The College of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis and the School of Law offer an integrated program in which students may obtain both a MEd degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis with a concentration in Higher Education and a JD degree from the School of Law. Although an MEd degree in higher education normally requires two years of study, and a JD requires three years, many students will be able to complete the program in four years.
Application Procedure
Applicants to the Dual Degree Program must submit formal applications for admission to the School of Law and to the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis, accompanied by a statement requesting permission to pursue the dual-degree program. Students must meet the requirements for admission to both programs. Contact the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis and the School of Law for further information on admissions requirements. Both applications and the request must normally be submitted before a student has substantially completed the requirements of either program. However, petitions requesting admission to the dual-degree program from students at more advanced stages in either program will be considered.
Degree Requirement Summary
The program outlined below meets requirements for the JD degree with 83 law credit hours, and 6 elective credit hours in education, for a total of 89 credit hours. Requirements for the MEd degree in higher education are met with 24 credit hours of courses in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis and 9 elective credit hours within the School of Law. The detailed program of study in higher education is also subject to approval by the student’s advisor in ELPA. Students in the dual-degree program normally spend their first year taking the traditional first-year law school curriculum. During the remainder of the program, students will take courses both in the law school and ELPA.
School of Law Required Courses
89 hours required for graduation
1st Year
5010, 5015 Civil Procedure (5)
5020, 5025 Contracts (6)
5035 Criminal Law (4)
5040 Property I (3)
5070 Torts (4)
5080 Legal Research and Writing (3)
5085 Advocacy and Research (3)
5095 Lawyering (2)
2nd Year
5220 Constitutional Law (4)
5260 Evidence (4)
2nd or 3rd Year
5045 Property II (3)
5240 Criminal Procedure (3)
5280 Professional Responsibility (3)
Law electives – 36 credits
Public Affairs electives – 6 credits (at level 7000 or higher)
*Students who are placed on probation at the end of the fall semester of the first year will be required to take Foundations of Legal Studies II in the spring semester. This course is designed to assist students in meeting their graduation requirements.
Recommended Law School Electives
Of the 89 hours required for graduation, at least 83 hours of credit must be law school credit, including 47 hours of required course work. Six credit hours in elective courses at the Truman School of Public Affairs will be counted toward the 89 total hours required for graduation.
Education Leadership & Policy Analysis Program of Study
33 hours required for graduation
Requirements for the MEd degree are met with 24 credit hours of courses in the ELPA Department and 9 elective credit hours within the School of Law. The program of study in education is subject to approval by the student’s advisor.
Required Courses (15 Credits)
ED LPA 7452 Overview of Higher Education
ED LPA 9440 Race, Gender, and Ethnicity in Higher Education
ED LPA 9450 Administration and Governance of Higher Education
ED LPA 9451 Higher Education Finance
ED LPA 9485 Assessment in Higher Education
Higher Education Electives (9 Credits)
Three graduate-level course electives (9 semester hours) in higher education to address individual interests, or other appropriate graduate courses with the consultation and approval of the student’s advisor. Electives will allow for work in areas of individual interest.
Law Electives (9 Credits)
Nine credit hours in elective courses at the School of Law will be counted toward the 33 total hours required.
Policy
Students whose prior background does not allow them to undertake the program specified above may be admitted contingent upon their completing additional courses for which they may not receive graduate credit.
- The School of Law cannot award credit for any class taken before matriculation at the School of Law. Dual degree candidates must therefore enroll at the School of Law before taking the 6 credits of ELPA courses to be counted toward the JD degree.
- Dual degree candidates who subsequently decide to pursue only the MEd in ELPA or the JD degree must complete the degree program in its entirety and subject to the same rules and requirements as students not pursuing a dual degree.
- Law students who receive credit under the dual degree program for taking ELPA courses may not receive credit for taking other classes outside the School of Law.
- Student honors and class ranks at the School of Law will be computed on classes enrolled in as law courses.
- The listing of courses does not constitute a binding commitment that the courses will be offered during the student’s course of study or that the graduation requirements will remain unchanged.
- Students in the dual-degree program are subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to all students at the School of Law and the Department of ELPA.