Rule XIX: Dual Degree Programs

A. Dual Degree Programs Offered with UNH

  1. The University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law (law school) and the University of New Hampshire (UNH) offer students the opportunity to earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree and an additional Master of Business Administration (MBA), or Master of Social Work (MSW), or Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree pursuant to these dual degree program rules.
  2. Dual Degree Program defined. The Dual Degree Program differs from the law school Joint Degree Program. Dual degrees are conferred by the law school and another UNH school pursuant to these and related rules.  By contrast, joint degrees are offered only by the law school. For instance, the law school offers JD students the opportunity to earn a JD degree and an additional degree such as a Master of Intellectual Property (MIP) or Master of Laws in Intellectual Property (LLM).  The law school confers both degrees in the joint degree program.
  3. These rules apply to all students enrolled in a dual degree program. Additionally, all other JD degree academic rules apply to JD students enrolled in a dual degree program.  Where conflict between other JD academic rules and these rules exists, these dual degree rules shall apply and supersede conflicting rules. Moreover, while a JD student is enrolled in a Master’s degree program at UNH, the academic rules governing that degree program also apply to the student.

B. Eligibility Requirements for JD Students to Apply for and Matriculate into Dual Degree Programs

  1. Prospective JD Students. A prospective law student may matriculate as a Dual Degree student provided that the law school and UNH have accepted the student into both programs on the student’s first day of law school.
  2. Matriculated JD Students. Following matriculation at the law school, a JD student may apply to the MBA, MSW or MPP program at any time prior to the end of the JD student’s second semester.
  3. Regardless of whether a student is eligible under B. 1 or 2, a JD student must achieve a B (3.0) average at the end of the first JD year to be eligible to matriculate into or apply to a dual degree program.  Before matriculating into a UNH Master’s degree program, the student must supply to the UNH Master’s degree program a transcript and letter signed by the Law School's Assistant Dean of Students confirming the applicant’s academic eligibility to participate in the UNH Master’s degree program.

C.  Dual Degree Planning and Advising

  1. 1L students entering law school as dual degree candidates.  By the end of the second semester, an eligible dual degree candidate will meet with the faculty advisor and the Academic Advising Office to plan a course of study for the dual degree program.  The student must submit a plan to the Registrar and to the Master’s degree program by June 30. 
  2. All other dual degree candidates.  Students who are eligible and wish to enroll in a dual degree program after their first year of law school must meet with their faculty advisor, immigration advisor (if relevant), Financial Aid and the Academic Advising Office to determine the feasibility of completing the degree within the timeframe permitted and to discuss the impact of the dual degree to their financial arrangements for tuition, including scholarships, and how the remaining semesters will be billed. After these meetings, all such students shall submit their curricular plans for approval by the Academic Advising Office.

D. Admission Requirements

Admission of a JD student into any dual degree program is conditioned on the JD student satisfying all the requirements herein and the admission policies applicable to any applicant seeking admission into the UNH Master’s degree program.  

E. Degree Requirements for JD/MBA Candidates

  1. To receive a dual degree, the candidate must successfully complete the minimum number of credits required for both the JD and the Master’s degree, complete the required coursework, meet the law school’s residency requirements, fulfill all financial obligations to the law school and comply with the law school’s conduct code.
  2. Transfer of Course Credits.  Provided that the grades earned satisfy the requirements of JD Rule I.C., and the student is in good academic standing in both programs, the following transfer of course credits may occur:
    1. MSW dual degree program
      1. The Social Work program will accept 9 law school credits earned in certain courses toward the MSW as outlined in the JD-MSW dual degree protocol or other relevant documentation.
      2. The law school will accept up to 12 MSW course credits toward the JD as outlined in the JD-MSW dual degree protocol or other relevant documentation.
    2.  MPP dual degree program
      1. The Public Policy program will accept 9 law school credits and certain courses toward the MPP as outlined in the JD-MPP dual degree protocol or other relevant documentation.
      2. The law school will accept up to 12 MPP course credits toward the JD as outlined in the JD-MPP dual degree protocol or other relevant documentation.
    3. MBA dual degree program 
      1. The MBA program will accept 9 Law credits toward the MBA. Courses eligible for transfer from the JD program to the MBA program are1:
LGP 920Contracts4
LGP 960Torts3
LGP 952Property4

ii. The law school will accept up to 12 MBA credits toward the JD, from among the following:

