Dual Degree Programs
The College of Law, in coordination with other premier colleges at Cleveland State University, offers five dual-degree programs that allow students to earn both a J.D. and a Master’s degree in four years of full-time study or longer for part-time students. In each program students usually begin the first year of classes in the College of Law. The student’s second year of student consists of courses from the other program, and the final year(s) are a combination.
The law faculty has approved a change to the dual degree programs that would allow a law student who has completed all J.D. degree requirements including a minimum of 82 semester credits in law courses to receive the J.D. prior to completion of the requirements of the joint degree. The change requires University approval as well.
J.D./ M.B.A.
The J.D./M.B.A.(Master of Business Administration), a dual degree program with the John J. Nance College of Business Administration, prepares graduates for all aspects of business and business law practice. Though the J.D. program alone can prepare a law student to represent business clients, the joint program adds a much richer exposure to the business theory, quantitative skills and economic reasoning that are part and parcel of the world of private management today. Students cover a wide variety of topics such as outside business planning and litigation, in-house counsel representation and management. This provides advantages for both lawyers and executives:
- Attorneys who understand business put themselves at an advantage for placement in corporate law practice.
- Business professionals with a law degree can better understand the legal implications of their business decisions.
The joint JD/MBA program provides a classroom mix of students with academic backgrounds in law and business, providing peer learning between two professional cultures with different mindsets and analytic techniques. Students learn to look at a problem from both angles.
Students gain hands-on experience by tackling real legal issues for businesses and individuals, either through projects with our corporate partners or through special practice opportunities in one of the five College of Law Clinics where students may provide legal assistance to individuals and community agencies.
J.D./ M.P.A.
The J.D./M.P.A. (Master of Public Administration), a dual degree program with the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, is intended for students who are preparing for a career in government or the non-profit sector, or who intend to enter a law practice where significant knowledge of the government and non-profit sectors would be a plus. JD/MPA students can choose from five areas of concentration:
- General Public Management
- Nonprofit Management
- Public Safety Management
- Economic Development
- Health Care Administration
JD/MPA students have the opportunity to gain valuable practical experience through Internships arranged by the Levin College and Clinical offerings in the College of Law. In recent years, JD/MPA students have had Internships with the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners and in a number of County agencies and departments. Other students have served as Interns in various departments in the City of Cleveland.
Many JD/MPA students also gain hands-on legal experience in one of the College of Law Clinics that represent community-based non-profits.
Graduates of the JD/MPA program have found employment as lawyers and as public administrators, policy analysts and appointed or elected government officials at all levels of government.
The Levin College’s Master of Public Administration program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).
J.D./ M.U.P.D.D.
The J.D./M.U.P.D.D. (Master of Urban Planning, Design and Development), a dual degree program with the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, is intended for students who are preparing for a career that will combine law with urban planning and real estate development in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors. JD/MUPDD students can choose from among five areas of concentration:
- Housing and Neighborhood Development
- Economic Development
- Real Estate Development and Finance
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Environmental Sustainability
JD/MUPDD students may gain valuable practical experience through Internships arranged by the Levin College and Clinical offerings in the College of Law. In recent years, JD/MUPDD students have filled Internships with Cuyahoga County, the City of Cleveland and with local and regional planning agencies. Many JD/MUPDD students also gain hands-on legal experience in one of the College of Law Clinics that represent community-based non-profits.
Graduates of the JD/MUPDD program have found employment as lawyers or planers in law firms, government, planning forms and real estate development corporations.
The Levin College’s Master of Urban Planning, Design & Development program is fully accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB).
J.D./ M.A.E.S.
The dual degree J.D./M.A.E.S. (Master of Arts in Environmental Studies) program with the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs is designed for for students interested in pursuing careers in environmental fields from either a law or policy perspective. Students in this program have faculty advisors in both colleges who assist students in coordinating their academic programs. Dual degree students complete a general program of law study, with a focus on environmental courses. Students may choose to concentrate in:
- Policy and Administration
- Environmental Planning
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Environmental Nonprofit Management
Students in the law and environmental studies program develop skills that are in high demand. Graduates of the dual-degree programs have pursued three major career paths. Although most go on to practice law, they generally will use their Master’s degree by specializing in areas such as land use and real estate development. Others work for the government agencies or in the not-for-profit sector, often working with community economic development. Finally, some work in the business sector, largely in firms dealing with real estate development.
The dual degrees are attractive to students interested in careers with:
- Law firms
- Public policy organizations
- Consulting firms
- Public interest organizations
- Nonprofit environmental advocacy organizations
- State and federal environmental regulatory agencies
- Other governmental entities
J.D. / M.S.E.S.
The J.D./M.S.E.S. (Master of Science in Environmental Science) is a dual degree program between the College of Law and the Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, in the College of Science designed for students with a background in science who are interested in careers in environmental law. This new dual degree program allows students to complete an advanced degree in the sciences, including all of the research and lab work associated with that degree, as well as a law degree in four years of full time study. Students have a faculty advisor in both programs who assist students in coordinating the programs.
Students in this dual degree program spend their first year of full time study exclusively in the College of Law. They generally spend much of their second year in the College of Science. Their third and fourth years will usually be split between the colleges. Students often will engage in field work associated with the science degree during the summer.
Students will receive a general degree in law, but may take numerous courses that support their specific interest in the environment through both colleges. For example, a recent graduate of this program successfully completed his law degree while working with a professor in engineering on a study of lead levels in the soils upwind of Cleveland’s industrial areas. The student’s research involved working closely with a faculty member to collect field data and perform a multi-faceted analysis of that data. In addition, he was able to apply what he learned at the College of Law to comment on shortfalls in the applicable law as supported by his data.