP 916 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LGP 920 | Contracts | 4 |
| LGP 952 | Property | 4 |
| LGP 960 | Torts | 3 |
| LPI 912 | Fundamentals of Law Practice | 3 |
| or LIP 944 | Fundamentals of Intellectual Property | |
| LSK 900 | Legal Research and Information Literacy | 2 |
| LSK 919 | Legal Analysis and Writing 1 | 2 |
| LSK 920 | Legal Analysis and Writing 2 | 3 |
| Third Year Required Courses | ||
| LCR 906 | Criminal Procedure I: The Law of Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| LGP 903 | Administrative Process | 3 |
| LGP 951 | Professional Responsibility | 3 |
| Upper Level Skills Requirement | 3 | |
| Upper Level Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| Experiential Learning Requirement | 6 | |
| JD Elective Course 3 | 3 | |
| Fourth Year Required Courses | ||
| JD Elective (Bar Prep WTE) | 4 | |
| JD Elective (Bar Prep - BA) | 3 | |
| JD Elective 3 | 3 | |
| JD Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 67 | |
For more details on the JD program, visit the Requirements for the Juris Doctor Degree.
MPP/JD Dual Degree Credit Summary
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Master in Public Policy Program Course Credits | 31 | |
| Juris Doctor Program Course Credits 3 | 73 | |
| Total Credits | 104 | |
Notes:
- 1
In general, 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, a policy internship may not be appropriate for academic credit or the requirement may be satisfied through the UNH Law School's Legal Residency-Externship (6 credits); in such cases the JD Externship experience fulfills the MPP Internship requirement but does not provide credits (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 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 Academic Advisor should inform this choice.
MASTER IN PUBLIC POLICY/JURIS DOCTOR DUAL DEGREE PLAN
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| LGP 909 | Civil Procedure | 4 |
| LGP 920 | Contracts | 3-4 |
| LGP 960 | Torts | 3 |
| LSK 900 | Legal Research and Information Literacy | 2 |
| LSK 919 | Legal Analysis and Writing 1 | 2 |
| Credits | 14-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LGP 900 | The Legal Profession | 1 |
| LGP 916 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LGP 952 | Property | 4 |
| LPI 912 or LIP 944 | Fundamentals of Law Practice or Fundamentals of Intellectual Property | 3 |
| LSK 920 | Legal Analysis and Writing 2 | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| PPOL 998 | Policy Internship 1 | 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 4 | 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 4 | 3 | |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Summer | ||
| PPOL 990 | Policy Capstone | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Remaining Required Courses in the JD Program's Second or Third Year | 18 | |
| LCR 906 | Criminal Procedure I: The Law of Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| LGP 903 | Administrative Process | 3 |
| LGP 951 | Professional Responsibility | 3 |
| Upper Level Writing Requirement 2 | 3 | |
| Experiential Learning Requirement 2 | 6 | |
| Credits | 36 | |
| Spring | ||
| Upper Level Skills Requirement 2 | 3 | |
| Experiential Learning Requirement 2 | 6 | |
| JD Elective Course 3 | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| JD Elective (Bar Prep WTE) | 4 | |
| JD Elective (Bar Prep - BA) | 3 | |
| JD Elective 3 | 3 | |
| JD Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 121-122 | |
Notes:
- 1
In general, the Policy Internship is credit-bearing (PPOL 998), supervised by a faculty member who will provide the academic structure to parallel the applied experience. In some cases, a policy internship may not be appropriate for academic credit or the requirement may be satisfied through the UNH Law School's Legal Residency-Externship (6 credits); in such cases the JD Externship experience fulfills the MPP Internship requirement but does not provide credits (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 Academic Advisor to determine the best path for the student.
- 2
Students must complete separate courses to fulfill the Upper-Level Writing and Experiential Learning requirements. A course may be designated as meeting each of the Upper-Level Writing and Experiential Learning requirements, but a student cannot fulfill both requirements by taking a single course.
- 3
JD Elective courses chosen for this MPP/JD Dual Degree should have a policy-relevant component to the curriculum. Discussion with your MPP Academic Advisor should inform this choice.
- 4
Students choose two (2) courses from either the MPP Strategy and Communications Track or the MPP Policy Analysis Track. Courses in both tracks can also be taken as open elective courses.
- 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.