Dual degrees

In conjunction with other schools at the university, the Law School offers six dual degree programs allowing students to earn both a J.D. degree and a master's degree in one of the following disciplines. 

  • Business administration

    The Law School and the Mike Ilitch School of Business offer a dual degree program in law and business administration.

    Qualified graduate applicants may elect to complete both the basic law degree and the M.B.A. degree through the dual J.D./M.B.A. program. The program allows students to fulfill the requirements of both programs concurrently. Students will need to complete all the requirements for both degrees, but Law School courses may count for up to six elective credits toward the M.B.A. degree. The first year of the program is spent in the Law School. Students are granted five or six years to complete the requirements for both degrees, depending on whether the student entered as a part- or full-time student.

    Students must be admitted to the Law School and to the M.B.A. program in the Mike Ilitch School of Business and must obtain the separate approval of both units to participate in the dual degree program. Students must take the LSAT and meet all other admission requirements of both programs. The Mike Ilitch School of Business offers GMAT/GRE waivers to applicants who receive an acceptable score on the LSAT.

    For more information about the J.D. portion of the J.D./M.B.A. program, contact Student Affairs at lawsao@wayne.edu or (313) 577-3997. Prospective law students should contact the Admissions Office at lawinquire@wayne.edu.

    Visit the Mike Ilitch School of Business for more information.

  • Criminal justice

    The Law School and the Department of Criminal Justice, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, offer a dual degree program in law and criminal justice (J.D./M.S. in criminal justice). Students must be separately admitted to both the Law School and the Department of Criminal Justice.

    Students must complete all the requirements for both degrees. Law School courses count for up to nine elective credits toward the master's in criminal justice. A maximum of four criminal justice courses may be applied to the requirements for the J.D. degree. A student must complete the first year of Law School before any criminal justice courses may be taken toward the joint degree. Criminal justice courses may be taken concurrently with Law School courses during the second and subsequent years.

    The Department of Criminal Justice requires the completion of 30 credit hours. The general distribution of these credits include: 12 credits of criminal justice, including Contemporary Criminal Justice (CRJ 7010), Research Methods (CRJ 7860), Data Management & Analysis for Criminal Justice (CRJ 7400) and Master's Essay Direction (CRJ 7999); nine credits of criminal justice  electives, limited to 7000 level CRJ courses; and nine credits of qualified Law School courses.

    For more information about the J.D. portion of the J.D./M.S. in criminal justice program, contact Student Affairs at lawsao@wayne.edu or (313) 577-3997. Prospective law students should contact the Admissions Office at lawinquire@wayne.edu.

    Visit the Department of Criminal Justice for more information or contact Professor Marvin Zalman at marvin.zalman@wayne.edu or Marianka Holloway at marianka@wayne.edu.

  • Dispute resolution

    The Law School and the Department of Communication, College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts, offer a dual degree program in law and dispute resolution (J.D./M.A.D.R.). Not currently accepting new applications.

  • Economics

    The Law School and the Department of Economics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, offer a dual degree in law and economics (J.D./M.A.). The program was established in 2001 as a response to the steadily increasing influence of economic analysis on the law through its effect on legal scholarship and judicial decisions.

    The program requires completion of 32 academic credits in the Department of Economics and the completion of the requirements for the J.D. degree. Students must be admitted separately to both the Law School and Department of Economics to pursue the dual degree.

    For more information about the J.D. portion of the J.D./M.A. (economics) program, contact Student Affairs at lawsao@wayne.edu or (313) 577-3997. Prospective law students should contact the Admissions Office at lawinquire@wayne.edu.

    Visit the Department of Economics for more information.

  • History

    The Law School and the History Department, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, offer a dual degree in law and history (J.D./M.A.). The program requires students to satisfy the degree requirements of both the Law School and the History Department.

    Students must be admitted separately to both the Law School and the History Department. A student must complete the first year of Law School before any history courses may be taken toward the dual degree.

    For more information about the J.D. portion of the J.D./M.A. (history) program, contact Student Affairs at lawsao@wayne.edu or (313) 577-3997. Prospective law students should contact the Admissions Office at lawinquire@wayne.edu.

    Visit the History Department for more information or contact Dr. Sandra Van Burkleo at ad5235@wayne.edu.

  • Political science

    The Law School and the Political Science Department, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, offer a dual degree in law and political science (J.D./M.A.).

    The program requires students to satisfy the degree requirements of both the Law School and the Political Science Department. The Political Science Department requires the completion of 33 credit hours including a three-credit essay. Credit distribution must consist of 21 credits of political science, including PS 5630, 7660, the essay credits and 12 credits in law courses. Remaining credits are taken in a major concentration, ordinarily American politics and government, public administration or public policy. A written comprehensive exam in the student's major area of concentration is given at the end of coursework in political science.

    Students must be admitted separately to both the Law School and to Department of Political Science to pursue the dual degree. Students accepted to the Law School need not take the GRE to be admitted to the Department of Political Science, although they must meet all other department requirements.

    For more information about the J.D. portion of the J.D./M.A. (political science) program, contact Student Affairs at lawsao@wayne.edu or (313) 577-3997. Prospective law students should contact the Admissions Office at lawinquire@wayne.edu.

    Visit the Department of Political Science for more information.