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.

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

The J.D./MBA 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 problems that give rise to legal problems, such as issues in marketing, personnel policies, or financing. More than simply determining whether a proposed solution is “legal,” joint degree lawyers can design and formulate an effective and imaginative solution that both meets legal requirements and enables clients to achieve their business objectives.

The J.D./MSIS degree allows students to develop a deep technological understanding of the legal issues in the Information Technology industry and to learn how to use technology effectively in a law practice. The joint degree may be especially useful for potential:

  • In-house lawyers for technology companies
  • Lawyers representing computer software and hardware companies in technology license agreements or litigation
  • Information security lawyers
  • Litigators who plan to develop expertise 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 full-time 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

Law School

General Requirements

General JD requirements are listed in the School of Law Bulletin. Please consult with the School of Law for more information.

Specific J.D./MBA Requirements

A student may transfer 12 quarter units from the business school to the law school. Twelve quarter units translate to 8 semester units. Consequently, a J.D./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. 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.

Students must be within 2 courses of earning the MBA when finishing the law program. Otherwise, they must complete 8 additional units of JD coursework.

Business School

General Requirements

The Leavey School of Business MBA curriculum consists of 70 quarter units of required courses, concentration elective courses, and free elective courses.

Specific J.D./MBA Requirements

A student may transfer eight-semester units from the law school to the business school. Eight-semester units translate to 12 quarter units. Thus, a J.D./MBA student will take 58 units from the MBA curriculum - all 44 units of required core coursework plus 14 units of free electives:

A. Core Business Knowledge (44 quarter units):

  • Financial Accounting (4 units)
  • Managerial Economics (4 units)
  • Financial Management (4 units)
  • Effective Business Communications (2 units)
  • Leading People and Organizations (4 units)
  • Ethics for Managers (2 units)
  • Strategic Analysis (4 units)
  • Business for the Common Good (4 units)
  • Marketing Is Everything (4 units)
  • Doing Business in Silicon Valley (2 units)
  • Business Analytics (4 units)
  • Quantitative Methods ( Statistics & Descriptive Analytics) (2 units)
  • Analytical Decision Making (Prescriptive Analysis & Decision Making) (2 units)
  • Operations Management (2 units)

B. Free Electives (14 quarter units)

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

Under a typical schedule, students complete the program and receive both degrees in three and 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

General Requirements for the J.D./MSIS 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 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

Law School

General JD requirements are listed in the School of Law Bulletin. Please consult with the School of Law for more information.

Specific J.D./MSIS Requirements

  • 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 J.D./MSIS 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. MSIS units must have a grade of C or better and will transfer to the law transcript as Credit/No Credit grades.
  • The first year is spent exclusively in the School of Law. During the second year, students are required to take mostly MSIS classes. Thereafter, work is taken concurrently in the business school and the law school.

Business School

General Requirements

The SCU MSIS curriculum consists of a total of 48  units comprising non-waivable required courses and electives.

Specific J.D./MSIS Requirements

A student may transfer eight-semester units from the law school to the business school (Approved courses are listed below). Eight-semester units translate to 12 quarter units. Thus, a J.D./MSIS student will take 36 units from the MSIS curriculum.  

See the M.S. in Information Systems section in chapter for required courses. Students are required to complete all Core and Experiential Learning requirements.

In no event will any 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 a half or four years.

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

Dual Degree Pathways

Students who have completed a graduate business degree program at SCU may transfer up to 12-quarter units towards another SCU graduate business degree, provided they are equivalent corresponding courses.  The following stipulations need to be met:

  • Core courses transfer first and then any eligible elective courses
  • Courses must be completed in the past five years
  • Courses completed with a grade of B or better
  • Subject to approval from the Faculty Director and Graduate Business Programs Office