JD/MA in Philosophy


The JD/MA in Philosophy joint degree program at the University of Kansas combines into three years and one summer session the three-year J.D. program offered by the School of Law and the M.A. in Philosophy program offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The program develops a student's understanding of the relationship between the disciplines of law and philosophy. A student must be admitted by both the School of Law and the Department of Philosophy.

Contacts for prospective law students:

Contacts for current students:


JD/MA in Philosophy Program Information

Learn more about admission requirements, degree requirements and the typical program format for the JD/MA in Philosophy joint degree program using the tabs below.

Students must conclude their joint degree program enrolled in courses offered in the law school. In all cases, students must receive their joint degrees concurrently.

Admission Requirements

The joint JD/MA program is open to those who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and whose undergraduate academic record indicates that the applicant has the capacity to complete the law and philosophy program.

Applicants for the JD/MA in Philosophy program must meet the admission requirements of the School of Law, the Department of Philosophy, and the Graduate School. Applicants must apply and be admitted to each school separately prior to entrance into the first year of the program.

Either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required for the law school application. All admissions requirements (other than the GRE) and prerequisites for courses in the Philosophy graduate program also apply All admissions requirements (other than the GRE) and prerequisites for courses in the Philosophy graduate program also apply.

A student who decides to enter the program while enrolled in the first year of the J.D. or M.A. in Philosophy curriculum must consult and obtain approval from the School of Law, the Department of Philosophy, and the Graduate School. No student may enter the combined program after completing more than 32 credits in the School of Law or 12 credits in the Department of Philosophy.

Degree Requirements

The tables below outline the requirements for this joint degree program.

Total Credit Hours

Degree Requirements - total credit hours
Credit Hours Required:For JDFor MA
Law courses required of all J.D. candidates430
Law courses required of all joint degree candidates99
Philosophy courses required of all joint degree candidates99
Elective law courses290
Elective philosophy courses012
Minimum hours required9030

J.D. Requirements

The following law courses are required for all J.D. candidates. Learn more about J.D. Program Degree Requirements.

Law courses required for all J.D. Candidates
CourseCredit hours
First-Year Courses
LAW 804 Civil Procedure4
LAW 806 Introduction to Constitutional Law4
LAW 809 Contracts4
LAW 814 Criminal Law4
LAW 820 Lawyering Skills I2
LAW 821 Lawyering Skills II3
LAW 826 Property4
LAW 831 Torts I4
Upper-Level Courses
LAW 972 Professional Responsibility must be completed by the time a student finishes 60 hours.2
3 courses from among the following:
LAW 892 Business Organizations4
LAW 873 Commercial Law: Secured Transactions3
LAW 881 Conflict of Laws3
LAW 878 Criminal Procedure3
LAW 908 Evidence3
LAW 909 Family Law3
LAW 845 Jurisdiction3
LAW 996 Trusts and Estates4
In addition to all the JD/MA in Philosophy program course requirements, students must satisfy the law school's Upper-Level Writing Intensive Course Requirements and the Experiential Course Requirements.

Students must complete all required first-year courses (29 credit hours) during their first year of law school enrollment. In addition to these course requirements, the School of Law has an upper-class writing requirement, a residence requirement, and a time limit for completion of the degree. Please refer to the current School of Law Catalog for details.

JD/MA in Philosophy Joint Degree Candidate Requirements

The courses listed in the table below are examples only. The actual courses applied to the joint degree program would depend on the courses offered by the School of Law in the relevant semesters.

Law course options for joint degree program
CourseCredit hours
Sample listing of pertinent law courses for joint degree candidates:
LAW 920 Health Law and Policy3
LAW 923 Immigration Law3
LAW 924 Independent Research2

Philosophy Requirements

The table below lists samples of pertinent philosophy courses for joint degree candidates:

Philosophy course options for joint degree program
CourseCredit hours
Sample listing of pertinent philosophy courses for joint degree candidates:
PHIL 555 Justice and Economic Systems3
PHIL 668 Political Philosophy3
PHIL 670 Contemporary Ethics3
PHIL 672 History of Ethics3
PHIL 674 Philosophy of Law3

Typical Program Format

The University of Kansas Graduate School Catalog states specifically that all coursework toward any master’s degree requires a B (or 3.0) cumulative grade point average for the award of the degree. Students should understand that the grades received in any law courses that are credited toward fulfillment of the M.A. in philosophy degree requirements are incorporated into the M.A. grade point average, which ultimately must be B (3.0) for the award of the M.A. in philosophy degree.

