Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (JD/MACJ)

Criminal Justice Department
Jacqueline B. Helfgott, PhD, Chair
Elaine Gunnison, PhD, Graduate Director

School of Law
Annette Clark, MD, JD, Dean
Paul Holland, JD, LL.M, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Donna Claxton Deming, JD, Associate Dean for Student Affairs

The Seattle University JD/MACJ Joint Degree Program is designed to allow students interested in obtaining both the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and the Juris Doctor degrees to complete the degrees in less time than if the two degrees were obtained independently outside the program. Full- time students are able to complete the two degrees in less time because, through the joint degree program, specified courses taken within the MACJ program may count toward the JD degree and specified courses taken in the School of Law may count toward the MACJ degree. The joint degree program is also available to part-time students.

Admission Requirements for the Joint Degree Program

Students are required to be admitted separately to both the School of Law and the College of Arts and Sciences 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 program during their first year at Seattle University. In any case, students will be expected to meet the respective school’s admissions deadlines for the coming year.

Length of Program

The length of time required to complete the joint degree program is 4 years for full-time students. The length of time required for completion of the joint degree program may be longer if the student is part–time.

Credit Requirements

Students in the joint program are required to complete 90 semester credits for the JD degree and 55 quarter credits for the MACJ degree. In the joint degree program, students can satisfy the requirements for each degree by using a specified number of crossover credits to be chosen from a list of approved courses in each school. This allows the student, whether full-time or part-time, to complete the two degrees in a shorter period of time than if the student sought to obtain the JD and MACJ degrees independently. 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 courses from the MACJ program (listed below). Of the 55 quarter credits required for the MACJ degree, a student enrolled in the joint degree program may satisfy up to 18 of the quarter credits required for the Law concentration with 12 semester credits earned in the law school from a list of approved courses (listed below). One quarter credit is the equivalent of .67 semester credits.

Joint JD/MACJ Degree Summary

1. Students must be admitted to both programs under the programs’ standard requirements.
2. Students may be admitted to the joint degree program before beginning any studies and may then take their first year in either program. Alternatively, students in their first year in either the School of Law or MACJ program may apply for admission to the joint degree program during the fall term of their first year at Seattle University.
3. Candidates for the joint JD/MACJ program must satisfy all of the requirements for the MACJ degree and for the JD degree. This includes either a comprehensive exam or a master’s thesis for the MACJ.
4. During the first two semesters in law school, joint degree students may not take courses in the criminal justice department.
5. Joint degree students who begin in the law school and who have completed their first year may take one course each semester in the law school so long as they are not taking more than 3 courses each quarter in their first year of the MACJ program.
6. The JD Degree for joint MACJ/JD students requires 90 semester credits, consisting of at least 78 semester credits earned in the law school and up to 12 semester credit equivalents (18 quarter credits) earned in the MACJ program. Of the 18 crossover quarter credits accepted, 9 credits will be from the list of approved elective courses and 9 credits will be from the list of approved foundation courses (including the Criminal Justice Capstone Seminar).
7. The MACJ degree for joint MACJ/JD students requires 55 quarter credits, consisting of 28 quarter credits of foundation courses, 18 quarter credits of concentration courses, and 9 quarter credits of elective courses. Up to 18 quarter credits (12 semester credits) may be earned in the School of Law to satisfy the concentration credits for the MACJ degree.