Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health

Admissions

It is recommended that students first apply to Delaware Law and, upon acceptance, then apply to Thomas Jefferson University.

• Students must meet the admissions criteria for each school. Admission to the dual degree program is determined independently by each of the two schools.
• Students seeking to enter the dual degree program typically begin their studies at Delaware Law. They will take a minimum of 54 credits (typically, two years of full-time study or two and one-half years of part-time study) toward completion of the JD degree. In general, the student should have a minimum law school grade point average of 3.0 to be eligible for the dual degree program, although exceptions may be made in individual cases. Eligible candidates will be invited for an interview at Jefferson.
• Current Thomas Jefferson MPH students seeking to pursue the dual degree will be required to complete the Delaware Law application, take the Law School Admission Test and complete all qualifying MPH coursework with a 3.0 or better grade point average.
• The JD degree is a 90 credit program, while the MPH degree is a 45 credit program. Students admitted to the dual degree program will receive up to 12 credits toward the MPH degree for qualifying coursework taken as part of the JD program, and 12 credits toward the JD degree for qualifying coursework taken as part of the MPH program, thus saving time and expense associated with 24 credits had the two degrees been pursued separately. No credit toward the JD degree can be given for MPH course work taken prior to matriculation at Delaware Law. Students admitted to the JD/MPH program will complete a minimum total of 111 credits instead of the 135 credits it would take to complete each degree separately.
• Both degrees can be completed within a period of three to seven years, depending on full-time or part-time enrollment.

The JD/MPH dual degree program prepares students for a rewarding and challenging career in the expanding field of health law. Armed with comprehensive knowledge of both public health policy and the law, program graduates can expect to find intriguing professional options in their future.