The Law School and the School of Public Health offer two dual degree programs. The program offers qualified students the opportunity to work toward the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees. The program is designed so that all requirements for the degrees can be completed in four years.

The JD/MPH dual degree emphasizes public health policy. The core curriculum is similar for the MHSA degree. Appropriate careers for this dual degree are in the areas of health law and public policy. Students interact with clients coping with current public health policy issues, resulting in increased sensitivity of their clients’ needs and the development of practical skills and knowledge they will use in future public health policy decision-making.

Students admitted to either combined program are required to take the complete sequence of first-year courses in one school during the first year of enrollment, and the complete sequence of first-year courses in the other school during the second year of enrollment. Each school will apply its own deferred admission standards to students who elect to take the first year in the other school.

Information contained herein is valid as of 2/26/19 and is subject to change.

Contact the applicable admissions office or dual degree resource for more information.

Requirements

  • JD Requirements

    Students entering the Law School must complete the required first-year law curriculum. Students must take one elective course of three or four credit hours during their second semester. All students must complete the following before graduation: at least one international or comparative law course of two or more credit hours, at least one upper-level course with a rigorous writing component, one statutory or regulatory course of three or more credit hours, one course in professional responsibility of two or more credit hours, and two credit hours of experiential learning. Separate courses must be taken to fulfill the upper-level course with a rigorous writing component, the professional responsibility course, and the experiential learning course.

    The JD requires a minimum total of 83 credits earned between Law School courses and courses through the School of Public Health. Students must earn at least 71 credits toward the JD through courses taken in the Law School.Twelve (12) credit hours may be earned through courses taken in the School of Public Health. 

    If you are admitted to the School of Public Health and choose to pursue the JD/MPH program, you must notify both the Law School’s Office of Student Records and Office of Student Life.

  • MPH Requirements

    Students earning an MPH must complete the Health Management and Policy (HMP) departmental curriculum requirements as well as the School of Public Health curriculum requirements.

    The MPH requires a total of 60 credits earned between the School of Public Health courses and courses through the Law School. Students must earn at least 45 credits toward their MPH through courses taken in the School of Public Health. 

    Up to 15 of the 60 credit hours required for either of these degrees may be earned through courses taken in the Law School.

  • Additional Requirements

    Applicants must gain separate and independent admission to both the Law School and the School of Public Health, and should contact the admission office of each school for application and admission information. If you are enrolled in a graduate program in another school or department at the University, the Law School will accept a valid GRE, GMAT, or MCAT score in lieu of an LSAT score; otherwise, a valid LSAT score is required.

    Students must satisfy the degree requirements of each school and should consult with advisers in each school for the precise graduation requirements for each degree. Law School courses are not offered in the summer term. Students will not receive credit toward the JD for coursework taken prior to matriculation at the Law School. Students should consult with the adviser at the School of Public Health concerning credit toward the MPH for law course work.

    During the third and fourth years of the program, students are permitted to elect courses in both schools. Tuition will be charged at either the Law School or the School of Public Health rate, whichever is higher, when courses toward both degrees are taken in a single term. 

    At the beginning of their final year of study in the combined program, students should consult with both their School of Public Health Management and Policy Department Program Coordinator and the Law School’s Office of Student Records regarding forms that need to be completed prior to graduation.

    The combined degree is not open to those who have already earned either the JD or MPH. Students who are registered in the first or second year at the Law School or the first year at the School of Public Health may apply for admission to the dual degree program.

  • Please Note

    Any JD who enrolls concurrently in another degree program will be awarded the JD degree after completing all of the requirements for the dual, joint, or combined degrees. (As a practical matter, this means that the student will receive the JD degree either after or at the same time as they receive the degree(s) in the other program(s).) This policy will not affect the student’s class year for purposes of the Law School’s commencement ceremony or alumni events, and it will not apply if a student discontinues the other degree program(s). A law student who believes that they will experience some hardship as a result of this policy may petition the Associate Dean for Academic Programming for an exception.

    JD courses traditionally have a later grading deadline than other degree programs. On some occasions, this later JD grading deadline may affect a student in their final term if another degree program desires all of the student’s grades prior to the JD grading deadline.

Contact Information

Law School Admissions Office
University of Michigan Law School
Jeffries Hall, Suite 2200
701 S. State St.
Ann Arbor, MI  48109-1215

Phone: 734.764.0537
Email: [email protected] 


Office of Student Life (dual degree programs)
University of Michigan Law School
316 Hutchins Hall
625 S. State St.
Ann Arbor, MI  48109-1215

Phone: 734.764.0516
Email: [email protected]


Office of Student Records
University of Michigan Law School
300 Hutchins Hall 
625 S. State Street 
Ann Arbor, MI  48109-1215

Phone: 734.763.6499
Email: [email protected]


School of Public Health
Health Management and Policy
M3541 SPH II
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029

Phone: 734.936.5944
Email: [email protected]
Website: sph.umich.edu/hmp/programs/dual.html