JD/MHSA (Health Services Administration)
The Juris Doctor/Master of Health Services Administration dual degree program at the University of Kansas combines into four years of full-time study the Juris Doctor (J.D.) program offered by the School of Law and the Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) program offered by the Department of Population Health in the School of Medicine. The JD/MHSA is designed to provide students with a thorough academic grounding in health law and health services management.
The complexity of current national debates on health care suggests that an important relationship exists between health administration and the law. It is not surprising to find individuals with law degrees holding managerial and executive positions in health care organizations or an increasing number of attorneys specializing in health care law. Lawyers who counsel health care executives must have a broad knowledge of the health care field to serve their clients well.
Career opportunities for individuals with training in the law and health administration are available in settings including law firms, health services delivery organizations, insurance and managed care organizations, and government.
Contacts for prospective law students:
- KU Law Office of Admissions, 785-864-4378 or admitlaw@ku.edu
- Nichole Evans, MHSA program manager, 913-588-3763 or nevans@kumc.edu
Contacts for current students:
- Associate Dean Leah Terranova, law school
- Nichole Evans, MHSA program manager, 913-588-3763 or nevans@kumc.edu
JD/MHSA Program Information
Learn more about admission requirements, degree requirements and the typical program format for the JD/MHSA joint degree program using the tabs below.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the dual JD/MHSA Program, an applicant must hold an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, and be admitted by both the School of Law and the MHSA Program no later than the end of the first year of study in either program. Prior academic achievement should indicate a high likelihood that an applicant has the capacity to complete the curricula in law and health services administration. Full-time study is required for the dual JD/MHSA Program.
All students must provide a reportable LSAT or GRE score for admission to the joint degree program. An applicant or student who is interested in entering the dual degree program should discuss his or her plans with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Law and the MHSA Program Student Services Manager in the Department of Health Policy and Management as early as possible. No student may enter the dual degree program after completing more than the equivalent of two semesters of full-time enrollment in either the JD or MHSA curriculum.
Degree Requirements
To receive the JD/MHSA, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 123 credit hours. Of these, at least 80 credit hours must be from courses offered by the School of Law and 43 must be from the MHSA Program.
Students in the dual degree program should note that while the School of Law requires a 2.0 grade point average in JD coursework to remain in good standing and for graduation, the MHSA Program follows the Graduate School regulation requiring a 3.0 cumulative grade point average for coursework that is counted toward the MHSA portion of the dual degree.
In planning their enrollments, students should inform themselves of course prerequisites and plan their course schedules accordingly.
Students must complete both the JD requirements and the MHSA requirements in order to earn the dual degree. Diplomas will be awarded concurrently by each school following the completion of requirements for the dual degree program. Failure to successfully complete the JD portion of the dual degree will require the student to take all MHSA coursework (13 credits) that was waived as a result of admission to the dual degree program in order for an MHSA to be granted. Similarly, failure to successfully complete the MHSA portion of the dual degree will require the student to take all JD coursework (10 additional credits) that was waived as a result of admission to the dual degree program in order for a JD to be granted.
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: Investigation | 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/MHSA 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. | |
JD/MHSA Dual Degree Requirements
In addition to the 40-42 credit hours of coursework (described above) required of all law students, students in the dual JD/MHSA program must complete the following coursework:
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Courses required of JD/MHSA candidates | |
| LAW 850 Administrative Law | 3 |
| AND | |
| LAW 847 Healthcare Regulation | 2 |
| OR | |
| LAW 920 Health Law and Policy | 3 |
| 2 of the following 3 courses | |
| LAW 903 Employment Discrimination Law | 3 |
| LAW 925 Employment Law | 3 |
| LAW 939 Labor Law | 4 |
| 2 of the following courses | |
| LAW 860 Alternative Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| LAW 901 Elder Law Field Placement Program | 3 |
| LAW 931 Introduction to Elder Law | 2 |
| LAW 955 Legislative Simulation and Study | 3 |
| LAW 976 Public Policy Practicum | 3 |
All courses must be taken as Law School courses from Law School faculty, except that on a showing of extreme hardship the Law School Academic Committee may grant a waiver of this requirement. The Academic Committee shall also have the authority to make changes or substitutions to this list upon showing of changed circumstances, such as changes in the fundamental nature of a course or the discontinuance of a course.
Students choose other Law School courses to complete the remaining hours necessary to reach the 80 hours of law school credit needed for the dual degree.
MHSA Requirements
Students entering the MHSA program must have completed a 3-credit hour course in statistics, with a grade of B or better prior to matriculation. This coursework must be completed in an accredited college or university. Applicants should consult the Student Services Manager to determine if the coursework they have taken or plan to take fulfills these requirements.
The MHSA portion of the dual degree totals 43 credit hours of coursework.
