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Joint Degrees

In today’s global economy, lawyers need to study more than just the academic discipline of law. Cornell University is uniquely positioned to foster multidisciplinary academic pursuits.

As a major Ivy League research university, Cornell offers numerous academic disciplines and over 4000 courses ranging from professional degree programs in graduate management and public affairs to more than 90 fields of study at the University Graduate School.

We offer joint degrees in the following areas:

General Application Procedures

  • Students wishing to pursue a joint degree program at the Law School and another program at Cornell University must apply to each program separately and follow the application procedures of each respective program.
  • Applicants can apply to each program concurrently or apply and be admitted to one program and later apply to the second program the next admissions cycle.
  • Successful applicants to a joint degree program must be admitted to each program.
  • Each academic program reviews applications and renders admissions decisions completely independently of other academic programs at the university.

J.D. and M.B.A. Degrees

Cornell Law School and the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell offer a program for combining law school education with graduate management training. Students receive both the J.D. and Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degrees in four years, rather than the normal five years.

Student Schedule:

  • First year is spent entirely in one school.
  • Second year, entirely in the other school.
  • Third year is divided between the two schools.
  • Requirements for the award of the M.B.A. degree must be completed by the end of the third year.
  • Fourth year is devoted entirely to Law School studies and qualifies student for the J.D. degree.

Requirements:

Students must complete 81 credit hours of Law School credit (72 in the Law School), rather than the 84 credit hours required of students in the regular law program.

Students enrolled in the joint law and management program need take only 86 hours if they wish to pursue the J.D. with the Berger International Legal Studies Specialization, but may not count management courses for the program’s total-hours or course requirements.

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J.D. and M.P.A. Degrees

Cornell Law School and the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs (CIPA) offer a four-year program that leads to a J.D. degree and a Master of Public Administration degree.

Student Schedule:

  • First year is spent entirely in one school.
  • Second year, entirely in the other school.
  • Third year and fourth years are spent mostly in the Law School, but students must generally take at least one course each semester to fulfill CIPA requirements.

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J.D. and M.R.P. Degrees

Cornell Law School and the Department of City and Regional Planning in the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning offer a four-year program that leads to a J.D. degree and a Master of Regional Planning (M.R.P.) degree.

Student Schedule (This joint degree program includes two options for completion.):

Option 1

  • First year is spent entirely in the Law School.
  • Second and third years are spent in the Law School, but students take one course each semester in the Department of City and Regional Planning.
  • Fourth year is spent entirely in the Department of City and Regional Planning and completes the requirements for an M.R.P. degree.

Option 2

  • First year is spent entirely in Department of City and Regional Planning.
  • Second, third and fourth years are spent in the Law School, but students are required to take certain Law School courses that have a direct bearing on Planning.

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J.D. and M.I.L.R. Degrees

The School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University offers a two-semester program for outstanding Law School graduates that leads to the Master of Industrial and Labor Relations (M.I.L.R.) degree. Both recent graduates and those working in the field of law may apply.

The program provides general coverage of industrial and labor relations and is suitable for those having little prior course work in the field. The M.I.L.R. program is normally completed in four semesters; however, law graduates who enter the special program can complete the program in one year.

An applicant must be a graduate of a school of law and meet the normal requirements for admission to the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. A candidate deficient in preparation in the social sciences is advised to do additional work before entry. Read more about the M.I.L.R. degree.

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J.D. Degree and Ph.D. or M.A. Degree in Other Fields

Students may pursue joint degrees in other fields, such as economics and history. In all cases, separate applications to the Law School and the relevant field in the Graduate School must be submitted.

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