(Major Code: 21021) (Academic Plan Code: 666904MPAS)
The School of Public Affairs (SPA) at San Diego State University (SDSU) and the University of San Diego’s (USD) School of Law propose a Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration (JD/MPA) concurrent degree program for students interested in examining the interface of law, public administration and management. This joint program would be of interest to students intending to use their law degrees in the public sector, in government administration, in a related nonprofit sector, or to represent public or private sector clients in relations with government agencies. The program would provide a generalist foundation in public administration, management, and public policy, while also offering a law school education that can be applied to various aspects of government. The program would be designed so that students can complete both degrees in as few as eight semesters (four years), compared with 10 semesters if the degrees were pursued separately.
To receive concurrent degrees, students would need to satisfy all requirements for the JD at the USD School of Law (88 units) and the MPA at SDSU’s School of Public Affairs (36 units). Because the dual degree program would allow students to use law school course offerings to satisfy the 12-credit MPA elective requirement, and MPA courses to satisfy six JD elective units, students would be awarded both the JD and MPA simultaneously with a cumulative total of 106 units rather than the combined 124 units.
Each school would need to approve the other school’s courses in advance for students to be able to apply them to both degrees.
Students could either take the 1+3 model whereby they complete the first year at SDSU’s School of Public Affairs, taking 21 units of core classes and then go on to USD’s JD program, after which they would complete the 3-unit capstone or thesis class. Alternatively, they could take the 1+1+2 model in which a first year of law school at USD is followed by a year at SDSU for 21 core units of MPA, and that is followed by 2 years at USD and the 3-unit MPA capstone or thesis.
Option 1 (1+3 model)
Year 1: SDSU only
Year 2: USD only
Year 3: USD only
Year 4: SDSU (capstone/thesis) and USD
Option 2 (1+1+2 model)
Year 1: USD only
Year 2: SDSU only
Year 3: USD only
Year 4: USD and SDSU (capstone/thesis)
Students without prior work experience at a managerial level in the public sector would be required to complete an internship of up to 12 additional supervised internship units (PA 796), which may be satisfied, in all or part, through legal internship coursework with USD.
Admission to the Program
Applicants would apply to and be separately admitted to both USD School of Law and SDSU’s School of Public Affairs. Admission to either the MPA or JD program would not guarantee admission to the other. Admission criteria for the joint MPA would be the same as those for the independent MPA.
Dual Degree Curriculum Requirements
106 units of approved graduate coursework, including 24 units of MPA coursework in SPA, and 82 units of law coursework at USD School of Law.
MPA Degree Requirements
- 33 units of approved graduate coursework, including at least 21 units of MPA coursework in SPA, and up to 12 units from USD School of Law and
- Capstone experience (3 units): PA 795 Public Administration Capstone or PA 799 Thesis
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