Law and Diplomacy Major Dual Degree J.D./M.A.
The School of Diplomacy and International Relations participates in graduate dual degree programs with the Seton Hall School of Law, the Stillman School of Business, the Department of Public Administration and the Program in Strategic Communications. Each program has its own admission process. Applicants for a dual degree program must be accepted separately to each program, either at the time of initial enrollment or during the first semester.
Once enrolled, students should consult with academic advisers in both programs to coordinate their curriculum. Dual degree course requirements for each program are listed below.
The School of Diplomacy and the School of Law jointly offer a four-year program leading to the degrees of Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Relations and Juris Doctor (J.D.). The program, which is available only to full- time students, may be completed in only four years and one Summer, rather than the five years usually required for the completion of both degrees.
Admission Requirements
Students must complete separate applications for the School of Diplomacy and for the School of Law. LSAC materials can be repurposed and accompany the diplomacy online application. Students should indicate on their original applications that they wish to pursue the combined degree program. Alternatively, students enrolled in the first or second year of full-time study at the School of Law may, during that year, apply for admission to the joint program by making application to the School of Diplomacy, identify themselves as candidates for the joint degree program and notify the Law School of their intent to seek admission to that program. Some loss of credits may result from such late application to the joint program. Only one application fee for the two programs is required.
Admission to the joint degree program requires that students be accepted for admission to each of the respective schools and that students’ participation be approved by the admissions committees or academic deans of both schools.
Full Time Status
Because of residency requirements and other considerations, the combined program can only be completed by students enrolled on a full-time basis. With the joint consent of the academic dean of the Law School and the academic dean of the School of Diplomacy, and for good cause, a student may be allowed to remain in the program although enrolled on a part-time basis only after the completion of the second year of full-time participation in the program. Such approval for part-time status must be renewed every semester. No waiver of the full-time status requirement may be granted during the first two years of the program.
Pattern of Study
Students in the combined program spend their first year of study completing the regular first-year curriculum of the School of Law. During the second and subsequent years, students may complete the program by taking credits at both the School of Law and the School of Diplomacy and International Relations.
Advising
Students in the combined program must have their courses approved by the advisers in both the Law School and the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, and students should consult with the academic dean of each school regarding course schedules.
Curriculum Requirements
A student enrolled in the combined degree program must complete 88 credits at the Law School and another 30 credits at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, for a total of 118 credits, instead of the 130 credits that would be required to complete the two programs separately.
At the School of Diplomacy, students must complete 18 credits of required courses and 12 credits of electives. At a student’s option, 9 of these elective credits may be concentrated in a functional or regional specialization. As part of coursework at the Law School, students must complete 12 credits within the International Legal Studies Group (except INTL 9607 European Union Law Seminar). Students must also complete the Law School course WRTG 9142 Independent Research) or a second Advanced Writing Requirement course drawn from the International Legal Studies Group.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course Requirements | ||
| Diplomacy courses | ||
| DIPL 6000 | International Relations Theory | 3 |
| DIPL 6001 | Politics of Cultural and Ethnic Pluralism | 3 |
| or DIPL 6180 | Comparative Foreign Policy | |
| DIPL 6002 | International Organizations | 3 |
| or DIPL 6004 | Peacemaking and Peacekeeping | |
| DIPL 6105 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| or DIPL 6155 | Advanced Economic Aspects of International Relations | |
| DIPL 6104 | Art and Science Negotiation | 3 |
| or DIPL 6130 | International Security | |
| DIPL 7111 | Internship * | 3 |
| Diplomacy Electives | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- *
A student with a clerkship may substitute a Diplomacy elective for the internship requirement.
As part of their Law School coursework, students must complete the following requirements:
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