Combined/Dual Degree Programs

The Leavey School of Business, in partnership with the School of Law, offers two combined degree programs: the J.D./MBA Program and the J.D./MSIS Program.

Combined Degree Programs allow students to earn both a J.D. degree and either an MBA or MSIS degree in less time than pursuing them separately. This accelerated completion is possible because select coursework from the School of Law can be transferred for credit towards the MBA or MSIS, and conversely, certain courses from the Leavey School of Business can be applied towards the J.D. degree.

The J.D./MBA dual degree prepares graduates to analyze issues through the lenses of both business and law. These professionals gain a deeper understanding of the business contexts that often underlie legal problems, such as those in marketing, personnel policies, or finance. Rather than simply assessing the legality of a proposed solution, they can develop effective and innovative strategies that not only meet legal requirements but also enable clients to achieve their business goals.

The J.D./MSIS degree enables students to develop a strong technological understanding of legal issues within the Information Technology industry and to learn how to effectively leverage technology in legal practice. This joint degree can be particularly beneficial for those interested in becoming:

In-house counsel for technology companies
Lawyers representing computer software and hardware companies in technology licensing agreements or litigation
Information security lawyers
Litigators aiming to specialize in complex e-discovery

Admission

To participate in a Combined Degree 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 or MSIS Program, following the regular admissions procedures, including taking the GMAT or GRE standardized test. Enrollment in the J.D./MBA or J.D./MSIS Program is limited to law 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 or MSIS programs. Law students interested in applying for the J.D./MBA program must also submit a signed copy of the J.D./MBA Memorandum of Understanding to both schools.

General Requirements for the J.D./MBA Program

While enrolled in the program, students must:

Satisfy the academic requirements of each school
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 core courses required by each school
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
Business School units must have a grade of C or better and will transfer to the School of Law transcript as CR/NC grades

Combined Curriculum

Students enrolled in the combined J.D./MBA program may transfer a limited number of units between the two schools. Up to 12 quarter units from the MBA program (equivalent to 8 semester units) may be applied toward the J.D. degree. Conversely, 8 semester units from the J.D. program (equivalent to 12 quarter units) may be applied toward the MBA degree. All transferred units must be approved by the program’s Faculty Director.

MBA courses will appear on the law school transcript only when the student has two or fewer MBA courses remaining. To be eligible for transfer, MBA courses must be completed with a grade of C or better and will be recorded on the law transcript as Credit/No Credit.

In no case may an individual academic plan include more than 12 quarter units from the Leavey School of Business that also count toward the J.D., or more than 8 semester units from the School of Law that also count toward the MBA.

For the MBA portion of the program, the 8 semester units transferred from the J.D. program reduces the required MBA coursework to 58 quarter units, consisting of 44 core units and 14 free elective units. For a breakdown of core requirements and electives, see the MBA section in Chapter 6 of the Bulletin.

Students typically complete the dual-degree program in three and a half to four years. Please note that students who withdraw from the J.D. program will not receive MBA credit for courses taken in the School of Law.

General Requirements for the J.D./MSIS Program

The J.D. program requires the completion of 78 units, as detailed in the School of Law Bulletin. Students should consult the School of Law for the most current and comprehensive information. The Leavey School of Business MSIS curriculum consists of 48 quarter units, which include core requirements and electives. See the M.S. in Information Systems section in chapter 6 for required courses. Students are required to complete all Core and Experiential Learning requirements.

While enrolled in the program, students must:

Satisfy the academic requirements of each school
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
Plan a specific, individualized academic program with and approved by both the School of Law J.D./MSIS Program advisor and the Leavey School of Business J.D./MSIS Program advisor

Combined Curriculum

Students enrolled in the combined J.D./MSIS program may transfer a limited number of units between the two schools. Up to 12 quarter units from the MSIS program (equivalent to 8 semester units) may be applied toward the J.D. degree. Conversely, 8 semester units from the J.D. program (equivalent to 12 quarter units) may be applied toward the MSIS degree. All transferred units must be approved by the program’s Faculty Director.

MSIS courses will appear on the law school transcript only when the student has two or fewer MSIS courses remaining. To be eligible for transfer, MSIS courses must be completed with a grade of C or better and will be recorded on the law transcript as Credit/No Credit.

For the MSIS portion of the program, the 8 semester units transferred from the J.D. program reduces the required coursework to 36 units. For a breakdown of courses, see the MSIS section in Chapter 6 of the Bulletin.

Students typically complete the dual-degree program in three years. Please note that students who withdraw from the J.D. program will not receive MSIS credit for courses taken in the School of Law.

Dual Degree Pathways

Students who have completed a graduate business degree at SCU may transfer a maximum of 12 quarter units toward another SCU graduate business degree if the courses are equivalent. Students pursuing more than two programs should note that each course can only be transferred once. The following conditions apply:

Core courses are transferred first, followed by any eligible elective courses.
Courses must have been completed within the past five years.
A minimum grade of B is required for transfer eligibility.
Transfers are subject to approval by the Faculty Director and the Graduate Business Programs Office.