Overview

Due to the demand for researchers and policymakers with interdisciplinary training in both law and environmental science, we now offer a joint degree program that enables students to earn a J.D. from the School of Law and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Policy (EVR) from the Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy and Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science.

Who Should Consider this Joint Program?

This program enables students with strong interests in both environmental policy and law to prepare for careers in either the private or public sector in a shorter amount of time than if pursuing both degrees separately.

As an intensive program, it provides high-level knowledge and research experience and is especially suited to those seeking to:

  • Implement and impact environmental policy and regulation at the state or national levels
  • Engage in cutting-edge research related to environmental policy in an academic setting
  • Serve as environmental legal consultants or litigators
  • Work with international agencies, governments, or organizations
  • Gain expertise in environmental science for those with the desire to go into environmental law
  • Understand legal fundamentals in order to work on marine conservation and coastal conservation issues, and need to understand some legal fundamentals in order to formulate policy recommendations for these regimes.

Admission Requirements

Students wishing to pursue the J.D./Ph.D. program must be admitted to both the J.D. and EVR Ph.D. programs separately. J.D. students wishing to pursue the J.D./Ph.D. program must apply to the EVR Ph.D. program for admission no later than Fall semester of their second year of law school. Enrolled law students who are subsequently accepted into the joint program must notify the law school registrar before taking their first ECS credits.

In order to be accepted to the Law School, students must take the LSAT and complete the online Law School application. In order to be accepted to the Ph.D. program, students must take the GRE and complete the EVR Ph.D. application.

Acceptance by one program does not in any way indicate or guarantee acceptance by the other degree program.

For more information

J.D. Program

Terrell E. West II
Associate Registrar, Office of the Law Registrar
Tel: 305-284-2685
E-mail: twest@law.miami.edu 

Ph.D. Program

Andee Holzman
Assistant Director, Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy
Tel: 305-284-8259
E-mail: andee@miami.edu
Web: www.cesp.miami.edu

The joint program enables students to obtain both a J.D. and a Ph.D. in 6 years. Students fulfill all requirements of the current J.D. and EVR Ph.D. programs, including completing and defending a doctoral dissertation. One full year of the six will be spent taking courses in the School of Law, and the additional five years are spent taking both Law and ECS courses. Click here to see schedule and credit specifics about entering the program through the School of Law and for information about entering through the Ph.D. program.

Curriculum Requirements

JD REQUIREMENTS (79 CREDIT HOURS)67
Refer to the link below for more information on the JD Requirements for Dual/Joint Degrees
JD COURSES TAKEN IN FULFILLMENT OF BOTH DEGREES12
PHD REQUIREMENTS (48 CREDIT HOURS)
Core Courses
ECS 601Interdisciplinary Environmental Research: Introduction to the Why and the How3
ECS 603Interdisciplinary Environmental Methods3
ECS 605Interdisciplinary Enviromental Law and Policy3
Electives15
Dissertation Research 315
Pre-Candidacy Research
Doctoral Dissertation
Required Examinations
Additional Requirements
Research Ethics
EVR Seminars 4
Educational Training Program (TA) 5
Educational Training 1
Educational Training 2
Educational Training 3
PHD COURSES TAKEN IN FULFILLMENT OF BOTH DEGREES9
Total Credit Hours127

Plan of Study

Your actual course sequence may vary depending on your previous academic experience as well as current course offerings. Students should meet with their academic advisor each semester to determine the appropriate course selection.