ADMN 840International Business3
ADMN 912Managing Yourself & Leading Others3
ADMN 919Accounting/Financial Reporting, Budgeting, and Analysis3
ADMN 930Financial Management/Raising and Investing Money3
ADMN 950Data Driven Decisions3
ADMN 960Marketing/Building Customer Value3
ADMN 970Economics of Competition3

Provided that the grades earned satisfy the requirements of J.D. Rule I.C. and the student is in good academic standing in both programs;

  1. Other classes

The law school may accept class credits other than those noted in 2 (a – c), provided that the law school Assistant Dean of Students concludes that a different course will be appropriate to achieve the student’s educational objectives. To be effective, the decision must be in writing signed by the Assistant Dean and maintained by the Registrar in the student’s academic file.

  1. Registration and Transcript Required 

Upon receipt of an official transcript showing successful completion of a Master’s degree class, the law school will transfer course credits from that program that apply toward the JD degree.

5. Calculation of JD Class Rank. 

  1. For purposes of calculating JD class rank, the JD student will be considered as part of the JD class as defined by Rule I(C). 
  2. The dual degree student’s class rank in the JD program will be calculated: 
    1. For JD/MBA Students: each semester following the standard ranking process.  
    2. For all other dual-degree programs: after the first day of classes in the student’s first full-time law school semester after the student completes the master’s degree program requirements and re-enters the JD program. 
  3. Only those classes taken by the JD student in the JD program or those credits from classes taken in a Master’s program that are permitted to transfer back to the law school under this rule will be used to calculate class rank. Classes taken in a master’s program that do not transfer back to the law school under this rule will not be used to calculate class rank.  

6.  Consequence of Dual Degree Program Withdrawal or Transfer.  

If, after the law school accepts transfer credits from a student’s Master’s degree program, the student chooses not to pursue a Dual degree, no credits attributable to the Master’s degree shall apply toward the JD degree. 

1

This totals ten (10) credits, but UNH will adjust the transfer number of credits to total nine (9).

F. Academic Information

  1. In any semester, a student enrolled in a Master’s degree program may enroll in a maximum of twelve (12) credits at the law school. In no case shall a dual degree student’s combined credit load exceed seventeen (17) credits during a semester or any portion of a semester. 
  2. Residency Requirement.  Dual degree students shall follow their approved curriculum map in order to meet the law school's residency requirement.   
  3. Eligibility for other law school programs.  Dual degree candidates are eligible to participate in law programs as follows: 
    1. Law Review.

Dual degree candidates are permitted to participate in Law Review with permission of the Law Review Faculty Advisor and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or their designee.  

b. Moot Court Competitions and Advisory Board. 

Dual degree candidates are permitted to participate in a Moot Court competition or on the Advisory Board with permission from the Moot Court Board Faculty Advisor and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or their designee.

c. Joint Degree Programs 

Dual degree candidates are not eligible to participate in the law school’s joint degree programs.  However, candidates may pursue an LLM degree offered by the law school following completion of the dual degree program. 

G. Conferring of Juris Doctor

  1. A dual degree candidate will receive the Master’s Degree and the JD degree upon  satisfactory completion of the requirements for receiving each degree.  
  2. A dual degree student may participate in the law school graduation ceremony with the class in which the student matriculated at the beginning of the JD degree program even though the student may not have completed all requirements for earning the law school degree until December of the graduation year. However, the student may be considered a member of the next year’s graduating class for ABA reporting purposes if the ABA so mandates.

H. Dual Degree Protocols or Policies

In addition to these rules, additional law school, business school and graduate school requirements for tuition, financial aid, admissions, and grading may be specified in other policies.

Adopted by Faculty 05/15/2014