The Barbara Jordan – Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs offers a Dual MPA / Juris Doctorate (JD) Degree in coordination and partnership with the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.  The program allows students to complete requirements for the two degrees in four (4) years instead of 5 years, if pursued separately.  The program is intended for students who want to obtain mastery of the administrative and legal aspects of public administration in the public, private and non-profit sectors; combining advanced public administration education with legal training in order to enhance or expand their career options.

•      The MPA/JD Dual Degree Program is open to holders of baccalaureate degrees from accredited colleges or universities.

•      Applicants to the program must meet the entrance requirements and follow the application procedures administered by the Texas Southern University Graduate School (www.tsu.edu/academics/public), the Barbara Jordan – Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs MPA Program and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law (www.tsu.edu/academics/law).

•      Dual Degree Program participants will have to satisfy the same admission requirements as applicants for the stand-alone Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Juris Doctorate (JD) programs.

•      Admission to the Dual Degree Program shall be open to all MPA and law students who are academically eligible under the TSU Graduate  School,  MPA Program and Thurgood Marshall School of  Law Rules.

•      MPA students wishing to enroll in the Dual Degree Program must petition the MPA Program Director. Such petition shall state why the student wishes to enroll in the program and include a proposed  plan for completing all course work and other  requirements within four (4) years.  Students who have not submitted this will not be considered Dual Degree candidates.

•      Although students may apply for either the MPA or JD program at any time during their course of study, students must be admitted to both programs before completing either program.

•      Continuation in the Dual Degree Program shall be dependent upon the student’s satisfactory academic progress in each of the dual fields.  Incomplete work or other evidence of unsatisfactory academic progress may lead to a decision by the MPA Program Director to reduce the student’s workload directed towards the law degree. Continued unsatisfactory progress may result in dismissal from the Dual Degree Program.