JD/MA Program (International Political Economy and Development)

The Law School and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offer a combined program of studies in law and graduate-level international political economy and development. The program is open to both full- and part-time students. Full-time students would complete the requirements for the JD degree in five semesters at the Law School and the requirements for the MA degree in two semesters at the graduate school, thereby saving two semesters’ worth of work if each degree were pursued separately.

Part-time students are able to complete the requirements for the JD degree in seven semesters and the requirements for the MA degree in three semesters and one or two sessions during a summer. This enables a part-time student to complete the requirements for both degrees in as few as ten semesters, with one or two sessions during a summer between a spring and fall semester, instead of the normal 11 semesters and sessions during two summers.

Students must apply to and be admitted to each school on an independent basis, although such admission need not occur simultaneously. Law students may apply to the Graduate School at any time while in residence at the Law School and it is recommended that they complete their course of studies at the Law School before beginning study at the Graduate School. However, a student in residence at the Law School may take one or more courses at the Graduate School, as long as the total number of classroom hours per week does not exceed the number permitted by Law School regulations.

Admission to and continuation in the program is conditional upon the student’s completion of both the law and graduate school requirements with an acceptable quality point average. Students who fall below the minimum scholastic requirements for either school at any time during their studies may be academically dismissed from that school and dropped from the dual program.

The Law School will charge tuition at the Law School rate for all semesters in which a student is in residence at the Law School. A full- or part-time student in residence at the Law School who also takes one or more courses at the Graduate School must also pay the Graduate School’s tuition on a per credit basis. Students may earn up to 13 of the 83 credits needed for the JD by taking courses related to legal training at the Graduate School which do not duplicate Law School courses. They may earn up to 12 credits of the 36 credits required for the MA by taking courses at the Law School that are related to international relations. For further information and advisement, students should email Fordham Law Professor Thomas H. Lee.

JD/MBA Program

The JD/MBA program enables full-time students to complete the requirements for the JD and MBA degrees in as little as four calendar years rather than the five it might take if each degree were to be pursued separately.

Due to the required four-week pre-term Gabelli Launch (beginning the last week of July each year), only first-year law students are eligible to apply for the JD/MBA. Students must apply and be admitted to each school separately. Students who are already enrolled in the Law School may be accepted into this dual-degree program by submitting their application to the Gabelli School by the required application deadlines. During their time at Fordham, JD/MBA students alternate their studies between the two schools.

A student in residence at the Law School may take one or more courses at the Gabelli School, as long as the total number of classroom hours per week does not exceed the number permitted by Law School regulations. The Law School will allow up to 12 credits for graduate business courses in taxation, finance, and accounting which do not duplicate Law School courses toward its 83 credit degree. The Law School will occasionally allow credit for a business economics course. However, the Law School will allow only two credits for a course which meets two hours a week per trimester at the Gabelli School, whereas the Gabelli School gives three credits. The Gabelli School will allow a maximum of 12 credits for courses taken at the Law School toward the normal 60 credit MBA.

The joint degree will be awarded upon successful completion of the course requirements at both schools. A student may withdraw from the program and pursue either the JD or MBA degree with full credit toward that degree for all work completed in that school. Admission to and continuation in the joint program is conditional upon the student’s completion of both the law and business requirements with an acceptable GPA. Students who fall below the minimum scholastic requirements for either school at any time during their studies may be academically dismissed from that school and dropped from the joint program.

Fordham Law will charge tuition at the Law School rate for all semesters in which a student is in residence at the Law School. A student in residence at the Law School who also takes one or more courses at the Gabelli School must also pay the business school’s tuition, which is charged on a per-credit basis.

JD/MSW Program

Students starting with one year full-time in the Law School: A student who completes one year in the Law School and then matriculates in the Graduate School of Social Service would be able to complete the MSW program within three years and the JD program within four years.

Students starting with two years full-time in the Law School: A student who completes two years in the Law School and then matriculates into the Graduate School of Social Service would complete the MSW and JD programs within four years.

Students starting in the evening program of the Law School: A student who completes one year in the Law School evening program must switch to the day program in order to take part in the joint degree program. After the first year of study, the student must complete the first year in law courses over their first summer and then proceed with the joint degree program on a full-time basis to complete the program in four years.

Students starting with one year full-time in the School of Social Service: Students who first matriculate with their foundation year in the Graduate School of Social Service must complete their first year in the Law School before continuing with advanced year social work courses. The Law School does not accept transfer credits for foundation year courses in the Graduate School of Social Service when students were not first matriculated in the Law School. Therefore, this course of study requires students to take more law credits than students pursuing the joint degree through other course plans. Students pursuing this course of study should consult advisors about program decisions that may require them to take 1–3 summer courses.

Students must apply and be admitted to each school on an independent basis, although such admission need not occur simultaneously. Each school’s decision on admission is based solely on that school’s selection criteria. For further information and advisement, students should email Fordham Law Professor Clare Huntington.

Tuition is charged in a given semester according to the rates effective in the school of the student’s primary program for that semester.