Program Overview
Students interested in combining their studies in Philosophy with the systematic study of Law may apply to join our Dual Degree JD/PhD Program. Students wishing to obtain these dual degrees must be separately admitted to both programs. Once admitted, students may spend the first full year either in the Law School or in the Department of Philosophy; after that, they may alternate years of enrollment in whatever way best suits their academic development. Since coursework in each program may be counted toward the requirements of the other degree, students enrolled in the dual degree program can earn a JD/PhD in a significantly condensed time frame. The length of time required for these degrees varies depending how long it takes to complete a dissertation, but students enrolled in the program can in principle earn both degrees in six years.
Department of Philosophy Requirements
Students enrolled in the Dual Degree JD/PhD Program must complete all normal requirements for a PhD in Philosophy (including both academic and teaching requirements), with the following provisos:
1. All Philosophy PhD students are permitted to count 2 classes in another school or department toward their PhD degree. With Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) approval, students in the dual degree JD/PhD program may count up to two additional Law School courses toward satisfaction of their P-credit requirements, for a total of 4 P-credit classes in Law.
2. Students in the Dual Degree JD/PhD Program may count up to 2 courses taken at the Law School for Q-credit. The following courses will be automatically approved for such credit: Jurisprudence I: Theories of Law and Adjudication; Jurisprudence II: Advanced Topics in Jurisprudence; Advanced Topics in Moral, Political, and Legal Philosophy. Other courses may be approved at the discretion of the DGS.
3. If students spend their first year at the Law School, the Department of Philosophy permits them to waive their 1st-year seminar requirement in Philosophy.
Law School Requirements
Students enrolled in the Dual Degree JD/PhD Program must complete all normal requirements for a JD in Law, with the following provisos:
1. The Law School permits 25 philosophy course credits to count towards the JD. This can include at least 12 credit hours of Philosophy Courses (i.e., four courses), but with approval of the Deputy Dean of the Law School, more can count. In addition, students may count dissertation writing for course credit by enrolling in PHIL 70000: Advanced Study – Philosophy.
2. It is important to note, however, that JD/PhD students cannot receive credit for work done in Philosophy until they have matriculated at the Law School. Therefore, it is in their interest to matriculate in the law school, if not their first year at the University, then by their second year. However, a student could matriculate at the Law School after two years in Philosophy and still benefit from double-counting of credits throughout the dissertation-writing period.
3. It is also important to note that the Law School requires that the JD and PhD be awarded at the same time.