JD/MUP (Urban Planning)
The JD/Master of Urban Planning joint degree program at the University of Kansas combines into four years the three-year J.D. program offered by the School of Law and the two-year Master of Urban Planning (MUP) program offered by the Urban Planning Department in the School of Public Affairs & Administration.
The program is designed for students intending to practice law who might become concerned with the problems of housing, land use, transportation, environment, or urban and regional development. The program develops professionals capable of dealing with the legal and planning aspects of urban problems. Graduates with these two degrees will be able to apply their skills in the public and private sectors.
Students must complete 76 credit hours in law and 39 credit hours in urban planning. Near the end of the course of study, each candidate must successfully pass a written comprehensive examination administered by the Urban Planning Department or write a thesis approved by the student's thesis committee in urban planning.
Contacts for prospective law students:
- KU Law Office of Admissions, 785-864-4378 or admitlaw@ku.edu
- Bonnie Johnson, Urban Planning Program, 785-864-4184 or ubpl@ku.edu
Contacts for current students:
- Associate Dean Leah Terranova, law school
- Bonnie Johnson, Urban Planning Program, 785-864-4184 or ubpl@ku.edu
JD/MUP Program Information
Learn more about admission requirements, degree requirements and the typical program format for the JD/Master of Urban Planning 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/MUP program is open to those who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and whose undergraduate record indicates that the applicant has the capacity to complete the law and urban planning programs.
Applicants for the JD/MUP program must meet the admission requirements of the School of Law, the Urban Planning Department 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 prerequisites for courses in the Urban Planning graduate program also apply.
A student who decides to enter the program while enrolled in the first year of the JD or MUP curriculum must consult and obtain approval from the School of Law and Urban Planning Department as soon as possible. No student may enter the joint degree program after completing more than three full semesters in the School of Law or in the Urban Planning Department.
Degree Requirements
The tables below outline the requirements for this joint degree program.
Total Credit Hours
| Type of Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Law Courses | |
| First-Year Courses | 29 |
| Other Required Courses | 10 |
| Required Electives | 9 |
| Additional Electives | 8 |
| Other Law Courses | 20 |
| Total Law Credits | 76 |
| Urban Planning Courses | |
| Core Curriculum | 21 |
| Major | 12 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Total Urban Planning Credits | 39 |
| Planning Courses Counted Toward J.D. Degree | 14 |
| Law Courses Counted Toward MUP Degree | 9 |
| Total Law Degree Requirements | 90 |
| Total MUP Degree Requirements | 48 |
J.D. Requirements
The following law courses are required for all J.D. candidates. Learn more about J.D. Program Degree Requirements.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| First-Year Courses | |
| LAW 804 Civil Procedure | 4 |
| LAW 806 Introduction to Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LAW 809 Contracts | 4 |
| LAW 814 Criminal Law | 4 |
| LAW 820 Lawyering Skills I | 2 |
| LAW 821 Lawyering Skills II | 3 |
| LAW 826 Property | 4 |
| LAW 831 Torts I | 4 |
| 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 Organizations | 4 |
| LAW 873 Commercial Law: Secured Transactions | 3 |
| LAW 881 Conflict of Laws | 3 |
| LAW 878 Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| LAW 908 Evidence | 3 |
| LAW 909 Family Law | 3 |
| LAW 845 Jurisdiction | 3 |
| LAW 996 Trusts and Estates | 4 |
| In addition to all the JD/MUP 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/MUP Joint Degree Candidate Requirements
The following law elective courses are required for JD/MUP joint degree candidates:
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Required Elective Courses for all JD/MUP Joint Degree Candidates | |
| LAW 850 Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 956 Local Government Law | 3 |
| LAW 954 Legislation and Statutory Interpretation | 3 |
| Total credits: 9 | |
JD/MUP joint degree candidates must also complete 8 additional credit hours of law electives from this list of courses:
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Additional Elective Courses for all JD/MUP Joint Degree Candidates | |
| At least 8 credits from the following list: | |
| LAW 860 Alternative Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| LAW 904 Environmental Law Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 920 Health Law & Policy | 3 |
| LAW 963 Energy Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 966 Oil & Gas | 3 |
| LAW 975 Public Lands and Natural Resources | 3 |
| LAW 976 Public Policy Practicum | 3 |
| LAW 992 Water Law | 3 |
Urban Planning Requirements
The following Urban Planning courses are required for the JD/MUP joint degree:
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Urban Planning Courses Required of all Students | |
| Core curriculum: | |
| UBPL 736 Planning Institutions | 3 |
| UBPL 850 Urban and Regional Theory | 3 |
| UBPL 741 Quantitative Methods I | 3 |
| UBPL 742 Quantitative Methods II | 3 |
| UBPL 815 History and Theory of the Planning Process | 3 |
| UBPL 763 Professional Practice | 3 |
| UBPL 705 Economic Analysis for Planners | 3 |
| Total credits: 21 | |
Major
At least 12 credits in one of the following specialty areas: Environmental Planning, Housing and Development Planning, Land Use Planning and Urban Design, or Transportation Planning. One course in the area of specialization must be an implementation seminar. No minor is required.
Electives
At least 6 credits from Urban Planning courses.
