The Department of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences and The College of Law offer a coordinated dual degree program leading to the conferral of both the Master of Arts degree with a major in Philosophy  and Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD)  . In this program, a student may earn the JD and MA in about four years rather than the five years that otherwise would be required.

Options Available

Philosophy — Thesis, Course Only with Comprehensive Exams

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures

• Applicants for the MA-JD (Philosophy major) program must make separate application to, and be independently accepted by, 
  • the College of Law for the JD and
  • the Department of Philosophy and Office of Graduate Admissions for the MA degree, with a major in Philosophy.
• Applicants must also be accepted by the dual degree committee (the membership of which will include a program coordinator from both the Department of Philosophy and College of Law).
• Upon petition, an applicant’s LSAT score may be accepted by the Department of Philosophy as a substitute for the normally required GRE score.
• Application to the dual degree program may be made prior to or after matriculation in either the JD or the MA (Philosophy) program, but application must be made prior to the last 29 credit hours required for the JD and prior to the last 15 credit hours required for the MA (Philosophy).

Academic Standards

• For grade recording purposes in the Department of Philosophy and College of Law, grades awarded in the other unit will be converted to either Satisfactory or No Credit and will not be computed in determining a student’s GPA or class standing.
  • The College of Law will award a grade of Satisfactory for an approved Philosophy course in which the student earns a grade of B or higher and a grade of No Credit for any lower grade.
  • The Philosophy Department will award a grade of Satisfactory for an approved law course in which the student earns a grade of 2.30 or higher and a grade of No Credit for any lower grade.
  • The official academic record of the student maintained by the Office of the University Registrar shall show the actual grade assigned by the instructor without conversion
• A dual degree candidate must satisfy the requirements for both the MA (Philosophy) and JD degrees, as well as the requirements of the dual degree program.
  • The College of Law will award a maximum of 9 hours of credit toward the JD degree for successful completion of approved graduate level courses (500- or 600-level) offered in the Department of Philosophy.
  • The Department of Philosophy will award a maximum of 15 hours of credit toward the MA degree for successful completion of approved courses offered in the College of Law.
  • All courses for which such cross-credit is awarded must be approved by the MA-JD (Philosophy) program coordinators in the College of Law and Department of Philosophy.
  • Upon admission to the dual degree program, a dual degree candidate will take, if he or she has not already taken, the required first year courses in the College of Law

Thesis Option, Master of Arts (MA) — Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD)

This option includes a substantial independent research project that is conducted with guidance and supervision by a committee of faculty, to include at least one faculty member from the Philosophy Department. This option is open to all MA-JD students, and is especially recommended for those who intend to go on to pursue a PhD in philosophy.

Credit Hours Required

Minimum of 95 credit hours (89 hours for the JD that accepts 9 credit hours from the MA, for 80 credit hours; 30 credit hours for the MA that accepts 15 credit hours from the JD, for 15 credit hours)

Required Courses

• PHIL 500  (6 credit hours)
• 9 credit hours of philosophy (PHIL) at the 500- or 600-level, other than PHIL 500  thesis hours
• 80 credit hours of law (LAW) courses including the required first year program in LAW, LAW 813 , LAW 920 , and additional elective LAW courses.

Additional Course Requirements

• For a dual degree candidate up to 15 of the 30 required credit hours will come from approved law school courses.
• For dual degree candidates, the ordinary distribution and proseminar (PHIL 601 ) requirements for the Philosophy MA are waived.
  • A student electing to pursue the thesis MA track will thus earn from Philosophy at least 15 credit hours of the required 30 credit hours for the MA and thus need credit from Philosophy for up to 15 credit hours of coursework in the College of Law.
• To be eligible to receive the JD, candidates must earn at least 58 credit hours in residence at the College of Law.
• Of the required 89 credit hours, no more than 18 credit hours may be earned in any combination of the following courses – LAW 947 , LAW 948 , LAW 949 , LAW 989 , LAW 993 , LAW 994 , LAW 995 , LAW 996 , LAW 997 , LAW 998 , or LAW 999 , or up to 6 credit hours of non-law electives.

Non-Course Requirements

• The Doctor of Jurisprudence degree will be conferred upon candidates who complete, with the required average, six semesters of resident law study and who have 89 credit hours, including all required courses.
  • The course of study for the JD must be completed no earlier than 24 months and no later than 60 months after a student has commenced law study at the College of Law or a law school from which the college has accepted transfer credit.
• The student’s thesis committee must include a faculty member from the College of Law
• Preparation and defense of a thesis
• Dual degree students who withdraw from the program before completion of the requirements for both degrees will not receive credit toward either the JD or the MA (Philosophy) degree for courses taken in the other program except as such courses qualify for credit without regard to the dual degree program.

Course Only with Comprehensive Exams Option, Master of Arts (MA) — Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD)

This option is open to all MA-JD students, but it is not recommended for those who intend to go on to pursue a PhD in philosophy.

Credit Hours Required

Minimum of 95 credit hours (89 hours for the JD that accepts 9 credit hours from the MA, for 80 credit hours; 30 credit hours for the MA that accepts 15 credit hours from the JD, for 15 credit hours)

Required Courses

• 15 credit hours of philosophy (PHIL) at the 500- or 600-level, other than PHIL 500  thesis hours
• 80 credit hours of law (LAW) courses including the required first year program in LAW, LAW 813 , LAW 920 , and additional elective LAW courses.

Additional Course Requirements

• For dual degree candidates, the ordinary distribution and proseminar (PHIL 601 ) requirements for the Philosophy MA are waived.
• To be eligible to receive the JD, candidates must earn at least 58 credit hours in residence at the College of Law.
• Of the required 89 credit hours, no more than 18 credit hours may be earned in any combination of the following courses – LAW 947 , LAW 948 , LAW 949 , LAW 989 , LAW 993 , LAW 994 , LAW 995 , LAW 996 , LAW 997 , LAW 998 , or LAW 999 , or up to 6 credit hours of non-law electives.

Non-Course Requirements

• The Doctor of Jurisprudence degree will be conferred upon candidates who complete, with the required average, six semesters of resident law study and who have 89 credit hours, including all required courses.
  • The course of study for the JD must be completed no earlier than 24 months and no later than 60 months after a student has commenced law study at the College of Law or a law school from which the college has accepted transfer credit.
• A “culminating academic experience” (normally the presentation of a philosophical paper at a professional meeting or departmental colloquium)
• An MA comprehensive examination administered as if the student had a “minor” in law (so, a member of the law faculty will be on the examination committee and candidate examination questions will be solicited from the instructors of the law courses counting toward the student’s MA)