Santa Clara University

J.D./MBA Combined Degree Program

The J.D./MBA Combined Degree Program is designed to permit students interested in obtaining both the J.D. degree and the MBA degree to complete both degrees in less time than if they were earned independently. This can be accomplished because certain course work taken at the School of Law can be transferred for credit toward the MBA degree, and, conversely, certain course work taken at the Leavey School of Business can be transferred toward the J.D. Degree.

The dual degree prepares students to approach problems from the perspectives of both a business person and a lawyer. Joint degree lawyers will better understand the business problem that give rise to legal problems, be it marketing, personnel policies, or financing. They can do more than simply determine whether a proposed solution is “legal”; joint degree lawyers can design and formulate an effective and imaginative solution that will meet all legal requirements and permit clients to best achieve their business objectives.

ADMISSION

To participate in the J.D./MBA Program, students must first be admitted to the School of Law. During the first year of the J.D. Program, students apply to the MBA Program, following the regular MBA admissions procedures, including taking the GMAT. Enrollment is limited to full-time students with 45 units or less in the law school, including current enrollment. Students must be in good standing in the Law School to be considered for admission into the MBA program.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

While enrolled in the program, students must:

1. Satisfy the academic requirements of each school
2. Complete the same number of quarter units of credit (business) and semester units of credit (law) as other recipients of the respective degrees, including all courses required by each school
3. Plan a specific, individualized academic program with, and approved by, both the School of Law J.D./MBA Program advisor and the Leavey School of Business J.D./MBA Program advisor.

COMBINED CURRICULUM

Law School

General Requirements:

1. 86 semester units are required to graduate.
2. Students must be enrolled in at least 8 semester units each semester.

Specific JD/MBA Requirements:

1. A student may transfer 12 quarter units from the business school to the law school. Twelve quarter units translate to 8 semester units. Thus, a JD/MBA student must take 78 units at the law school. However, the business school units will not transfer over to the law school until the student is within two business school classes of graduating from the business school. MBA units must have a grade of C or better and will transfer to the law transcript as Credit/No Credit grades.
2. The first year is spent exclusively in the School of Law. During the second year, students are required to take primarily business classes. Thereafter, work is taken concurrently in the business school and the law school.

Business School

General Requirements:

The SCU MBA curriculum consists of 23 courses (for a total of 70 units)
comprising waivable required courses, non-waivable required courses, and electives.

Specific JD/MBA Requirements:

A student may transfer 8 semester units from the law school to the business school. Eight semester units translate to 12 quarter units. Thus, a JD/MBA student will only need to take 12 units of business school elective courses rather than 24 units, in addition to the required courses.

In no event will any such individualized academic program include more than 12 quarter units at the business school for which credit is also obtained at the law school, or more than 8 semester units at the law school for which credit is also obtained at the business school.

Under a typical schedule, students complete the program and receive both degrees in three and one-half or four years.

Note: Students who withdraw from the J.D. Program will not be granted transfer credit toward the MBA degree for courses taken in the School of Law.