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:
- KU Law Office of Admissions, 785-864-4378 or admitlaw@ku.edu
- Aley Pennington, graduate program coordinator for the Department of Philosophy, 785-864-1528 or aleypennington@ku.edu
Contacts for current students:
- Associate Dean Leah Terranova, law school
- Aley Pennington, graduate program coordinator for the Department of Philosophy, 785-864-1528 or aleypennington@ku.edu
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
| Credit Hours Required: | For JD | For MA |
|---|---|---|
| Law courses required of all J.D. candidates | 43 | 0 |
| Law courses required of all joint degree candidates | 9 | 9 |
| Philosophy courses required of all joint degree candidates | 9 | 9 |
| Elective law courses | 29 | 0 |
| Elective philosophy courses | 0 | 12 |
| Minimum hours required | 90 | 30 |
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/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.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Sample listing of pertinent law courses for joint degree candidates: | |
| LAW 920 Health Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 923 Immigration Law | 3 |
| LAW 924 Independent Research | 2 |
Philosophy Requirements
The table below lists samples of pertinent philosophy courses for joint degree candidates:
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Sample listing of pertinent philosophy courses for joint degree candidates: | |
| PHIL 555 Justice and Economic Systems | 3 |
| PHIL 668 Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 670 Contemporary Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 672 History of Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 674 Philosophy of Law | 3 |
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.
| Law | Philosophy | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| Second Year | 18 | 12 | 30 |
| Third Year | 18 | 9 | 27 |
| Summer | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Total Credit Earned | 81 | 21 | 102 |
| Law Credit Allowed | - | 9 | 9 |
| Philosophy Credit Allowed | 9 | - | 9 |
| Total Credit Required | 90 | 30 | 120 |
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
| Credit Hours Required: | For JD | For MA |
|---|---|---|
| Law courses required of all J.D. candidates | 43 | 0 |
| Law courses required of all joint degree candidates | 9 | 9 |
| Philosophy courses required of all joint degree candidates | 9 | 9 |
| Elective law courses | 29 | 0 |
| Elective philosophy courses | 0 | 12 |
| Minimum hours required | 90 | 30 |
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/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.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Sample listing of pertinent law courses for joint degree candidates: | |
| LAW 920 Health Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 923 Immigration Law | 3 |
| LAW 924 Independent Research | 2 |
Philosophy Requirements
The table below lists samples of pertinent philosophy courses for joint degree candidates:
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Sample listing of pertinent philosophy courses for joint degree candidates: | |
| PHIL 555 Justice and Economic Systems | 3 |
| PHIL 668 Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 670 Contemporary Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 672 History of Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 674 Philosophy of Law | 3 |
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.
| Law | Philosophy | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| Second Year | 18 | 12 | 30 |
| Third Year | 18 | 9 | 27 |
| Summer | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Total Credit Earned | 81 | 21 | 102 |
| Law Credit Allowed | - | 9 | 9 |
| Philosophy Credit Allowed | 9 | - | 9 |
| Total Credit Required | 90 | 30 | 120 |