J.D./Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)

The combined J.D. and Master of Public Administration degrees may be earned in four years of classwork and an additional three months of the internship by enrollment in the joint degree program of the UNC School of Law and the UNC Master of Public Administration program. Admission to the law school and the M.P.A. program must be gained independently.

A total of 86 semester hours is required for the J.D., including up to nine hours of coursework drawn from the M.P.A. curriculum. A total of 54 semester hours is required for the M.P.A., including up to 15 hours from the J.D. curriculum. Both degrees can be completed in a total of 116 semester hours, with prior approval of a joint degree plan of study. All degree requirements from both schools must be completed before the degrees are awarded.

UNC School of Law was founded in 1845 and is part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the nation’s first state-supported university. The school has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1928.

Carolina Law prepares outstanding lawyers and leaders to serve the people and institutions of North Carolina, the nation and the world. Home to numerous centers and initiatives, the school offers strong expertise in civil rights, banking, environmental law, intellectual property, entrepreneurial and securities law, critical studies, bankruptcy and constitutional inquiry.