PAUS Department

MPA-JD Frequently Asked Questions

What career options do joint degree students have?

Many. Students who complete the joint degree are often public-service minded, so many of them choose to enter government or non-profit organizations as attorneys. Others may wish to use their legal background differently and take positions as management analysts, policy analysts, budgeting specialists, or other policy and management-oriented positions in government or non-profits. Some students choose to take a bar exam and enter a private-sector law firm, focusing on policy issues or public-sector law. Often students with the joint degree will choose to enter consulting or academia after a few years of practice.

Does the joint degree take less time to complete than pursuing both degrees separately?

Yes. The joint degree program permits full-time students taking approximately 15 credit hours per semester to finish the program in less than four years, compared to five years if completely separately. Students can substitute up to 14 hours of MPA coursework toward the JD degree and up to 14 hours of JD coursework toward the MPA, which saves a total of 28 credit hours. Students who take courses in the summer may be able to graduate even faster.

Are assistantships available to joint degree students?

Joint degree students can apply for assistantships through the Andrew Young School. Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) typically work around 8 hours per week for a faculty member or research center in the school and must be enrolled at least nine hours per semester. These assistantships are competitive and awarded to a small percentage of the applicant pool. The priority application deadline for assistantships that begin in the fall semester is February 15th. GRAs receive a stipend up to $3,000 per semester and their tuition is waived. GRAs are responsible for paying for books and mandatory student fees.

The College of Law awards scholarships to select entering students, and JD/MPA students may be eligible for those. For more information, contact the College of Law or visit their financial assistance webpage at http://law.gsu.edu/admissions/scholarships.php.

Are students who are admitted to one program (JD or MPA) automatically admitted to the other?

No. Students must apply to both programs and be accepted by each in order to enroll in the JD/MPA program. The College of Law admits students only for the fall term, with a deadline each year of March 15th. The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies will admit MPA students for the fall term (deadline: April 1st) or spring term (deadline: October 1st).

Do I have to take both the LSAT and the GRE in order to be admitted?

No. The College of Law requires the LSAT, but the Andrew Young School will permit students to substitute the LSAT for the GRE in the admissions process.

I am already enrolled in one of the two programs. Can I start the joint degree program late?

In some cases, yes. The Andrew Young School will permit a law student to begin the joint degree program only if he or she has completed 40 or fewer hours of coursework. The College of Law will allow MPA students to begin the joint program only if they have completely 20 or fewer hours of coursework. In either case, you must be admitted by both schools separately.

I am enrolled in the joint program but I am unsure about finishing one of the degrees. Can I just graduate with one of them?

Yes. However, the College of Law will count 14 hours of MPA credit toward the JD degree only if a student earns the MPA degree. Choosing not to finish the MPA degree will result in a loss of 14 hours of credit. The MPA program may permit students who drop the JD component to count 14 hours of JD course credit, but it is not automatic and is at the discretion of the Andrew Young School faculty. Students considering dropping out of one or both programs should see the MPA/JD advisor immediately in order to ensure that appropriate steps are taken.

I finished the JD coursework before the MPA coursework. Can I graduate from one program earlier than the other?

It depends. The College of Law requires that students finish all MPA degree requirements simultaneous to, or earlier than, finishing JD coursework, so graduating with a JD first is not an option. However, the Andrew Young School permits students who finish the MPA component ahead of the JD component to graduate with the MPA first. It is probably best to shoot for finishing both at the same time. In order to make sure that relevant courses are taken in a timely manner, students should work with the MPA/JD advisor to take required courses early on and electives later.

How should I divide the coursework between the two programs?

This is up to the individual student, with some exceptions. Students should plan to spend two consecutive semesters exclusively in the College of Law in order to complete the first-year law curriculum. Most students spend their first year of the program in the College of Law. Aside from that, students will likely find that it is advantageous to take both MPA and JD courses each semester to ensure that required courses are being completed in a timely manner. It is frequently possible to take MPA courses during the summer session.

I understand that the JD program accepts 14 hours of MPA coursework and vice versa. Which courses count toward this?

Any 8000-level MPA course in the core curriculum will count toward the 14 hours accepted by the College of Law. Most electives also qualify, with the exception of PAUS 8451 – Public Law and Public Administration, and any course with a legal focus offered by PAUS faculty. The Andrew Young School will accept almost all courses in the College of Law, but students should consult with the MPA/JD advisor to ensure that appropriate courses are taken.

Do JD/MPA students declare a concentration in the MPA program?

A concentration is not required for joint students. The MPA component of the joint program is comprised exclusively of required courses, so it is not possible for students to declare a concentration. However, students who wish to take more credit hours than are required for graduation may find it helpful to complete a different concentration in something like management and finance, public policy, or non-profit studies.

Do joint degree students have to complete an internship?

Yes. Students must arrange to work for an organization for a minimum of 200 hours in order to receive internship credit. Students must enroll for three hours of PAUS 8941 in order to satisfy this requirement. Internships can be either paid or unpaid. Students should work with the MPA/JD advisor to choose an internship that is appropriate for their goals.

Students with prior administrative experience may petition to have the internship requirement waived – forms are available through the Office of Academic Assistance, and a committee of PAUS faculty will determine whether a waiver is justified. Students may also choose to conduct a practicum in lieu of an internship. A practicum is an applied research project that is supervised by a faculty member and is ideally-suited for those who have academic or research interests.

How do the different grading systems work?

The grading system in the College of Law is based on a competitive curve, with the average being much lower than is generally the case in the Andrew Young School. Students may not count law courses with grades lower than “C” toward the 14 hours accepted by the Andrew Young School, and the College of Law will not accept MPA courses with grades lower than “B.” When seeking employment, students are encouraged to report grade averages for the two degrees separately, since employers will expect higher grades for MPA students than law students. Departmental honors for MPA students, such as membership in the Pi Alpha Alpha honorary, are determined by grades earned only in MPA courses.

Is it possible to waive MPA courses that have already been taken in some form elsewhere?

No. The number of credit hours required for the joint program cannot be reduced. For example, even if a student has a strong background in economics, he or she cannot waive the core MPA course in microeconomics (PAUS 8141). However, students may petition to substitute another course in such a situation, which will keep the number of credit hours the same but result in a different set of core courses. Students should consult with the MPA/JD advisor if they believe substitutions would be beneficial.

Whom should I contact with questions?

David Pitts is the faculty advisor for joint students in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. The Office of Academic Assistance in the Andrew Young School can also answer questions about joint program requirements. Students with questions for the College of Law should consult the registrar’s office.