The following table outlines MHSA courses required for this dual degree program.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| All of these courses are required | |
| HP&M 810 The Healthcare System | 3 |
| HP&M 819 Research for Health Care Leaders | 3 |
| HP&M 822 Healthcare Economics | 3 |
| HP&M 825 Financial Concepts in Health Management | 3 |
| HP&M 830 Health Care Management | 3 |
| HP&M 846 Health Information Technology Management | 3 |
| HP&M 850 Introduction to Operations | 3 |
| HP&M 858 Organizational Behavior in Healthcare | 3 |
| HP&M 860 Internship | 1 |
| HP&M 861 Capstone Seminar | 2 |
| Total credits: 27 | |
| Group Two Options (16 credit hours) | |
| HP&M 827 Financial Applications in Health Management | 3 |
| HP&M 832 Governance and Health Law | 2 |
| HP&M 833 Ethics | 2 |
| HP&M 837 Health Policy | 3 |
| HP&M 840 Organizational Foundations for Leading Change | 3 |
| HP&M 848 Designing Healthcare Organizations | 2 |
| HP&M 852 Strategic Marketing | 2 |
| HP&M 853 Strategic Management | 2 |
| HP&M 854 Human Resources & Workforce Development | 3 |
| BIOS 704 Principles of Statistics in Public Health | 3 |
| HP&M Elective | 3 |
Waivers, substitutions, and all other degree requirements are governed by department and Graduate School policies. Students should consult the Student Services Manager if they have questions about MHSA degree requirements.
Typical Program Format
The following scheduling of MHSA courses is recommended for years two, three, and four in the JD/MHSA Program, with year one devoted to law school coursework.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Year Two | |
| Fall Two | |
| HP&M 810 The Healthcare System | 3 |
| HP&M 858 Health & Social Behavior | 3 |
| Group II Course | varies |
| Spring Two | |
| HP&M 822 Healthcare Economics | 3 |
| HP&M 850 Introduction to Operations | 3 |
| Group II Course | varies |
| Year Three (13 MHSA credits) | |
| Fall Three | |
| HP&M 825 Financial Concepts in Health Management | 3 |
| Group II Course | varies |
| Spring Three | |
| HP&M 846 Managing Information Systems & Technology | 3 |
| Group II Course | varies |
| Summer Three | |
| HP&M 860 Internship | 1 |
| Optional: Group II Course (HP&M 852) | |
| Year Four (13 MHSA credits) | |
| Fall Four | |
| HP&M 819 Research for Health Care Leaders | 3 |
| HP&M Health Care Management | 3 |
| Spring Four | |
| HP&M 861 Capstone Seminar | 2 |
| Group II Course | varies |
Students must conclude their dual degree program enrolled in courses offered in the law school. In all cases, students must receive their dual degrees concurrently. The following table outlines the typical program format.
| Law School | HP&M | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| Second Year | 17 | 17 | 34 |
| Third Year | 17 | 13 | 30 |
| Fourth Year | 17 | 13 | 30 |
| Total Credit Earned | 80 | 43 | 123 |
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the dual JD/MHSA Program, an applicant must hold an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, and be admitted by both the School of Law and the MHSA Program no later than the end of the first year of study in either program. Prior academic achievement should indicate a high likelihood that an applicant has the capacity to complete the curricula in law and health services administration. Full-time study is required for the dual JD/MHSA Program.
All students must provide a reportable LSAT or GRE score for admission to the joint degree program. An applicant or student who is interested in entering the dual degree program should discuss his or her plans with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Law and the MHSA Program Student Services Manager in the Department of Health Policy and Management as early as possible. No student may enter the dual degree program after completing more than the equivalent of two semesters of full-time enrollment in either the JD or MHSA curriculum.
Degree Requirements
To receive the JD/MHSA, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 123 credit hours. Of these, at least 80 credit hours must be from courses offered by the School of Law and 43 must be from the MHSA Program.
Students in the dual degree program should note that while the School of Law requires a 2.0 grade point average in JD coursework to remain in good standing and for graduation, the MHSA Program follows the Graduate School regulation requiring a 3.0 cumulative grade point average for coursework that is counted toward the MHSA portion of the dual degree.
In planning their enrollments, students should inform themselves of course prerequisites and plan their course schedules accordingly.
Students must complete both the JD requirements and the MHSA requirements in order to earn the dual degree. Diplomas will be awarded concurrently by each school following the completion of requirements for the dual degree program. Failure to successfully complete the JD portion of the dual degree will require the student to take all MHSA coursework (13 credits) that was waived as a result of admission to the dual degree program in order for an MHSA to be granted. Similarly, failure to successfully complete the MHSA portion of the dual degree will require the student to take all JD coursework (10 additional credits) that was waived as a result of admission to the dual degree program in order for a JD to be granted.
