Law and Public Health
JD/MPH in Law and Public Health
An accelerated four-year course of study leading to the JD and MPH degrees is offered by the Schools of Law and Public Health. Successful candidates receive both the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees—a seven- or eight-semester sequence that would otherwise take a minimum of four-and-a-half years to complete.
Boston University provides an exceptionally strong program of health law courses, and SPH is the only public health school in the country today to offer a concentration in the field. The JD/MPH degree program offers the essential systematic knowledge of the health field and its disciplines to prepare students for careers in law, government service, administration, and research. Students also benefit from educational programs and activities offered by the Department of Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights at SPH.
Advantages of the JD/MPH Program
- Coursework is accelerated by crediting up to 16 SPH course credits and up to 4 LAW courses toward both the JD and MPH degrees, saving both time and tuition.
- While students are attending both the School of Law and the School of Public Health, they pay tuition to one school only. No additional tuition is charged (unless the student exceeds the maximum course load of 18 credits in a given semester).
- The JD/MPH program may be completed in three-and-a-half years if SPH courses are taken during the summer session. Students enrolled in summer courses at SPH while completing Law School courses must pay additional tuition for summer courses.
- SPH offers evening courses so students may complete the MPH degree on a full- or part-time basis while working.
How to Apply
Application to the dual degree program is made by submitting a regular application to each school separately. Applications to the School of Public Health require the submission of GRE scores, official transcripts of prior education, three recommendations, and a personal statement.
Applications to the SPH must be submitted online to the centralized Schools of Public Health Applications Service (SOPHAS), www.sophas.org. For more information, consult the SPH Admissions website.
Students applying simultaneously, or already admitted, to the School of Law may submit LSAT instead of GRE scores and the recommendations submitted to the School of Law plus one new recommendation.
Students are free to begin their studies at either school. Most begin Law School studies first, then take courses at SPH during their second and third years of law school, and, after graduating with the JD degree, complete their MPH studies at SPH. The advantage of beginning with studies at the School of Law is that it does not interrupt students’ coursework in public health courses. The first year of study at the School of Law consists of a prescribed law curriculum, which does not permit elective courses.
Students should contact the JD/MPH Program Director soon after admission to the dual degree program to plan their courses of study. Students should contact the SPH Registrar’s Office when they are ready to begin full-time study at SPH following completion of their JD so that transfer credits and program codes are recorded correctly. The JD/MPH Program Guide has detailed information for admitted students. The program guide is posted on the SPH website.
For more information, please contact Professor Wendy K. Mariner, Program Director, 617-638-4626.
