Joint Degree Programs

The faculties of the Law School and the Graduate Schools work in close collaboration to offer five exciting, new joint-degree programs: the J.D./M.S. in Sports Administration, the J.D./M.B.A. in Sports Administration, the J.D./M.S. in Marriage and Family Counseling, the J.D./M.B.A. in International Business, and the J.D./M.B.A. in Accounting.

These programs offer St. Thomas students the opportunity to complete both the Juris Doctor and the Master’s degrees in the three years it typically takes to complete the Juris Doctor degree alone. The Graduate School and the Law School have agreed to accept credits courses taken at the other school, thereby reducing the total number of credits needed for both degrees. Participants thus complete both degrees, receiving a diploma for each, in a reduced period with reduced overall costs.

ADMISSION

All St. Thomas University School of Law students who entered in the fall and are in good standing at the completion of their first year of law school are eligible for admission into any of the joint degree programs. Students must meet all admission requirements for St. Thomas University graduate programs. A law student wishing to matriculate into one of the joint degree programs must file an application for admission before the last day of classes of the Spring Term of their first year. After filing the application, the student must meet with the degree program coordinator from the graduate school to which they seek admission. The degree program coordinator of the graduate school will ensure that the degree program will meet the educational objectives of the student and ensure that the degree program student has the requisite background and skills in the areas of study of the graduate degree program to successfully compete in the graduate degree program. Upon approval by the degree program coordinator of the respective graduate school program, the student will be admitted into the joint degree program. Students must then begin to undertake study in the respective graduate program beginning in the first summer term following the first year of law school.

St. Thomas University School of Law students who enter in the spring term (Spring Entrants) may seek admission to a joint degree program by filing an application before the last day of classes of their second semester of law school. Spring Entrants must be in good standing after the end of their second semester of law school to be considered for admission to a joint degree program. Spring Entrants must then meet with the joint degree program coordinator of the graduate school to which they seek admission. The degree program coordinator of the graduate school will ensure that the degree program will meet the educational objectives of the student and ensure that the degree program student has the requisite background and skills in the respective area of study of the graduate degree program to successfully compete in the graduate degree program. Upon approval by the degree program coordinator of the respective graduate school the Spring Entrant student will be admitted into the joint degree program and will begin taking graduate school courses, as scheduling permits, as soon as possible following admission into the program. Spring Entrants should be advised that course scheduling for the joint degree programs, focuses primarily on ensuring course availability in the appropriate sequence to fall term entrants. Spring Entrants may encounter some delay in taking the required graduate school courses to complete the degree program.

 

GRADING

For Law School and Graduate School courses, joint degree students will be graded on the respective grading scales applicable to them at the Law School and Graduate School.

 

ACADEMIC STANDING

Joint degree students who exceed the necessary requirements for good standing in the J.D. program at the Law School and at the Graduate School in which they are enrolled shall remain in good academic standing. Those who fall below the minimum levels required for good standing at either school are placed on academic probation, subject to the rules governing academic probation and dismissal at the School or Schools at which they are on probation.
Except in exceptional circumstances in which a student is granted a leave of absence, students admitted into a joint degree program must take classes continuously upon admission into the program into completion of all required courses. Failure to satisfactorily complete all required courses in the graduate school will preclude the student from obtaining the graduate school degree and the J.D. Failure of the student to complete all required courses in the law school will likewise preclude the student from obtaining a J.D. degree or the respective graduate degree. The entire required graduate school curriculum serves to replace elective credit hours the law student would otherwise have to take to acquire the J.D. degree. However, individual graduate course credit hours are not transferable to the J.D. degree. Accordingly, students must complete all required graduate school courses in order to meet graduation criteria for the J.D. degree. Students are not given partial credit. In the event the student does not satisfactorily complete all required courses in the respective graduate school the student will then be required to take elective courses in the J.D. program sufficient to satisfy graduation requirements and the student will not be given J.D. credit for the graduate degree courses.

 
Likewise, in the event the student does not successfully complete the required J.D. program, the respective graduate school will not count any of the law school courses toward degree requirements in the respective graduate school and the student would have to acquire sufficient credit hours in the respective graduate school to qualify for the respective graduate school degree.

