Dual Degree Program

A Program of William Mitchell College of Law and Minnesota State University, Mankato

Combine a Law Degree with a Master's Degree

Combining your efforts to get a juris doctor and a master's degree at the same time enables you to study two related fields, integrate coursework, and expand your career opportunities.

Through this program, getting a graduate degree is more accessible since it allows you to earn two graduate degrees in less time and for less cost than if you pursued them separately. Because each school will accept up to nine elective credits from the other institution, for a total of 18 credits, students attending both programs full time can graduate with both degrees in about four years instead of the average five years it would take to pursue each degree separately.

Admission

You must seek admission and gain acceptance to both William Mitchell and MSU, and it is recommended you seek admission to both schools concurrently. Each school will separately employ its own admission procedures and standards.

William Mitchell Office of Admissions

MSU Graduate Admissions

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition and fees will be paid to the school where the credits are earned. If you are enrolled in both schools simultaneously, you should typically submit financial aid data to the school where you are primarily enrolled. That school will process the application, incorporating your projected expenses from the other school.

William Mitchell Tuition and Financial Aid

MSU Tuition

MSU Office of Financial Aid

Academic Schedule and Requirements

Shortly after beginning your dual degree program, you should develop a Graduate Examining Committee, comprised of one full-time William Mitchell professor and two full-time MSU graduate professors to supervise your course of study.

You should complete the core courses from both programs separately and before pursuing cross-enrollment, beginning with the J.D. program because William Mitchell can grant credit for course work completed at MSU only after you have enrolled at William Mitchell. Once you have completed the core requirements in both programs, however, we suggest that you develop a personal course of study that blends your upper-level J.D. courses with your advanced master’s courses to enhance the cross-disciplinary experience.

Each school will accept up to nine elective credits from the other institution, for a total of 18 elective credits. For acceptance of cross-credited classes, students must achieve a "C" or better in William Mitchell classes and a "B" or better in MSU classes. However, your class rank and GPA at each school is based only on the credit earned at that school.

The Juris Doctor

Eric S. Janus
President and Dean
William Mitchell College of Law
(651) 290-6345 or ejanus@wmitchell.edu

Curriculum/Academic Requirements

If you want to practice law or enhance a career in any field, whether it is in health care, education, or business, a juris doctor degree is invaluable. To achieve a J.D. at William Mitchell you must successfully complete 86 credits. A minimum of 46 credits are earned through core-course and statutory-course requirements. The remaining credits are earned through elective, clinic, or independent study work in which you can choose from specialized, small-enrollment courses.

Master of Science
in Community Health

Judith K. Luebke
Chair of the Department of Health Science
Minnesota State University, Mankato
(507) 389-5938 or judith.luebke@mnsu.edu

Health Science Program

With a Master of Science degree in Health Science: Community Health you can work in health promotion in either public, private, or voluntary organizations such as schools, community and public health agencies, and health care facilities. To pursue a community health master’s degree you must complete 30–34 credits of coursework, including either a thesis or an alternate plan paper.

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