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2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Dual JD-MA Program, Law - Philosophy
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The College of Law and the Department of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences offer a coordinated dual degree program leading to the conferral of both the Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) and Master of Arts degree with a major in Philosophy. 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.
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Options Available
Philosophy (Thesis, Course Only with Comprehensive Exams)
Campus Code
Knoxville Campus
Admissions Standards/Procedures
- Applicants for the JD-MA (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 College of Law and the Department of Philosophy).
- 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 College of Law and Department of Philosophy, 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 JD and MA (Philosophy) 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 JD-MA (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
Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD), Master of Arts (MA) — Thesis Option
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 JD-MA 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 - Thesis (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 courses for first-year Law students, additional elective courses, and the following:
- LAW 813 - Evidence
- LAW 920 - Trial Practice
Additional Course Requirements
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.
Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD), Master of Arts (MA) — Course Only with Comprehensive Exams Option
This option is open to all JD-MA 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 courses for first-year Law students, additional elective courses, and the following:
- LAW 813 - Evidence
- LAW 920 - Trial Practice
Additional Course Requirements
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)
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