Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration (JD/MPA)

Institute of Public Service
Russell M. Lidman, PhD, Program Director
Kasa Tupua Pierson, MA, MPA, Coordinator

School of Law
Mark Niles, JD, Dean
Annette E. Clark, MD, JD, Vice Dean
Donna Claxton Deming, JD, Assoc. Dean for Student Affairs
Public Administration and Law Joint Degree Program

The Seattle University public administration and law joint degree program allows students to choose whether their first year is spent in the Institute of Public Service (IPS) or in the School of Law. Once a student chooses, he or she may not cross over into the other area during that first year. The second year is spent in the other school (e.g., if the student chose law first, the second year would be in public administration and vice versa). The last two years (or more) are mixed in that students may take courses in both the IPS and the law school. The Institute of Public Service operates on a quarter system and the School of Law operates on a semester system. Therefore, specific schedules must be carefully coordinated with and approved by the associate dean for students at the School of Law and the director of the IPS.

Admission Requirements for the Joint Degree Program

Students are required to be admitted separately to both the School of Law and the Institute of Public Service, and should consult the Graduate Catalog for the specific admissions requirements for each school. Students may be admitted to both schools before starting in the joint program; alternatively, students may seek admission to the other school during their first year of law or public administration. In any case, students will be expected to meet the respective school’s admissions deadlines for the coming year.

Length of Program

The minimum length of time required to complete the joint degree program is four years for full-time students. The length of time required for completion of the joint degree program will be longer if the student is part–time.