Juris Doctor/Master of Professional Accounting (JD/MPAC)

The Seattle University juris doctor/master of professional accounting joint degree program is designed to allow students to complete both degrees in less time than if the two degrees were obtained independently outside the program. Certain courses taken at the School of Law count toward the MPAC degree and certain courses taken in the Albers School of Business and Economics count toward the JD degree. This joint degree program is available to both full- and part-time students.

MPAC degree: Full-time students ordinarily complete the master of professional accounting degree in a minimum of two years. MPAC students must demonstrate computer and math proficiency and complete eight business and six accounting fundamental business classes, or they may seek to have some or all of those courses waived. In addition to the fundamental courses, students in the master of professional accounting program must complete 46 credits of course work in designated areas, including eleven required courses and five electives. See specific MPAC course requirements in this Graduate Bulletin.

JD degree: Full-time law students ordinarily complete the JD degree in three years; part-time students may take four years or longer. Students must complete a total of 90 semester credits of course work. In the full-time program, students complete 30 credits of required course work in their first year. In their second and third years, law students must complete 15 credits of required course work and 45 elective credits. For specific JD course requirements see the School of Law Bulletin .

JD/MPAC Joint Degree Program: Full-time students can complete the JD/MPAC joint degree program in a minimum of four years, which is one year less than would be required to complete the two degrees independently. Time to completion will be longer if the student is part-time and/or if the student must complete the business prerequisites for the MPAC degree. Students in the JD/MPAC program must complete the equivalent of 90 semester credits for the JD degree and the equivalent of 46-88 quarter credits plus the prerequisites (unless waived) for the MPAC degree. Students can satisfy the requirements for each degree by using a specified number of crossover credits chosen from a list of approved courses in each school. Of the 90 semester credits required for the JD degree, 12 semester credits can be satisfied by 18 quarter credits chosen from a list of specified graduate business degree courses. Of the 46-88 quarter credits required for the MPAC degree, 9 quarter credits can be satisfied by 6 semester credits chosen from a list of specified JD degree courses. Students must, however, complete all of the required courses for each degree.

Crossover Courses for Joint Degree Program

The following courses can be used to satisfy elective credits toward the juris doctor and graduate business degrees. Not all courses are offered each quarter, semester, or year, and some courses may require particular sequencing or have prerequisites. In addition to the courses listed below, students may, upon approval, receive crossover credit for other appropriate courses that may be offered from time to time. Crossover credit will not be granted for courses that are substantially similar to courses already taken in the other school.

School of Law

Administrative Law
Advanced Real Estate
Antitrust
Bankruptcy
Basic Real Estate
Business Entities
Business Planning
Client Counseling and Negotiation
Community Development and Entrepreneurship Clinic
Consumer Law
Corporate Acquisitions
Corporate and Partnership Tax
Corporate Finance
Corporate Governance
Corporate Law Appellate Litigation
Corporations, Law and Society
Dispute Resolution
Employment Discrimination
Employment Law
Environmental Law: Fundamentals
Environmental Law-NEPA/SEPA
Health Law I
Individual Income Tax
Intellectual Property
International Business Transactions
International Tax
International Trade
Labor Law: Private Sector
Labor Law: Public Sector
Land Use Planning
Law and Economics Seminar
Mediation, Advocacy, and Collaborative Law
Not For Profit Organization Clinic
Payment Law
Pensions and Employee Benefits
Products Liability
Public International Law (formerly International Law)
Securities Regulation
Taxation of Charitable Organizations
UCC Sales and Secured Transactions

Albers School of Business and Economics

Accounting

Economics

Finance

Management and Marketing

NOTE:

¹ The American Bar Association, one of the accrediting agencies for law schools, requires that the JD degree be completed within a maximum of seven years.
² One quarter credit is the equivalent of .67 semester credits. A three-quarter credit crossover business course could, for example, be used to satisfy two-semester credits for the JD degree.
³ One semester credit is the equivalent of 1.5 quarter credits. A four-semester credit crossover law course could, for example, be used to satisfy six-quarter credits for the graduate business degree.