I. SUMMARY
The joint program in law and business administration will allow students to complete two separate degrees, the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA), in a shorter period of time than would be required if the degrees were taken consecutively without the joint program. The program will allow students to take advantage of the real world need for a combination of business and law. The heart of the program is reciprocity and coordination between The Law School and The School of Business Administration On-Campus MBA program. Because the participating degree programs are established, and students will come from the regular enrollment of both programs, no additional resources, faculty, courses or costs will be required.

Note that a person in this joint program would graduate with two degrees, one in Law and an MBA. The proposal is for a joint program, not for a new degree.

II. OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of the joint program in law and business is to allow highly qualified students to pursue the studies needed to understand and address issues that require knowledge of both disciplines. Each year The Law School and The School of Business Administration receive inquiries from qualified students regarding a joint JD/MBA Program.

A related objective is to strengthen the business aspect of the law program. Recently more business-related classes have been added to the curriculum (Business Transactions and Public Regulation of Business.) In kind, the MBA does not regularly offer law-related classes in its curriculum beyond the undergraduate business law class that is a required prerequisite to the MBA.

An additional objective is to enhance the employment opportunities for the students. In the recent past, a person who earned both degrees received the highest salary that year in comparison to all Law School graduates. Also, two other students who are in the process of earning both degrees, successfully competed for and received the two highest dollar graduate scholarships The School of Business has to offer ($5,000 each.) It is apparent that employers do see value in this joint effort.

Another benefit of this joint program is to further distinguish The University of Montana as the only unit in the Montana University System that has a Law degree or an MBA degree.

III. STRUCTURE OF THE JOINT PROGRAM

A. Curriculum/Course of Study
Students completing the program will receive two separate degrees, the Juris Doctor (JD) and Masters of Business Administration (MBA). Both of these degree programs are already established and have a long history of success. Both are accredited at the highest levels attainable. Currently, the JD can be earned in three years and the MBA in two semesters and a summer if the first year of prerequisites has been completed. Under the joint program, a student could complete both degrees in a three-year period if the MBA prerequisites are done before the joint program begins. Students will spend the first year as a full-time student in the Law School. During the last two years of Law School a student can complete classes for an MBA.

B. Scheduling Issues
The two schools’ graduate advisors will consider scheduling issues before each year begins. But, due to the unique nature of the MBA Program, conflicts should be minimal or nonexistent. The University of Montana has been charged with providing an MBA Program across the entire state. Consequently, all of our required classes are offered in the On-Campus MBA Program in the day and also on Tuesday and Thursday nights to accommodate the part time, Off-Campus MBA students. Therefore, in almost all cases, if there is a class conflict, the students in the joint program would be allowed to take the course in the evening rather than the day.

Also, it is probable that a number of students will not have completed the prerequisite courses to the MBA Program. They have a choice. They can take these prerequisites Fall, Spring or Summer sessions by attending ten undergraduate day courses. Alternatively, they may take five graduate prerequisite courses that are prepared and taught by School of Business faculty over the Internet. Students may mix and match these alternatives. Therefore, the prerequisite MBA classes should not hinder scheduling between the two programs.

C. Reciprocity
The heart of the joint program is the reciprocity between The Law School and The School of Business Administration. The Law School will accept nine semester hours of coursework from the MBA to complete the JD degree and The School of Business Administration will accept nine semester hours of coursework from the JD to complete the MBA degree. Only courses for which grades of A or B are earned will be accepted by one program from the other.

Hopefully it is apparent that due to the transfer of credits between departments, students are able to graduate on a more timely basis than could be possible if both programs were taken separately. And, this is the attraction of a joint program. (See Appendix I for a sample JD/MBA Curriculum Schedule.)

D. Degree Requirements
Except for the reciprocity described above, the requirements for the JD and MBA degrees will not be affected by the joint program. Students will be required to fulfill the JD degree requirements of The Law School and the MBA degree requirements of The School of Business Administration.

IV. ADMISSIONS/ENROLLMENT
Students who wish to participate in the joint program must satisfy the normal admission requirements for both The School of Business Administration MBA Program and The Law School JD Program. In other words, students cannot enter the joint program until they have been accepted separately by both The Law School and The School of Business. If accepted by both programs, permission to participate in the joint program must be obtained from both the Dean of The Law School and Director of Graduate Programs in the School of Business. This will assist in coordination, advising, and the number of students matriculating through this program.

A student may request enrollment in the joint program at any time, but must acknowledge that these programs are simultaneous and that the best benefit is entering both early in each program.

V. ADVISING
Because of the specific needs and interests of each student in the joint program, every effort will be made by The Law School and The School of Business to tailor the program to the individual student’s requirements and interests. The Dean of The Law School will appoint a Law School faculty member to serve as a faculty advisor who together with the Director of Graduate Programs Business will serve as advisors to students enrolled in the joint program.

VI. TUITION/FINANCIAL AID
Students enrolled in the joint program will pay tuition rates and apply for and receive financial aid in accordance with university policies, with one exception from current practice. Students will pay Law School super tuition for the 81 credits taken for the law degree, as well as the School of Business  Administration's On-Campus super tuition for the 23 credits taken for the MBA degree. Students opting to take Off-Campus MBA credits are exempted from the School of Business Administration's super tuition but will have to pay the higher fees assessed by Continuing Education.

APPENDIX I  

SAMPLE JD/MBA Curriculum

Year One

  Year Two

Year Three  

• Note - 81 Law School credits taken (plus 9 to be transferred in from MBA) = 90 total credits.
• Note – 23 MBA credits taken (plus 9 transferred in from Law School) = 32 total credits.
• Note – Law School clinical training credits are often taken during the summer of year two.
• Note – Law School elective credits may be taken each summer to reduce fall and spring semester credit loads.

Back to Joint Programs page