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: Investigation | 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/MHSA 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. | |
JD/MHSA Dual Degree Requirements
In addition to the 40-42 credit hours of coursework (described above) required of all law students, students in the dual JD/MHSA program must complete the following coursework:
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Courses required of JD/MHSA candidates | |
| LAW 850 Administrative Law | 3 |
| AND | |
| LAW 847 Healthcare Regulation | 2 |
| OR | |
| LAW 920 Health Law and Policy | 3 |
| 2 of the following 3 courses | |
| LAW 903 Employment Discrimination Law | 3 |
| LAW 925 Employment Law | 3 |
| LAW 939 Labor Law | 4 |
| 2 of the following courses | |
| LAW 860 Alternative Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| LAW 901 Elder Law Field Placement Program | 3 |
| LAW 931 Introduction to Elder Law | 2 |
| LAW 955 Legislative Simulation and Study | 3 |
| LAW 976 Public Policy Practicum | 3 |
All courses must be taken as Law School courses from Law School faculty, except that on a showing of extreme hardship the Law School Academic Committee may grant a waiver of this requirement. The Academic Committee shall also have the authority to make changes or substitutions to this list upon showing of changed circumstances, such as changes in the fundamental nature of a course or the discontinuance of a course.
Students choose other Law School courses to complete the remaining hours necessary to reach the 80 hours of law school credit needed for the dual degree.
MHSA Requirements
Students entering the MHSA program must have completed a 3-credit hour course in statistics, with a grade of B or better prior to matriculation. This coursework must be completed in an accredited college or university. Applicants should consult the Student Services Manager to determine if the coursework they have taken or plan to take fulfills these requirements.
The MHSA portion of the dual degree totals 43 credit hours of coursework.
The following table outlines MHSA courses required for this dual degree program.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| All of these courses are required | |
| HP&M 810 The Healthcare System | 3 |
| HP&M 819 Research for Health Care Leaders | 3 |
| HP&M 822 Healthcare Economics | 3 |
| HP&M 825 Financial Concepts in Health Management | 3 |
| HP&M 830 Health Care Management | 3 |
| HP&M 846 Health Information Technology Management | 3 |
| HP&M 850 Introduction to Operations | 3 |
| HP&M 858 Organizational Behavior in Healthcare | 3 |
| HP&M 860 Internship | 1 |
| HP&M 861 Capstone Seminar | 2 |
| Total credits: 27 | |
| Group Two Options (16 credit hours) | |
| HP&M 827 Financial Applications in Health Management | 3 |
| HP&M 832 Governance and Health Law | 2 |
| HP&M 833 Ethics | 2 |
| HP&M 837 Health Policy | 3 |
| HP&M 840 Organizational Foundations for Leading Change | 3 |
| HP&M 848 Designing Healthcare Organizations | 2 |
| HP&M 852 Strategic Marketing | 2 |
| HP&M 853 Strategic Management | 2 |
| HP&M 854 Human Resources & Workforce Development | 3 |
| BIOS 704 Principles of Statistics in Public Health | 3 |
| HP&M Elective | 3 |
Waivers, substitutions, and all other degree requirements are governed by department and Graduate School policies. Students should consult the Student Services Manager if they have questions about MHSA degree requirements.
Typical Program Format
The following scheduling of MHSA courses is recommended for years two, three, and four in the JD/MHSA Program, with year one devoted to law school coursework.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Year Two | |
| Fall Two | |
| HP&M 810 The Healthcare System | 3 |
| HP&M 858 Health & Social Behavior | 3 |
| Group II Course | varies |
| Spring Two | |
| HP&M 822 Healthcare Economics | 3 |
| HP&M 850 Introduction to Operations | 3 |
| Group II Course | varies |
| Year Three (13 MHSA credits) | |
| Fall Three | |
| HP&M 825 Financial Concepts in Health Management | 3 |
| Group II Course | varies |
| Spring Three | |
| HP&M 846 Managing Information Systems & Technology | 3 |
| Group II Course | varies |
| Summer Three | |
| HP&M 860 Internship | 1 |
| Optional: Group II Course (HP&M 852) | |
| Year Four (13 MHSA credits) | |
| Fall Four | |
| HP&M 819 Research for Health Care Leaders | 3 |
| HP&M Health Care Management | 3 |
| Spring Four | |
| HP&M 861 Capstone Seminar | 2 |
| Group II Course | varies |
Students must conclude their dual degree program enrolled in courses offered in the law school. In all cases, students must receive their dual degrees concurrently. The following table outlines the typical program format.
| Law School | HP&M | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| Second Year | 17 | 17 | 34 |
| Third Year | 17 | 13 | 30 |
| Fourth Year | 17 | 13 | 30 |
| Total Credit Earned | 80 | 43 | 123 |