J.D./M.S.Ed. in Community and Social Change

Overview

This joint degree is ideal for J.D. students with an interest in public interest law. The combined degrees provide globally aware leaders:

• An additional set of knowledge and skills in community organizations
• Background in the essentials of research methodologies in social and behavioral sciences
• Increase in leadership skill strength based on both theory and practice
• The skills to create, inspire and engage community organizations to foster well-being in diverse community settings

Admission Requirements

Students are admitted to the Law School J.D. program and the Community and Social Change masters program separately. The Program in Community and Social Change will accept a limited number of joint degree students. Admitted students and current 1L students supply a personal statement attached to an email indicating they are applying to the joint degree program in Law, Community and Social Change. It should be sent to: Hakim Lakhdar, Director of Professional and Intellectual Life Programming, School of Law. (See contact information below.)

• Prospective Law Students are admitted to the Law School first, checking a box on their application indicating their interest in the joint degree program. Once accepted to the Law School, the student’s law school application including LSAT score, undergraduate transcript, and letters of recommendation (two of them required for the J.D. program) will be sent to the School of Education and Human Development for admissions consideration. The student will then hear from the School of Education and Human Development regarding his/her admission to the joint degree program.
• 1Ls are also able to apply to the program by completing a School of Education and Human Development application.
• An LSAT score may be submitted in lieu of the GRE.

Curriculum Requirements*

• No single course may satisfy more than one of the three graduation requirements (skills, writing and professional responsibility).

• Some designated courses and clinics may satisfy EITHER the skills or the writing requirement.

• Externships Cap: Only 9 externship credits may be counted towards the minimum credits required for graduation.

• There are a number of ways to meet the substantial writing course requirement, including through enrolling in designated courses and seminars, and through faculty supervised independent writing credit.

Sample Plan of Study

3-Year Program with 2 Summers

3 1/2 Year Program