Dual Ph.D./J.D. Program

Earn your doctorate in philosophy and a law degree at the same time.

About the Program

This program involves simultaneous enrollment in the Juris Doctor (J.D.) program of the College of Law and the Ph.D. program of the Department of Philosophy (in the Graduate College).

You must be admitted separately by each program and approved for inclusion in the concurrent degree program. You'll receive credit towards the 85-unit graduation total for the J.D. from graduate work in philosophy (including independent research credits earned during dissertation work).

Plan of Study

As a dual degree student you will typically spend the first academic year of study exclusively in the Philosophy Department and the second academic year as a full-time, first year law student.

Thereafter the program is individually determined. You will complete the requirements for the Ph.D. minor at the Law College, and your Ph.D. dissertation committee will include at least one member of the law faculty. This dual degree program is designed to be completed in five years, though many students will take six.