Additional Information
The University of Kansas Graduate Studies Catalog states specifically that all course work counted toward a master's degree requires a B average for the award of the degree. The School of Law Catalog states specifically that all candidates for the J.D. degree must attain a grade point average of 2.0 in all coursework taken to fulfill degree requirements. All joint degree aspirants must fulfill the writing requirements of the School of Law. Please see the current School of Law catalog.
Typical Program Format
| Law | Urban Planning | Total Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| Second Year | 2* | 24 | 26 |
| Third Year | 22 | 9 | 31 |
| Fourth Year | 23 | 6 | 29 |
| Total Credit Earned | 76 | 39 | 115 |
| *Must include Professional Responsibility. | |||
Admission Requirements
The joint JD/MUP program is open to those who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and whose undergraduate record indicates that the applicant has the capacity to complete the law and urban planning programs.
Applicants for the JD/MUP program must meet the admission requirements of the School of Law, the Urban Planning Department 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 prerequisites for courses in the Urban Planning graduate program also apply.
A student who decides to enter the program while enrolled in the first year of the JD or MUP curriculum must consult and obtain approval from the School of Law and Urban Planning Department as soon as possible. No student may enter the joint degree program after completing more than three full semesters in the School of Law or in the Urban Planning Department.
Degree Requirements
The tables below outline the requirements for this joint degree program.
Total Credit Hours
| Type of Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Law Courses | |
| First-Year Courses | 29 |
| Other Required Courses | 10 |
| Required Electives | 9 |
| Additional Electives | 8 |
| Other Law Courses | 20 |
| Total Law Credits | 76 |
| Urban Planning Courses | |
| Core Curriculum | 21 |
| Major | 12 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Total Urban Planning Credits | 39 |
| Planning Courses Counted Toward J.D. Degree | 14 |
| Law Courses Counted Toward MUP Degree | 9 |
| Total Law Degree Requirements | 90 |
| Total MUP Degree Requirements | 48 |
J.D. Requirements
The following law courses are required for all J.D. candidates. Learn more about J.D. Program Degree Requirements.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| First-Year Courses | |
| LAW 804 Civil Procedure | 4 |
| LAW 806 Introduction to Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LAW 809 Contracts | 4 |
| LAW 814 Criminal Law | 4 |
| LAW 820 Lawyering Skills I | 2 |
| LAW 821 Lawyering Skills II | 3 |
| LAW 826 Property | 4 |
| LAW 831 Torts I | 4 |
| 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 Organizations | 4 |
| LAW 873 Commercial Law: Secured Transactions | 3 |
| LAW 881 Conflict of Laws | 3 |
| LAW 878 Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| LAW 908 Evidence | 3 |
| LAW 909 Family Law | 3 |
| LAW 845 Jurisdiction | 3 |
| LAW 996 Trusts and Estates | 4 |
| In addition to all the JD/MUP 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/MUP Joint Degree Candidate Requirements
The following law elective courses are required for JD/MUP joint degree candidates:
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Required Elective Courses for all JD/MUP Joint Degree Candidates | |
| LAW 850 Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 956 Local Government Law | 3 |
| LAW 954 Legislation and Statutory Interpretation | 3 |
| Total credits: 9 | |
JD/MUP joint degree candidates must also complete 8 additional credit hours of law electives from this list of courses:
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Additional Elective Courses for all JD/MUP Joint Degree Candidates | |
| At least 8 credits from the following list: | |
| LAW 860 Alternative Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| LAW 904 Environmental Law Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 920 Health Law & Policy | 3 |
| LAW 963 Energy Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 966 Oil & Gas | 3 |
| LAW 975 Public Lands and Natural Resources | 3 |
| LAW 976 Public Policy Practicum | 3 |
| LAW 992 Water Law | 3 |
Urban Planning Requirements
The following Urban Planning courses are required for the JD/MUP joint degree:
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Urban Planning Courses Required of all Students | |
| Core curriculum: | |
| UBPL 736 Planning Institutions | 3 |
| UBPL 850 Urban and Regional Theory | 3 |
| UBPL 741 Quantitative Methods I | 3 |
| UBPL 742 Quantitative Methods II | 3 |
| UBPL 815 History and Theory of the Planning Process | 3 |
| UBPL 763 Professional Practice | 3 |
| UBPL 705 Economic Analysis for Planners | 3 |
| Total credits: 21 | |
Major
At least 12 credits in one of the following specialty areas: Environmental Planning, Housing and Development Planning, Land Use Planning and Urban Design, or Transportation Planning. One course in the area of specialization must be an implementation seminar. No minor is required.
Electives
At least 6 credits from Urban Planning courses.
Additional Information
The University of Kansas Graduate Studies Catalog states specifically that all course work counted toward a master's degree requires a B average for the award of the degree. The School of Law Catalog states specifically that all candidates for the J.D. degree must attain a grade point average of 2.0 in all coursework taken to fulfill degree requirements. All joint degree aspirants must fulfill the writing requirements of the School of Law. Please see the current School of Law catalog.
Typical Program Format
| Law | Urban Planning | Total Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| Second Year | 2* | 24 | 26 |
| Third Year | 22 | 9 | 31 |
| Fourth Year | 23 | 6 | 29 |
| Total Credit Earned | 76 | 39 | 115 |
| *Must include Professional Responsibility. | |||