Entrance Requirements
Acceptance by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (for admission into the MBA program) and by the Faculty of Law (for admission into the JD program) separately, are prerequisites for admission into the MBA/JD program. Admission into each Faculty will be determined by the same selection process and criteria as for other students. In addition, each student must be admitted into the combined program; in this case admission will be determined by a selection committee composed of representatives of the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Business. Since this is a special program, particular attention in the selection process will be given to:
- The student’s past academic achievement; and
- The student’s maturity, interest and a rationale of how such a combined program will enhance the student’s career and professional skills.
Program Requirements
The first year is usually taken entirely within one program (Law or MBA), and the second year entirely within the other with the sequence being at the student’s option. The third year will usually consist of a mixed program in both Faculties, with the fourth year in the Faculty of Law. If the first two years of the joint program are completed entirely in Law, the third year will be taken entirely within the MBA Program and the fourth year will consist of a mixed program in both Faculties. The Law portion of the program consists of approximately 75 hours of coursework while the Business portion of the program consists of 45 hours of coursework.
During the combined year of the MBA/JD program, the courseload requirements are as follows: Students must register in the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies in Fall/Winter and must successfully complete a minimum of 24 units for credit, of which at least 15 units must be Law courses/credits.
MBA courses: students who obtain a grade of less than C+ or who fail to complete one of the MBA courses may, upon the recommendation of the Associate Dean (MBA), with the approval of the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, retake the course(s) or take an alternate course(s). Students repeating or taking an alternate course(s) must obtain a minimum grade of C+ and must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 (U of A Calendar, Minimum Academic Requirements ).
Law courses: students who obtain a grade of C- will have passed that course according to the Faculty of Law regulations but will have failed according to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies regulations. In these instances, students will take a substitute but equivalent Law course in the fourth year of their program. This alternate Law course is to be recommended by the Associate Dean (Law) and approved by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies prior to students beginning their fourth year in the MBA-JD program. Students must register for this course(s) in the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies and must obtain a minimum grade of C+.
Students in the MBA/JD program may register in Spring/Summer; however, in the mixed year of this program, they must be registered in the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies as outlined above.
Upon the successful completion of the mixed year, candidates will receive the MBA degree. Upon the successful completion of the fourth year, candidates will receive the JD degree.
Inquiries regarding the combined MBA/JD degree program may be directed to the MBA Office in the Faculty of Business or the Faculty of Law.
Academic Standing
During the first year of the combined program, a student is subject to the academic standing regulations and routes of appeal for grades and for academic standing of the Faculty in which the student is registered.
Therefore, if the student registers in the Faculty of Law in the first year of the combined program, the student shall refer to that Faculty’s academic standing regulations and right of appeal procedures.
If the student registers in the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies in the first year of the combined program, the student shall refer to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies’s academic standing regulations and right of appeal procedures.
In the second year of the combined program, a student is subject to the academic standing regulations and routes of appeal for grades and for academic standing of the Faculty in which the student is registered.
Therefore, if the student registers in the Faculty of Law in the second year of the combined program, the student shall refer to that Faculty’s academic standing regulations and right of appeal procedures.
If the student registers in the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies in the second year of the combined program, the student shall refer to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies’s academic standing regulations and right of appeal procedures.
In the mixed year of the combined program students must maintain a level of academic standing that is satisfactory to both Faculties. The student shall be subject to the routes of appeal for grades and for academic standing of the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies.
If the fourth year’s work is done entirely in the Faculty of Law to complete the JD degree, the student shall register in the Faculty of Law and shall be subject to the academic standing regulations and routes of appeal for grades and for academic standing of the Faculty of Law.
If a student withdraws from one of the degree programs or is required to withdraw because of unsatisfactory academic standing, but wishes to remain in the other degree program, the student may be permitted to continue the program of study in the Faculty in which the student retains good academic standing.
Length of Program
Students normally finish all the requirements for the MBA degree, by the end of the third year, and will be awarded the MBA degree at this time. All requirements for the JD degree will be completed by the end of the fourth year.