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
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 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 DEGREES | 12 | |
| PHD REQUIREMENTS (48 CREDIT HOURS) | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| ECS 601 | Interdisciplinary Environmental Research: Introduction to the Why and the How | 3 |
| ECS 603 | Interdisciplinary Environmental Methods | 3 |
| ECS 605 | Interdisciplinary Enviromental Law and Policy | 3 |
| Electives | 15 | |
| Dissertation Research 3 | 15 | |
| 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 DEGREES | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 127 | |
