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Dual Degree Program

Joint MPA-JD Program

The School of Law and the Graduate School of Texas Tech University offer a joint-degree program which allows students to complete the requirements for the MPA and the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees in less than the five years that would be required if the two degrees were pursued separately. The joint program reduces the total required hours through a reciprocal arrangement. The 12 hours of approved public administration courses are counted as elective credit toward the J.D. degree, while the 18 hours of law are counted as credit toward the MPA degree. As a result, students in the joint program take 78 hours of law and 24 hours of public administration (which includes 18 hours of core courses plus two other courses, preferably the Administrative Law and Administrative Ethics course) to earn both degrees. Students are also required to complete six hours of internship. To enter the joint program, candidates must apply separately to the School of Law and the Graduate School and be accepted by both.

Applications and other admission requirements for the School of Law may be obtained from:

Office of Admissions
School of Law
Texas Tech University
P.O. Box 40004
Lubbock, TX 79409
http://www.law.ttu.edu/admissions/default.asp

This application must be supported by scores on the Law School Aptitude Test (LSAT). On the application for both schools, candidates should indicate their desire to enter the Joint MPA-JD program. The LSAT examination should be taken as early as possible in the senior year for timely consideration of admission applications by both schools. In no case will a student be permitted to enter the joint program if the student has not been accepted to the MPA part of the program by the end of the student’s fourth semester in law school. Further information on this program can be obtained from the MPA program director.

Joint MPA-MA in Economics

The Center for Public Service in the Department of Political Science and the Department of Economics, both in the College of Arts and Sciences, offer a 54-hour, joint-degree program leading to the Master of Public Administration and Master of Arts in Economics. The program is designed primarily for students who wish to complement their administrative skills with knowledge of economics. This joint-degree program will be particularly helpful to students intending to specialize in areas such as fiscal administration, health administration, and policy analysis.

Students wishing to pursue this dual degree program must apply to, and be accepted by, both the Master of Public Administration program in the Department of Political Science and the Department of Economics. To fulfill the requirements of the dual-degree program, the student must take 18 hours of core courses in public administration, 18 hours or course courses in economics, and 12 hours of approved elective courses in public administration, economics, or in a related field, plus 6 hours of internship in public administration for a total of 54 hours. Concentration areas include: Fiscal Administration, Policy Analysis, and Health Administration.

The first two years of study will consist entirely of the core courses in public administration and economics. The third year will consist of the balance of course work in specialized areas in public administration or economics. An applicant’s GPA, GRE score, two letters of recommendation, and an essay, are factors considered for admission.