All joint-degree students also must fulfill the Upper-Level Writing Intensive course requirements and the Experiential course requirements in the School of Law. Please see the current Law School Catalog for details.

Typical program format
 LawPhilosophyTotal
First Year29029
Second Year181230
Third Year18927
Summer16016
 
Total Credit Earned8121102
Law Credit Allowed-99
Philosophy Credit Allowed9-9
Total Credit Required9030120

 

Admission Requirements

The joint JD/MA program is open to those who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and whose undergraduate academic record indicates that the applicant has the capacity to complete the law and philosophy program.

Applicants for the JD/MA in Philosophy program must meet the admission requirements of the School of Law, the Department of Philosophy, and the Graduate School. Applicants must apply and be admitted to each school separately prior to entrance into the first year of the program.

Either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required for the law school application. All admissions requirements (other than the GRE) and prerequisites for courses in the Philosophy graduate program also apply All admissions requirements (other than the GRE) and prerequisites for courses in the Philosophy graduate program also apply.

A student who decides to enter the program while enrolled in the first year of the J.D. or M.A. in Philosophy curriculum must consult and obtain approval from the School of Law, the Department of Philosophy, and the Graduate School. No student may enter the combined program after completing more than 32 credits in the School of Law or 12 credits in the Department of Philosophy.

Degree Requirements

The tables below outline the requirements for this joint degree program.

Total Credit Hours

Degree Requirements - total credit hours
Credit Hours Required:For JDFor MA
Law courses required of all J.D. candidates430
Law courses required of all joint degree candidates99
Philosophy courses required of all joint degree candidates99
Elective law courses290
Elective philosophy courses012
Minimum hours required9030

J.D. Requirements

The following law courses are required for all J.D. candidates. Learn more about J.D. Program Degree Requirements.

Law courses required for all J.D. Candidates
CourseCredit hours
First-Year Courses
LAW 804 Civil Procedure4
LAW 806 Introduction to Constitutional Law4
LAW 809 Contracts4
LAW 814 Criminal Law4
LAW 820 Lawyering Skills I2
LAW 821 Lawyering Skills II3
LAW 826 Property4
LAW 831 Torts I4
Upper-Level Courses
LAW 972 Professional Responsibility must be completed by the time a student finishes 60 hours.2
3 courses from among the following:
LAW 892 Business Organizations4
LAW 873 Commercial Law: Secured Transactions3
LAW 881 Conflict of Laws3
LAW 878 Criminal Procedure3
LAW 908 Evidence3
LAW 909 Family Law3
LAW 845 Jurisdiction3
LAW 996 Trusts and Estates4
In addition to all the JD/MA in Philosophy program course requirements, students must satisfy the law school's Upper-Level Writing Intensive Course Requirements and the Experiential Course Requirements.

Students must complete all required first-year courses (29 credit hours) during their first year of law school enrollment. In addition to these course requirements, the School of Law has an upper-class writing requirement, a residence requirement, and a time limit for completion of the degree. Please refer to the current School of Law Catalog for details.

JD/MA in Philosophy Joint Degree Candidate Requirements

The courses listed in the table below are examples only. The actual courses applied to the joint degree program would depend on the courses offered by the School of Law in the relevant semesters.

Law course options for joint degree program
CourseCredit hours
Sample listing of pertinent law courses for joint degree candidates:
LAW 920 Health Law and Policy3
LAW 923 Immigration Law3
LAW 924 Independent Research2

Philosophy Requirements

The table below lists samples of pertinent philosophy courses for joint degree candidates:

Philosophy course options for joint degree program
CourseCredit hours
Sample listing of pertinent philosophy courses for joint degree candidates:
PHIL 555 Justice and Economic Systems3
PHIL 668 Political Philosophy3
PHIL 670 Contemporary Ethics3
PHIL 672 History of Ethics3
PHIL 674 Philosophy of Law3

Typical Program Format

The University of Kansas Graduate School Catalog states specifically that all coursework toward any master’s degree requires a B (or 3.0) cumulative grade point average for the award of the degree. Students should understand that the grades received in any law courses that are credited toward fulfillment of the M.A. in philosophy degree requirements are incorporated into the M.A. grade point average, which ultimately must be B (3.0) for the award of the M.A. in philosophy degree.

All joint-degree students also must fulfill the Upper-Level Writing Intensive course requirements and the Experiential course requirements in the School of Law. Please see the current Law School Catalog for details.

Typical program format
 LawPhilosophyTotal
First Year29029
Second Year181230
Third Year18927
Summer16016
 
Total Credit Earned8121102
Law Credit Allowed-99
Philosophy Credit Allowed9-9
Total Credit Required9030120

 

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