COST

Upon admission to the joint degree program, s tudents pay the applicable graduate tuition rate per credit for the courses taken in the respective graduate school and the applicable law school tuition rate per credit hour for courses taken in the law school . Students are responsible for all other fees and costs applicable to law and/ o r graduate students.

 

WITHDRAWAL FROM PROGRAM

Students may withdraw from the graduate school component of the joint degree program at any time. However, upon withdrawal none of the credit hours earned in the respective graduate school are credited toward the J.D. degree and the student must complete all J.D. requirements to receive his or her J.D. degree.

Students who withdraw from the law school component of the joint degree may continue with their graduate school degree. However, credits earned in the law school will not transfer to the respective graduate school. Students must meet the graduation requirements of the respective graduate school to qualify for the graduate degree.

FINANCIAL AID

Participation in a joint degree program does not affect the student’s eligibility for scholarships or financial aid otherwise available from the law school. Student loans and other sources of funds may be available through government subsidized loan programs. Students must comply with the applicable rules and procedures for obtaining such loans.

HONORS

Participants in the joint degree programs must meet the same criteria otherwise applicable to J.D. students to graduate with honors in the J.D. program and must meet the same criteria otherwise applicable to graduate with honors in the graduate degree program.

ADMINISTRATION

Students in the joint degree programs must follow all administrative procedures for registration as required by both the law school and the respective graduate school. The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs from the law school and the joint degree program coordinator of the respective graduate school shall serve as advisors to the Joint Degree students. In the event of a student requiring special consideration or deviation from the requirements contained herein, both the Director of Student Affairs of the law school and the joint degree program coordinator of the respective graduate school must unanimously agree to such modification or deviation.

J.D./M.S. in Sports Administration and J.D./M.B.A. in Sports Adminstration

St. Thomas University offers two exciting programs for students with an interest in both law and sports administration. One program leads to a joint J.D. and M.S. degree the other program leads to a joint J.D. and M.B.A. degree. People who know sports administration know St. Thomas. The University was a pioneer in the sports administration field . The program was started in 1973 and today offers one of the most highly esteemed programs in the country.
For the St. Thomas law student interested in working as a college athletics compliance officer, sports agent, commissioner of sports leagues or conferences, or any number of other sports-related legal careers, the J.D./M.S. in Sports Administration and J.D./M.B.A. are excellent choices. Students receive a first-rate legal education through the School of Law, while taking specialized sports and business administration classes toward their respective Master’s degree. Classes in sports administration will provide students with the unique skills necessary for success in this area through courses in sports financial management, sports marketing and promotions, and sports media and public relations. These program are designed to qualify joint-degree graduates to compete for positions in top sports-related legal fields. For the course requirements for these programs please see the current law school catalog.

J.D./M.B.A. in International Business

Students in the joint J.D./M.B.A. program in International Business earn both degrees in three years, instead of the traditional four and a half years. They learn the skills necessary for success in today’s rapidly changing, global business environment through courses such as International Economics, International Finance, International Business Transactions, and International Trade. Miami, one of the world’s most active commercial hubs, is an opportune venue for the program. For the course requirements for this program please see the current school catalog.

J.D./M.B.A in Accounting

 

Students in the joint J.D./M.B.A. program in International Business earn both degrees in

three years, instead of the traditional four and a half years. They learn the skills necessary for success in today’s rapidly changing, global business environment through courses such as International Economics, International Finance, International Business Transactions, and International Trade. Miami, one of the world's most active commercial hubs, is an opportune venue for the program.

 

J.D./M.S. in Marriage and Family Counseling

The J.D./M.S. in Marriage and Family Counseling fills a significant and largely unrecognized gap in legal education. Marriage and family counseling issues are inherent in an array of matters handled by family law practitioners. To optimize the client’s well -being in such cases, the attorney must see the client through the eyes of a trained therapist. For example, the attorney seeking a protective order for a battered woman might well endanger his client without such knowledge, mistaking the loving respite phase of the battering cycle for the absence of danger to the client. Since most family law clients are in a state of emotional upheaval, attorneys with a formal background in areas such as the theory and practice of counseling couples, transitions in family life, and multicultural counseling will be better prepared to work closely with them and to recognize and address their legal and emotional needs. Students who complete the joint degree will be well prepared to enter, inter alia, fields such as non-profit family advocacy and juvenile, domestic, and family law practice. For the course requirements for this program please see the current school catalog